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In addition to these countries moving to Category IV, others including Cambodia, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Malaysia, South Africa, UAE, and Vietnam will be placed in Category III.
On 23 October 2021 (Saturday), Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that all travellers (excluding short-term visitors) with a 14-day travel history to Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka prior to departure to Singapore will be allowed to enter and/or transit through the country.
This exercise will start from 26 October 2021 (Tuesday), 2359 hours. Travellers from these countries, who were previously under the banned list, will now be subject to Category IV border measures.
Under Category IV border measures, travellers are required to undergo:
- A 10-day stay-home-notice (SHN) at a dedicated SHN facility (the charges are S$1,450), and
- A COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on day 10 of SHN.
Long-Term Pass Holders (LTPHs) with passes issued by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) may have to comply with additional requirements and measures.
Prior to this, travellers from Category IV countries had to undergo an on-arrival PCR test, as well as an antigen rapid test (ART) on day three and seven of their arrival during their SHN.
Move to Category III for several nations
Further, effective 26 October (Tuesday), travellers from the following will be placed in Category III:
- Cambodia,
- Egypt,
- Hungary,
- Indonesia,
- Israel,
- Malaysia,
- Mongolia,
- Qatar,
- Rwanda,
- Samoa,
- Seychelles,
- South Africa,
- Tonga,
- United Arab Emirates (UAE), and
- Vietnam.
With that, all travellers from Category III countries/regions (i.e., both vaccinated, and unvaccinated) will serve their 10-day SHN at their declared place of residence/accommodation regardless of the travellers’ and their household members’ vaccination status and travel history.
The Ministry said: "By default, they will not be allocated accommodation in any dedicated SHN facilities. Returning residents should ensure that alternative accommodation is secured prior to their return if their homes are unsuitable for their SHN."
However, while noting that Cat III travellers will serve their SHN at home, MOH has clarified: "Travellers with vulnerable household members are reminded to isolate in their room and minimise contact with the vulnerable household members."
Streamlined testing regime
In the final measure announced, testing procedures will be simplified significantly to require travellers to undergo only one (1) PCR test after arrival in Singapore, effective 26 October 2021, 2359 hours.
What this implies is:
- Category I travellers and Category II VTL Travellers – On-arrival PCR test only
- Category II (non-VTL) to IV travellers1 – End of SHN exit PCR test only
- Category II (non-VTL) travellers will undergo their end-of-SHN exit PCR test on the 7th day of their arrival
- Category III and IV travellers will undergo their end-of-SHN exit PCR test on the 10th day of their arrival
This marks a shift away from the previous rules; as such, all travellers from Category II (non-Vaccinated Travel Lane, or VTL) will no longer need to undergo an on-arrival PCR test.
"We will continue to adjust our border measures as the global situation evolves, so that we will reconnect with the world and reinstate our economic position globally," MOH added.
RECAP:
- Singapore's latest travel protocols: UK & US move to Cat II, VTL with South Korea, and more
- 6 things to know about travelling through Singapore's Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs)
- Singapore opens VTL to unvaccinated children aged 12 and below
Image / Unsplash
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