Testing for all entering Singapore; more long-term pass holders can return

Singapore

SINGAPORE will make changes to its border measures this week, which will require testing of all incoming travellers and will see the return of more long-term pass holders in the coming weeks.

Since March 21, all incoming travellers - including Singaporeans, permanent residents (PRs) and long term pass holders - have had to serve a two week stay-home notice (SHN). From 11.59 pm on June 17, incoming travellers will also have to take a swab test a few days before the end of their SHN period. The swab test will take place at a community testing facility at a designated venue and time slot.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that the swab test is an additional precautionary measure to detect the virus, given the risks of asymptomatic cases. "We will monitor the results of these tests and may make adjustments to the testing requirements over time," MOH added.

Meanwhile, all travellers who are entering Singapore after two consecutive weeks in Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, China, New Zealand, Taiwan, Vietnam or Korea will be able to carry out their SHN at home or a hotel at their own cost. Aside from these countries, all other travellers entering Singapore will continue to serve their two-week SHN at dedicated SHN facilities. They will also have to cover the S$2,000 cost of their two-week stay at the SHN facility, unless they are Singaporeans or PRs.

All inbound and outbound travellers who enter Singapore from 11.59 pm on June 17 will also have to cover the cost of their own Covid-19 test, which can cost up to S$200.

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Prior to this, the government had borne the costs of stays at SHN facilities for travellers entering Singapore, as long as they departed the Republic before March 27 as per the prevailing travel advisory, as well as the costs of the bulk of Covid-19 tests. Singaporeans and Singapore residents are still advised by the government to defer all travel abroad, unless it is essential business or official travel under the fast-lane arrangement.

Long-term pass holders will still need to get the necessary approvals to enter Singapore, aside from those using the Singapore-China fast lane arrangement. With global and local health conditions improving, MOH has gradually increased the number of entry approvals given to long term pass holders, and expects to be able to enable the return of more long-pass holders in the coming weeks.

On the re-entry of long-term pass holders into Singapore, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said at a virtual press conference: "We do expect to be able to allow a larger flow of such returnees coming back to Singapore with all the precautions that will be in place, including testing of all of these travellers."

Long-term pass holders include work pass holders, student's pass holders and dependant's pass holders.

Douglas Foo, president of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, reckons the latest advisories will give enterprises greater visibility, allowing them to plan the deployment of manpower and manage any manpower issues for the next quarter and beyond. Some of its member companies have had employees who were unable to return to Singapore owing to border closures.

Victor Mills, chief executive of the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC), said: "It is a positive both for businesses and for the individual Employment Pass (EP) holders. It's great there are now clear pathways for them to come back." He also added that it will be encouraging for businesses that Phase 2 will start as early as this week, with more of the economy opening up.

Ho Meng Kit, chief executive of the Singapore Business Federation, pointed out that families of dependant's pass holders who might have been stuck abroad would be able to return to Singapore, which would boost morale for employees who were separated from their kin.

The precautionary measures being put in place could also eventually allow for more business travel through bilateral travel arrangements, he suggested.

MOH said on Monday that it will study how to facilitate business travel, in particular for Singapore-based professionals who need to travel frequently for work, with the necessary safeguards in place.

Short-term visitors, which include tourists, are not allowed to enter Singapore yet, aside from those who are under the fast-lane arrangement or have special approvals.

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