Testing regimes simplified for VTL travel and recently-recovered travellers

TRAVELLERS using the vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) only need to do an unsupervised antigen rapid test (ART) from Day 2 to Day 7 of their arrival to Singapore if they are going out, the Ministry of Health said on Friday (Jan 21).

This will kick in from Jan 23, 2359 hours. These travellers do not need to submit their ART results but must test negative before going out.

Meanwhile, those who test positive on ART are not required to undergo a confirmatory Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and can recover under Protocol 2 unless they identify themselves as potentially at risk, in which case they should visit a doctor for medical advice after testing positive even if they feel well, said MOH.

Under Protocol 2, those who test positive for Covid are required to self-isolate for 72 hours at home. They can stop self-isolating if they test negative on an ART after at least 72 hours.

Travellers arriving via VTLs previously had to undergo a four-week extension to the enhanced 7-day testing regime to facilitate the detection of imported Omicron cases and slow transmission into the community.

VTL travellers who arrive before Jan 23, 2359 hours are still required to continue with this regime and do unsupervised self-administered ART on Days 2, 4, 5 and 6 with submission of results online, and supervised ART on Days 3 and 7 from their arrival.

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As for travellers who are fully vaccinated and recently covered, they will be exempted from all testing and Stay-Home Notice (SHN) requirements if they are able to provide appropriate documentary proof.

Travellers who are not fully vaccinated but are recently-recovered (within 90 days of their last infection) will be exempted from pre-departure testing requirements, but will still be subjected to all other prevailing border measures.

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