SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/Asia News Network): All travellers vaccinated against Covid-19 and children aged 12 and below will be able to enter Singapore with just a pre-departure Covid-19 test from 11.59pm on March 31.
In Singapore’s most significant move to reopen its borders, travellers will no longer be required to take only designated flights to enter Singapore quarantine-free, and will not have to take a Covid-19 antigen rapid test (ART) within 24 hours of arrival.
There will also be no more quotas on the number of daily arrivals and no entry approvals needed for all vaccinated travellers.
he new border policies will make the travel experience almost like that before the pandemic.
The new travel scheme, named the Vaccinated Travel Framework, will replace the existing Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Thursday (March 24) that the pre-departure test two days before departure will, however, remain in place for now.
“We will continue to monitor the local and global Covid-19 situations and consider removing the pre-departure test requirement in the coming weeks,” said MOH.
Non-fully vaccinated long-term pass holders and short-term visitors aged 13 and above are generally not allowed to enter Singapore.
But exemptions will be made for long-term pass holders medically ineligible for vaccines, long-term pass holders aged 13 to 17, and long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with other valid entry approvals.
These visitors are required to take a pre-departure test within two days before departure for Singapore, undergo a seven-day stay-home notice, and take a polymerase chain reaction test at the end of their SHN period.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a televised speech on Thursday(March 24) morning that the move to reopen to vaccinated travellers will give a much-needed boost to businesses, particularly the tourism sector, and help Singapore reclaim its position as a business and aviation hub.
The Government had earlier announced a target to restore air travel to 50 per cent of the levels before the Covid-19 pandemic. The total number of passenger movements through Changi in February this year was 13.7 per cent of the levels in February 2019 prior to the pandemic.
MOH also updated its policy for charging travellers infected with Covid-19 on Thursday with immediate effect.
Currently, Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders are required to pay for medical bills in hospitals and dedicated Covid-19 treatment and recovery facilities, if they test positive for Covid-19 within 14 days of their return to Singapore.
But this policy will now be changed with the new Vaccinated Travel Framework, said MOH.
Vaccinated Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders who are subject to general travel category border measures will now no longer be required to pay for medical bills related to Covid-19.
MOH said any future changes to the charging policy for local community cases will correspondingly apply to this group of travellers.
Travellers who are not fully vaccinated will remain responsible for their Covid-19 treatment costs, as per the charging policy for unvaccinated individuals who contracted Covid-19 in the community.
Reference: s://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2022/03/24/all-vaccinated-travellers-can-enter-singapore-without-quarantine-from-april-1-no-need-for-vtl-flights