SHN reduced to 10 days for travellers from 21 countries including US and UK

THE government will reduce the stay-home notice (SHN) period for incoming travellers with recent travel history to Category 3 and 4 countries to 10 days, from 14 days currently, with effect from 11.59pm on Oct 6.

Also from that date, the prevailing border measures that apply will be determined based on one's travel history in the last 14 days - including transits en route to Singapore and duration in Singapore prior to travel - instead of the existing 21 days.

The multi-ministry taskforce said on Saturday that the SHN period was cut by four days as the Delta variant has a shorter incubation period.

Singapore classifies countries and regions into four categories, with differentiated border measures for each.

Category 1 comprises places with the lowest risk of Covid-19 transmission, while Category 2 is for countries with similar risk profiles to Singapore. Category 3 is for a group of countries deemed to be at higher risk of infections, and Category 4 is for all remaining nations and deemed to have the highest risk.

The Health Ministry (MOH) said it will add 12 more countries to Category 2 from 11.59pm on Oct 6, including Denmark, France, Italy, Japan and Spain. This takes the total number in this category to 20.

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Also from the same date, 13 more countries will be added to Category 3, among them the US, the UK, Greece and the Maldives. This will bring the total number in this category to 21.

MOH said that those with a travel history to Category 3 and 4 countries and regions in the last 14 days prior to arrival in Singapore - including being in Singapore prior to travel - will serve a 10-day SHN at dedicated facilities.

They will undergo a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on arrival and on Day 10, and a self-conducted antigen rapid test on Days 3 and 7. They can end their SHN with a negative PCR test result on the tenth day.

Fully-vaccinated travellers who stayed in Category 3 countries in the 14 days prior to arrival in Singapore may apply to serve SHN at home or other suitable places if they occupy these accomodation alone, or only with fully-vaccinated household members serving SHN with the same travel history and SHN duration. Unvaccinated travellers must still serve a 10-day SHN at dedicated facilities.

Giving an update on vaccination protocol, MOH said that, from Nov 1, all Work Pass and Student's Pass holders must be fully vaccinated before arriving in Singapore. This will apply to those applying to enter Singapore via the Work Pass Holder General Lane and Student's Pass Holder Lane.

The Manpower Ministry will also resume its entry approvals for migrant domestic workers, and S Pass and work permit holders from the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors who enter Singapore from higher risk countries and regions.

These people must be fully vaccinated before arrival, and they can start applying for entry approval from Oct 15. The ministry, however, said these approvals "will be limited in view of the evolving local and global Covid-19 situation" and the need to minimise importation risk.

As for booster vaccines, the Expert Committee on Covid-19 Vaccination has been deliberating on recommending a booster for more groups of people such as healthcare workers, frontline workers and persons in other vulnerable settings beyond nursing homes.

The committee noted that there is "good basis" to do so, given that this is already being recommended in some countries. More details will be announced in due course, and the MOH said it is "fully ready" to support this extension.

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