vaccinated travel framework

• Countries & Regions
• International Organisations (IOs)
• Climate Change
• Counter Terrorism
• Disarmament
• Cybersecurity
• International Peacekeeping
• Singapore's Voluntary National Review
• Small States
• Sustainable Development
• Pedra Branca
• Singapore Universal Periodic Review
• Water Agreements
• Find A Singapore Overseas Mission
• Foreign Representatives To Singapore
• COVID-19 Information
• Travel Tips
• Visa Information
• I Need Help Overseas
• Passport Matters
• Legalisation of Documents
• Travel Advisories and Notices
• Useful links
• Press Statements, Transcripts & Photos
• Announcements and Highlights
• Experience Singapore
• Foreign Service Officer (Functional and Corporate)
• Foreign Service Officer (Political and Economic)
• Foreign Service Administration Specialist
• Job Opportunities
• Pre-University
• Undergraduate
• Foreign Service Scholarships
• Recruitment
• Scholarship
• Reach.gov.sg

Vaccinated Travel Framework for Entry to Singapore

From 1 April 2022, entry into Singapore will be allowed for fully vaccinated travellers under the Vaccinated Travel Framework.

• Stay-Home Notice (SHN) and on-arrival COVID-19 tests are not required for all fully vaccinated travellers, or children aged 12 and below.
• There is no need to apply for entry approvals (including the Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP)) or take designated flights.
• There is no need for travel insurance for fully-vaccinated short-term visitors.
• Please note that foreign passport holders who require a visa for entry into Singapore would still need to apply for a visa. For visa requirements and visa application for entry into Singapore, please refer to ICA page here: https://www.ica.gov.sg/enter-depart/entry_requirements/visa_requirements

More details on the General Travel Category Requirements for Fully Vaccinated Travellers and Non Fully Vaccinated Children, including eligibility criteria and requirements, can be found on Safetravel’s website here: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/arriving/general-travel/fully-vaccinated  

Fully vaccinated travellers entering Singapore via air or sea checkpoints will no longer need to undergo Pre-Departure Testing.  Non-fully vaccinated travellers seeking entry into Singapore should refer to Safetravel's website here for the pre-departure requirements.

Pre-Departure Covid-19 Tests in the ROK [Non-Fully Vaccinated Travelers]

Travellers born before 2020 (i.e. above 2 years old) are required to take any of the following Covid-19 tests within 2 days before departure for Singapore :

• Covid-19 PCR Test
• Antigen Rapid Test (ART) that is either i.  Professionally administered, ii.  [For Eligible Travellers Only]  Self-administered ART remotely supervised by an  approved ART provider in Singapore .

For a list of PCR-testing facilities in the ROK, please refer to KDCA’s list here (in English):  https://tinyurl.com/53nsu8u6

Travellers wishing to take pre-departure ART tests may wish to consider the following:

• Incheon Airport Test Centres:  https://www.airport.kr/ap_cnt/en/svc/covid19/medical/medical.do
• H Plus Yangji Hospital: http s://eng.newyjh.com/hplus/screserv.php
• Hana ENT Hospital: http://www.hanaent.co.kr/eng.html
• Samsung Dream ENT Clinics (Jongro and Gangnam ): https://www.ssdream.co.kr/  (website in Korean only)
• Jongro Yonsei ENT Clinic:  http://jongroent.com/ (website in Korean only)

A negative COVID-19 test result (whether PCR or ART) should be issued in English or accompanied by a notarised English translation, containing the COVID-19 test results, test date, traveller’s name, and traveller’s date of birth (or passport number) to be recognised as a valid Pre-Departure Test result for your entry to Singapore. We advise you to call ahead to check directly with the test center whether it is able to provide the documentation that fulfils these requirements.

We seek your kind understanding that the Singapore Embassy in Seoul is not in a position to make enquiries or appointments for PCR/ART COVID-19 tests on behalf of travellers.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for conducting and managing diplomatic relations between Singapore and other countries and regions.

Travel Page

The Straits Times

• International
• Print Edition
• news with benefits
• SPH Rewards
• STClassifieds
• Berita Harian
• Hardwarezone
• Shin Min Daily News
• Tamil Murasu
• The Business Times
• The New Paper
• Lianhe Zaobao
• Advertise with us

askST: How has the Vaccinated Travel Framework eased air travel to and from S'pore?

SINGAPORE - Borders here were reopened with the Vaccinated Travel Framework replacing vaccinated travel lanes on Friday (April 1). The Straits Times explains what the new border policies entail for those looking to fly into Singapore.

Q: What are the changes that apply to air travellers?

A: First, with the removal of the vaccinated travel lanes , all fully vaccinated travellers from all regions can take any flight to Singapore. This means that there are no quotas to daily arrivals nor requirements to serve a stay-home notice. 

Fully vaccinated visitors are also no longer required to apply for a vaccinated travel pass or air travel pass (ATP) for entry into Singapore. Travellers' existing ATPs will be annulled.

Q: What are the testing requirements?

A: Fully vaccinated travellers are now required to take only a pre-departure test within two days before departing for Singapore and obtain a negative test result.

They can take a polymerase chain reaction test, a professionally administered antigen rapid test (ART), or a self-administered ART remotely supervised by an ART provider in Singapore.

Testing upon arrival here is no longer required. Travellers will have their status registered as fully vaccinated for 30 days under the new framework.

Fully vaccinated travellers include those who have received the full regimen of World Health Organisation Emergency Use Listing vaccines at least 14 days before arrival in Singapore and have met the minimum dose interval period.

Children aged 12 and below and not fully vaccinated are allowed to enter Singapore under similar measures as fully vaccinated adults.

Simplified rules, smooth trip

Entry approvals.

Fully vaccinated individuals do not need any entry approvals to enter Singapore. The air travel pass required as part of Singapore’s unilateral opening to Macau, China and Taiwan is no longer a must as well.

Fully vaccinated travellers are still required to take a pre-departure test within two days before departing for Singapore and obtain a negative test result. But they no longer need to take any Covid-19 tests after arrival in Singapore.

Designated flights, quotas

They can enter Singapore on any flights without having to serve quarantine. There will no longer be any quotas applied on daily arrivals.

Vaccination status

Travellers can show all vaccination certificates regardless of place of issue as proof of vaccination. These certificates need not be digitally verifiable. Children aged 12 years and below are exempted from the vaccination requirement, in line with domestic measures.

Singapore Arrival Card

The existing SG Arrival Card will be simplified such that it can be completed easily. Travellers just need to submit their personal particulars, vaccination status and health declaration.

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.

• Vaccinated Travel Framework
• Vaccinated Travel Lane/VTL

Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards

Spin the wheel now

What you need to know about Singapore's new vaccinated travel framework

Advertisement.

A woman walks across a link bridge to a terminal at Singapore's Changi Airport on Sep 8, 2021. (File photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman)

Vanessa Lim

SINGAPORE: A new simplified framework that will allow fully vaccinated travellers to enter Singapore quarantine-free will come into effect from Apr 1, replacing all existing vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) and unilateral opening arrangements.

On Thursday (Mar 24), the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that all countries and regions will be classified into two categories - general travel or the restricted category - under the new vaccinated travel framework.

All fully vaccinated travellers, as well as children aged 12 and below, will be able to enter Singapore with just a pre-departure COVID-19 test from 11.59pm on Mar 31.

They will also no longer need to apply for entry approvals or take designated VTL transport to enter Singapore quarantine-free.

Here's what travellers need to know about entering Singapore under the new framework, once it kicks in.

WHO CAN ENTER SINGAPORE QUARANTINE-FREE?

All fully vaccinated travellers from any country or region will be able to enter Singapore without the need for quarantine, as long as they have not visited any countries or regions in the restricted category in the past seven days.

There are currently no countries or regions on the restricted category.

This means that such travellers will no longer be required to apply for a vaccinated travel pass (VTP) or air travel pass (ATP) for entry into Singapore.

Travellers holding a valid VTP or ATP can continue to enter Singapore under the VTL or unilateral opening arrangement until Mar 31, after which, they will no longer be required to present their passes.

While non-fully vaccinated long-term pass-holders and short-term visitors aged 13 and above are generally not allowed to enter Singapore, there are a few exceptions:

• Long-term pass-holders who are medically ineligible for vaccines
• Long-term pass-holders and short-term visitors who have valid entry approval such as compassionate reasons
• Long-term pass-holders aged between 13 and 17, who will be subjected to a seven-day stay-home notice and an exit polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test after their isolation period

WHAT ARE THE TESTING REQUIREMENTS?

Fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to take any COVID-19 tests in Singapore.

However, they must take a pre-departure test within two days before departing for Singapore and obtain a negative test result. This can either be a PCR test, a professionally administered antigen rapid test (ART) or a remotely supervised self-administered ART.

On Thursday, Transport Minister S Iswaran said the Government will review the removal of the pre-departure test requirement in “two to four weeks by mid-April”, taking into account the prevailing public health assessment.

As for non-fully vaccinated long-term pass-holders and short-term visitors who are allowed to enter Singapore, they will be required to take a pre-departure test within two days before departure for Singapore, undergo a seven-day stay-home notice, and take a PCR test after their isolation period. 

DO I NEED TO TAKE DESIGNATED FLIGHTS OR FERRIES?

From Apr 1, all existing VTLs and unilateral opening arrangements will be retired. As such, fully vaccinated travellers will be able to enter Singapore on any flight or ferry. There will also be no more quotas applied on daily or weekly arrivals.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR SHORT-TERM VISITORS

In addition to pre-departure COVID-19 tests, foreign short-term visitors holding passports or travel documents issued by visa-required countries or regions must apply for an entry visa.

They must also purchase travel insurance, with a minimum coverage of S$30,000 for COVID-19-related medical treatment and hospitalisation costs, prior to their travel to Singapore. These visitors must also download and use Singapore’s contact tracing app - TraceTogether app - while in the country.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET COVID-19 AFTER I RETURN?

Fully vaccinated Singapore residents as well as long-term pass holders who travel to places under the general category, will no longer be required to pay for COVID-19-related treatment in hospitals or government facilities, if they develop symptoms or test positive within 14 days of their return to Singapore.

However, those travelling to places under the restricted category - regardless of their vaccination status - will be required to pay for medical bills in hospitals and dedicated COVID-19 treatment and recovery facilities, if they develop onset of symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 within seven days of their return to Singapore.

As for those who are not fully vaccinated, they will remain responsible for their COVID-19 treatment costs, as per the charging policy for unvaccinated individuals who contracted COVID- 19 in the community.

Related Topics

Recommended, recent searches, trending topics, this browser is no longer supported.

We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast, secure and the best it can possibly be.

To continue, upgrade to a supported browser or, for the finest experience, download the mobile app.

Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Coronavirus Updates

Cdc says travel is safe for fully vaccinated people, but opposes nonessential trips.

Rachel Treisman

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its domestic travel guidance for fully vaccinated people on Friday, lifting certain requirements while continuing to advise mitigation measures like mask-wearing and hand-washing. Angus Mordant/Bloomberg via Getty Images hide caption

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its domestic travel guidance for fully vaccinated people on Friday, lifting certain requirements while continuing to advise mitigation measures like mask-wearing and hand-washing.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its domestic travel guidance for fully vaccinated people, lifting certain testing and self-quarantine requirements and recommending precautions like wearing a mask and avoiding crowds. But health officials continue to discourage nonessential travel, citing a sustained rise in cases and hospitalizations.

The CDC updated its website on Friday to reflect the latest scientific evidence, writing that "people who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States."

The announcement comes less than a month after the CDC first released updated guidance about gatherings for fully vaccinated people, which it described as a "first step" toward returning to everyday activities.

Air Travel Is Opening Up Again, But That Doesn't Mean The Pandemic Is Over

The CDC considers someone fully vaccinated two weeks after they receive the last dose of vaccine. Those individuals will no longer need to get tested before or after travel unless their destination requires it, and do not need to self-quarantine upon return.

The new guidance means, for example, that fully vaccinated grandparents can fly to visit their healthy grandkids without getting a COVID-19 test or self-quarantining as long as they follow other recommended measures while traveling, according to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky.

Those measures include wearing a mask over their nose and mouth, staying 6 feet from others and washing their hands frequently. Masks are required on all planes traveling into, within or out of the U.S., under an executive order issued by President Biden.

But Walensky, speaking at a White House COVID-19 Response Team briefing on Friday, nonetheless discouraged all nonessential travel, citing a continued increase in the seven-day average of cases and hospitalizations.

"While we believe that fully vaccinated people can travel at low risk to themselves, CDC is not recommending travel at this time due to the rising number of cases," Walensky said.

CDC Director Fears 'Impending Doom' If U.S. Opens Too Quickly

She said that while vaccinated people can do more things safely, most Americans are not yet fully vaccinated. Those who are not must have a negative test 1-3 days before they travel under CDC guidance. They must either get tested 3-5 days after they return and self-quarantine for 7 days, or self-quarantine for 10 days with no test.

Walensky said on Monday that there is more travel occurring now than throughout the pandemic, including the winter holidays. She acknowledged that people have been looking to get away over spring break or take advantage of what they perceive as a "relative paucity in cases," and she said the country was seeing an uptick in cases as a result.

"The thing that's different this time is that we actually have it in our power to be done with the scale of the vaccination," she said. "And that will be so much slower if we have another surge to deal with as well."

The U.S. is already seeing an uptick in domestic travel, and many Americans are looking to book trips in the coming months in what experts described to NPR as a sign of "clear pent up demand for travel."

As the country's supply of COVID-19 doses has grown, so has Biden's goal for the number of shots in arms during his first 100 days, doubling the target to 200 million by the end of this month. Many states have already expanded eligibility to all adults or are set to do so in the coming weeks, well ahead of the president's May 1 deadline.

According to NPR's vaccine tracker , 16.9% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated, and 30% has had at least one dose. Researchers estimate that 70% to 85% of the country would need to have immunity for COVID-19 to stop spreading through communities.

International travel restrictions remain

The CDC is not lifting travel restrictions barring the entry of most non-U.S. citizens from places including China, Brazil, South Africa and parts of Europe. It will continue to require airline passengers entering the U.S. to get a test within three days of their departure and show proof of a negative result before boarding.

The travel industry has been pushing for some of these restrictions to end. A group of 26 organizations sent a letter to White House COVID-19 czar Jeffrey Zients urging the federal government "to partner with us to develop, by May 1, 2021, a risk-based, data-driven roadmap to rescind inbound international travel restrictions."

While Some Spring Breakers Swarm Beaches, Many Stay Home, Dreaming Of Summer Travel

"To be clear, at this time, we do not support removal or easing of core public health protections, such as the universal mask mandate, inbound international testing requirement, physical distancing or other measures that have made travel safer and reduced transmission of the virus," they wrote. "However, the data and science demonstrate that the right public health measures are now in place to effectively mitigate risk and allow for the safe removal of entry restrictions."

Travel and tourism have taken a considerable hit because of the pandemic with industry groups noting that overseas travel to the U.S. declined by 81% in 2020, causing billions of dollars in losses. Without lifting international travel bans, the U.S. Travel Association estimates that some 1.1 million American jobs will not be restored and billions in spending will be lost by the end of the year.

"Fortunately, enough progress has been made on the health front that a rebound for domestic leisure travel looks possible this year, but that alone won't get the job done," Roger Dow, the association's president and CEO, said in a statement . "A full travel recovery will depend on reopening international markets, and we must also contend with the challenge of reviving business travel."

Fauci Expects Surge In Vaccinations To Keep A 4th Coronavirus Wave At Bay

• COVID-19 vaccine
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Based on Zip Code Change

• Shop the Red Cross Store

COVID-19: CDC Says Fully Vaccinated People Can Travel

• Share via Email
• Share on Facebook
• Share on Twitter
• Share on LinkedIn

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its travel guidance for people who are fully vaccinated. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last recommended dose of vaccine.

According to the CDC, fully vaccinated people can travel at low risk to themselves within the United States and do not need COVID-19 testing or self-quarantine after their trip as long as they continue to take COVID-19 precautions while traveling — wearing a mask, avoiding crowds, socially distancing and washing hands frequently.

Non-essential travel is still discouraged for people who are not fully vaccinated. They should still get tested 1-3 days before domestic travel and again 3-5 days after travel. They should stay home and self-quarantine for 7 days after travel or 10 days if they don’t get tested after traveling. 

You can find more information here , including guidance for international travelers.

The vast majority of people need to be fully vaccinated before COVID-19 precautions can be lifted broadly. Until then, it is important that everyone continue to take precautions in public places, meaning wear a mask, stay six feet apart, avoid crowds and avoid poorly ventilated spaces.

In alignment with CDC guidelines, the American Red Cross continues to require face masks to be worn by both donors and staff at donation centers and blood drives.

FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE CAN:

• Visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors without wearing masks or social distancing.
• Visit with unvaccinated people from a single household who are at low risk for severe COVID-19 disease indoors without wearing masks or social distancing.
• Refrain from quarantine and testing following a known exposure if they have no symptoms.

However, fully vaccinated people should still watch for symptoms of COVID-19  for 14 days following an exposure. If they experience symptoms, they should isolate themselves from others, be tested for COVID-19 if indicated, and inform their health care provider of their vaccination status when they contact them.

FOR NOW, FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE SHOULD CONTINUE TO:

• Wear a well-fitted mask and social distance in public.
• Wear masks, practice social distancing, and adhere to other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people who are at  increased risk for severe COVID-19  disease or who have an unvaccinated household member who is at increased risk for severe illness.
• Wear masks, maintain physical distance and practice other prevention measures when visiting with unvaccinated people from multiple households
• Follow guidance issued by individual employers.

VACCINE UPDATE More than 3 million people are receiving a vaccine on an average day. The CDC reports that more than 108 million people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, including about 63 million people who have been fully vaccinated. This means that about 32% of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of vaccine and 19% has been fully vaccinated.

State and local governments decide when each group gets access to vaccines. Visit your state  or  local   health department for more information on eligibility and availability in your area.

Some people experience mild discomfort after they get a vaccine. This means the vaccine is working and creating an immune response in your body. If you experience side effects, it’s important to still make sure you get your second dose of the vaccine. More information is available here.

WHAT THE RED CROSS IS DOING As COVID-19 vaccination efforts continue, the American Red Cross is supporting local communities across the country in their work when requested.

Depending on the circumstances, our support may include helping to set up vaccination sites, collecting information from people being vaccinated, and providing water and snacks for medical staff and people waiting to be vaccinated.

As of April 6, the Red Cross has supported 146 events across 31 states. Red Cross volunteers who are medical professionals may also be working with local authorities to help give vaccinations if their state licenses permit them to do so. The Red Cross is also helping to vaccinate U.S. service members on bases around the globe and are active in U.S. veterans’ hospitals.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org , or follow us on social media.

Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.

Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.

Please enter a valid 5 digit zip code

Take a class and be ready to respond if an emergency strikes.

Please enter a 5 digit zip code.

Please select a class type

• Ministry of Health

News Highlights

24th Mar 2022

               It has been more than a week since the introduction of the Safe Management Measures (SMM) 1-5 framework. This was done with a view of simplifying and streamlining the rules, thus enabling us to ease the SMMs along these five parameters, once there was an improvement in our overall healthcare situation. 

2.              Thanks to the collective efforts of everyone in Singapore, the daily local case numbers and the number of COVID-19 related hospitalisations have declined steadily. While the workload of our healthcare workers remains high with the increase in non-COVID-19 admissions, our overall conditions have improved significantly. We are now in a position to make a significant move to ease our community SMMs, and make further progress towards living with COVID-19.

3.              In tandem with the easing of community SMMs, we will also facilitate the resumption of travel by transiting to a Vaccinated Travel framework, where all fully vaccinated travellers can enjoy quarantine-free entry into Singapore without the need to enter under specific Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs).

4.              Even as we move towards normalcy, it is necessary to adequately protect vulnerable segments in our society who are at higher risk of falling severely ill from COVID-19. As such, we have accepted the recommendation by the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) to offer a second booster dose to persons aged 80 years and above, residents of aged care facilities, as well as medically vulnerable persons with co-morbidities. These groups are most affected by waning vaccine efficacy over time. The second booster dose should be taken five months after receiving their first booster dose.

Updates on the Local Situation

5.              Daily case numbers and COVID-19 hospitalisations have continued to decline steadily in the past week. The 7-day moving average of daily case numbers has fallen from around 13,000 to under 10,000. More importantly, the number of hospitalisations has fallen from 1,238 to 951. Incidence of severe illness has also remained low. In the past 28 days, 0.04% and 0.3% of local cases required ICU care or oxygen supplementation respectively.

Updates on Community SMMs

6.              The SMM 1-5 framework consists of five key parameters: (i) group sizes; (ii) mask-wearing; (iii) workplace requirements; (iv) safe distancing; and (v) capacity limits. As the local situation has improved considerably, we will ease the community SMMs along these five parameters.  From 29 March 2022 , we will implement the following adjustments (see Annex A for more details):

a.     Group Sizes. The permissible group size for social gatherings will be increased from 5 persons to 10 persons for mask-off activities . The maximum number of unique visitors per household will also be adjusted from 5 persons at any one time, to 10 persons at any one time .

b.     Mask-Wearing . Mask-wearing will continue to be required for indoor settings when people leave their homes, but will be optional in outdoor settings. However, we encourage individuals to wear their masks even when outdoors for personal protection and to protect others, especially in crowded areas. Indoor places refer to all buildings/places with clearly defined entrances/exits, such as office buildings, shopping malls, public transport (i.e. when commuting in trains and buses), and includes hawker centres and coffeeshops. Places which are sheltered but with open access generally, such as Housing Development Board (HDB) void decks, retail block walkways, bus stops, and naturally ventilated bus interchanges will be regarded as outdoor areas. See Annex B for more examples.

c.      Workplace Requirements . Up to 75% of employees who are able to work from home can now return to the workplace, an increase from the current limit of 50%. We will continue to align the rules for social gatherings in workplaces and other social settings, so long as the general group size and masking rules are adhered to.

d.     Safe Distancing . Safe distancing continues to be encouraged but will not be required between individuals or groups for mask-on settings. A safe distance of 1 metre will continue to be required for mask-off settings. between individuals or between groups up to the prevailing group size limit. Notwithstanding this, we still need to guard against gatherings of big crowds, even if they have their masks on. Hence, we will continue to impose capacity limits, as described below.

e.     Capacity Limits . The capacity limit of 50% for large events and settings of more than 1,000 pax 1  will be increased to 75% . This means that:

                                      i.      For smaller settings/events with ≤ 1,000 pax, they can proceed without being subject to any capacity limit.

                                    ii.      For larger settings/events with >1,000 pax and that are mask-on 2 , they will be subject to operating within 75% of the capacity limit of the venue. For mask-off events, individuals or groups of individuals up to the prevailing group size will be required to comply with the 1 metre safe distancing requirement.

See Annex C for the list of settings/events covered.

Other Activity-Specific Adjustments

7.              In line with the above easing under the SMM 1-5 framework, we will also make the following activity-specific adjustments from 29 March 2022 .

8.              Dine-in at food and beverage (F&B) establishments. In line with the increase in group size, groups of up to 10 fully vaccinated persons will be allowed to dine-in at F&B establishments, including hawker centres and coffee shops, where full vaccination-differentiated SMMs (VDS) checks have been implemented at their entrances. To ease the operational burden for F&B operators, we will allow all F&B establishments to seat smaller groups of up to 5 fully vaccinated persons, without the need for full VDS checks at their entrance. Instead, random spot-checks will be done to ensure that only vaccinated persons are dining-in at these places, and the onus will be on the dining-in individuals to abide by the rules. This will make it easier for the F&B operators who face difficulties in cordoning off their venues and setting up discrete access control points especially hawker centres and coffee-shops.

9.              Alcohol consumption. The current restriction, in F&B establishments, on the sale and consumption of alcohol after 10.30pm will be lifted.

10.           Live performances and screening of programmes. Live performances will be allowed to resume at all venues, including F&B establishments. Outdoor live performances and busking 3  will also be allowed to resume.  Groups that are involved in the performances will have to comply with the prevailing SMM 1-5, i.e. keep to the group size of 10 unmasked persons. We will also lift the restriction on the screening of live broadcast programmes and recorded entertainment in F&B establishments.

11.           Vocalisation activities . We had previously taken a strong position against group vocalisation activities because of the higher risk of transmission. But we are now in a different situation and can start easing this restriction. Subject to masks being worn throughout the vocalisation activity, we will allow the following activities which involve vocalisation by large groups:

a.     Congregational singing and chanting;

b.     Cheering by audiences/spectators/participants at events; and

c.      Singing in general settings, including in schools.

12.           Social events and larger-scale social gatherings. Except for marriage solemnisations and wedding receptions, which are key life events, we have held back from allowing larger-scale social gatherings and events such as gala dinners, corporate dinner-and-dance events (D&Ds), birthday celebrations and anniversaries.  Given the stabilising local situation and for consistency with other events, we will allow such social events and gatherings to resume. Organisers of these events should still comply the prevailing SMM 1-5. That means there should be no more than 10 persons per table, and safe distancing of 1 m maintained between tables. Participants should also continue to exercise prudence and restraint, and limit their interactions to the same group they are seated with.

13.           The above changes will all take effect from 29 March 2022. The relevant agencies will provide more details on any further detailed requirements specific to their sectors.

14.           We are separately looking into the safe resumption of nightlife businesses, comprising bars, pubs, karaoke establishments, discotheques and nightclubs. These are activities with much higher risks of transmission and where there are generally more difficulties complying with the prevailing SMM 1-5. MTI and MHA will provide an update on the re-opening of the sector in the coming weeks.

Supporting Literacy and Learning for Young Children

15.           Currently, children aged 6 years and above are required to wear a mask when they leave their homes, while children younger than 6 are strongly encouraged to mask up when there is interaction with others. While this affords young children protection against COVID-19 infection, it may also make it more challenging for them, especially those with listening or learning difficulties, to develop language and literacy skills. In line with the national transition towards COVID-19 resiliency, the Ministry of Education (MOE) and Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will offer selected groups of teachers and students in schools, preschools and Early Intervention Centres the flexibility to remove their masks during language and literacy lessons to better support children’s learning and development needs. These groups include children with hearing loss, speech articulation issues, or learning difficulties such as dyslexia. MOE and ECDA will share details.

Rationalisation of SMMs for Migrant Workers (MWs) living in Dormitories

16.           The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will also align the SMMs for MWs living in dormitories with the latest community SMMs.

17.           In addition, from 1 April 2022 , vaccinated MWs will no longer need to apply for Exit Passes to visit recreation centres (RCs). Only unvaccinated MWs must continue to apply for Exit Passes and also fulfil their pre-visit ART before visiting the RCs. For community visits, we earlier increased the quota of community visit slots for vaccinated MWs from 3,000 on weekdays, and 6,000 for weekends and public holidays to 15,000 and 30,000 respectively. This quota will remain the same, but there will no longer be a need to do pre-visit ART. To safeguard unvaccinated MWs against infection, they would still not be allowed to visit the community.

Cessation of Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) Regime

18.           As part of our shift in focus towards protecting the vulnerable and in view of the reduced effectiveness of RRT in containing the Omicron variant given its shorter incubation period and higher transmissibility, we had earlier streamlined RRT to apply only to settings catering to vulnerable groups and selected essential services sectors.

19.           As the COVID-19 situation eases, we will optimise our testing strategy further. The high vaccination and booster coverage among the sectors still on RRT, and their strict compliance to their specific safe management measures are sufficient to protect the individuals within these sectors, now that we have passed the peak of the Omicron wave. Therefore, from 29 March 2022 , we will stop RRT for all sectors 4 . With this, the Government subsidies provided for companies on RRT will also end on 29 March 2022. Employers and businesses who wish to impose regular testing at the workplace at their cost may continue to do so. Individuals are still encouraged to self-test when they feel unwell or had recent contact with an infected person, and to follow the necessary health protocols if they test positive. Companies should continue to allow their employees to rest at home from their COVID infection if they test positive, without the need for a medical certificate or recovery memo.

Expanding Protocol 2 to Paediatric COVID-19 Patients aged 12 months to 2 years old

20.           We had earlier allowed patients aged 3 to 69 years to recover at home under Protocol 2 regardless of vaccination status, as the vast majority of people in this age group can recover safely on their own. Local clinical data collected during the Omicron wave indicates that most children in the 12 months to 2 years old age group also experience mild symptoms and recover uneventfully in the community. Hence, in consultation with the paediatric specialist community, MOH will now expand the eligible age band. From 25 March 2022, patients aged 12 months to 2 years old will also be managed under Protocol 2 by default, either at home or under the care of their primary care physicians or paediatricians. See Annex D for the revised default management of COVID-19 patients across all age groups.

Move to Vaccinated Travel Framework

21.           Over the past few months, we have simplified our country/region classification and border measures to pave the way for more Vaccinated Travel. With many countries/regions having passed the peak of their Omicron wave and our local COVID-19 situation stabilising, we are ready to launch the Vaccinated Travel Framework for all travellers including Short-Term Visitors (STVs). We will classify all countries/regions either under the General Travel or the Restricted Category and accord border measures by individual travellers’ vaccination status. All countries/regions will come under the General Travel Category to begin with. There are no countries/regions in the Restricted Category currently.

General Travel Category Border Measures

22.           From 31 March 2022, 2359 hours , the border measures for travellers arriving via air or sea checkpoints from countries/regions in the General Travel Category will be as follows:

a.     All fully vaccinated travellers 5  and non-fully vaccinated children aged 12 and below 6  are permitted to enter Singapore. They will not need to apply for entry approvals or take designated VTL transport. They will continue to be subjected to a pre-departure test (PDT) within 2 days before departure for Singapore, but will no longer be required to serve a Stay-Home Notice (SHN) or undergo an unsupervised Antigen Rapid Test (ART) after arriving in Singapore. We will continue to monitor the local and global COVID-19 situations and consider removing the PDT requirement in the coming weeks;

b.     Non-fully vaccinated Long-Term Pass Holders (LTPHs) and STVs aged 13 and above are generally not allowed to enter Singapore, with the following exceptions (i) LTPHs medically ineligible for vaccines ; (ii) LTPHs aged 13 to 17, subject to the appropriate measures 7  and (iii) LTPHs and STVs with other valid entry approval (e.g. for compassionate reasons). They are required to take a PDT within 2 days before departure for Singapore, undergo a 7-day SHN, and take a PCR test at the end of their SHN period. 

23.           To facilitate Singapore Citizens (SCs), Permanent Residents (PRs), Work Pass Holders and other LTPHs who may face difficulties obtaining valid PDTs within 2 days before returning to Singapore, we have introduced remote supervised ART services by approved licensed providers in Singapore for such travellers arriving from selected countries. Going forward, we will accept Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests, professionally administered ARTs and ARTs supervised by approved licensed providers in Singapore (including remotely supervised ARTs) taken within 2 days before departure for Singapore as valid PDTs. Travellers who wish to use the remotely supervised ART PDT services licensed in Singapore should book their slots early with these providers via their respective websites and bring along approved ART kits from Singapore for their remotely supervised ART. Refer to https://go.gov.sg/remote-art-overseas-sg  for a list of approved remotely supervised ART PDT providers, and the travellers and countries/regions that this service applies to.

24.           We are also working towards the full resumption of land travel with Malaysia for fully vaccinated persons. Details on the exact border measures for fully vaccinated travellers entering Singapore via the land borders will be announced jointly with Malaysia.

Restricted Category Border Measures

25.           In the event of a new variant with potentially significant public health risk, we may re-classify significantly affected countries/regions under the Restricted Category with stringent border measures, such as the need for entry approvals for STVs to enter Singapore. This is to enable us to limit the risk of importing new and potentially dangerous variants if they arise, as well as to buy time for experts to better understand the characteristics of these variants and to develop appropriate public health recommendations. 8

26.           See Annex E for details on the border measures for travellers arriving from 31 March 2022, 2359 hours. The latest border requirements can be found on the SafeTravel website . Travellers are strongly advised to visit the website to check the latest border measures before entering Singapore, and be prepared to adhere to the prevailing border measures upon entry into Singapore.

Updates to Charging Policies for Vaccinated Travellers

27.           Currently, SCs/PRs/LTPH travellers are responsible for medical bills in hospitals and dedicated COVID-19 treatment and recovery facilities, if they develop onset of symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of their return to Singapore. With the introduction of the Vaccinated Travel Framework, we will streamline our charging policies for travellers as follows:

a.     The charging policy for SCs/PRs/LTPH travellers who are subjected to General Travel Category border measures will be aligned with the prevailing charging policy for treatment of local community COVID-19 cases (i.e. non-travellers). This means that such travellers who have been fully vaccinated 9  will no longer be required to pay for medical bills incurred for COVID-19 treatment in hospitals and CTFs, even if they develop onset of symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 within 14 days of their return to Singapore. 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.

b.     SCs/PRs/LTPH travellers who are subjected to Restricted Category border measures, will be required to pay for medical bills in hospitals and dedicated COVID-19 treatment and recovery facilities, if they develop onset of symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 within 7 days of their return to Singapore, regardless of their vaccination status.

28.           The above measures will apply to all new admissions from henceforth. Patients who are to pay for their medical bills may continue to tap on their regular healthcare financing arrangements to help pay for their bills. 10  For avoidance of doubt, there is no change to the charging policy for Short Term Pass Holders, who remain responsible for any COVID-19 medical bill incurred, throughout their stay in Singapore.

Updates on Vaccination Progress and Closure of Vaccination Centres

29.           As of 22 March 2022, over 92% of our population have completed their primary series vaccinations and 71% have received their booster doses. The paediatric vaccination exercise for children aged between 5 to 11 years old has also progressed well with over 76% of the eligible population having taken at least their first dose, including about 85% of our primary school students. Hence, the number of doses administered have reduced steadily over the past weeks.

30.           In view of that, MOH will progressively step down the number of Vaccination Centres (VC), starting from end-April 2022, and free up these space for other uses.

a.     Marine Parade Community Club (CC) will cease operations on 30 April 2022 while Woodlands CC and Nee Soon East CC’s last day of operation will be on 31 May 2022. Marine Parade CC will administer the last Dose 1 on 9 April 2022 and continue to administer Dose 2/booster doses until 30 April 2022. Woodlands CC and Nee Soon East CC will administer the last Dose 1 on 2 May 2022 and 10 May 2022 respectively. Both CCs will continue to administer Dose 2/booster doses until 31 May 2022.

b.     There are currently 13 paediatric VCs, and 12 will remain operational until end-April 2022. 11  From May to July 2022, MOH plans to reduce the number of paediatric VCs from 12 to 2, as most of the 5 to 11 years old would have completed their primary series vaccinations. MOH will progressively onboard selected Public Health Preparedness Clinics and Polyclinics to provide paediatric vaccine doses to children who have yet to receive their primary series vaccination. Further details will be announced at a later date.

Second Booster Dose for Persons Aged 80 and Above and the Medically Vulnerable

31.           Given emerging international data on the waning of vaccine protection against severe disease with time, EC19V has recommended a second booster dose for persons who are medically susceptible to severe COVID-19. This will help ensure that these at-risk groups remain highly protected as we resume normal activities. MOH agrees with EC19V’s recommendation for the following groups to receive a second booster dose, around five months after receiving their first booster dose:

a.     All persons aged 80 years and above;

b.     Persons living in aged care facilities, such as nursing homes; and

c.      Medically vulnerable persons who are at increased risk of severe disease due to significant medical risk factors 12 .

32.           The recommendation for persons belonging to these at-risk groups to receive a second booster dose will not affect their vaccination status for VDS. They are strongly encouraged to go for the second booster to protect themselves. More details on how at-risk groups can receive their second booster dose will be announced later.

33.            There are currently no recommendations from the EC19V for healthy persons in younger age groups to receive a second booster dose, as they have better immune responses to vaccination and are at lower risks of severe disease.

Towards COVID-19 Resilience

34.           The stabilisation of our local COVID-19 situation has allowed us to the ease our community SMMs and border measures. We have crossed the peak of the recent wave because of the hard work and sacrifices of our healthcare workers, and our collective efforts in adhering to SMMs and health protocols. However, we will need to stay vigilant. As we relax our SMM and travel postures, it will be even more important for everyone in Singapore to stay disciplined in our fight against COVID-19, by adhering to the prevailing SMMs and following the appropriate health protocols, so as to avoid a resurgence of hospitalisation and severe illness, which could slow or even undo our progress towards gradual resumption. By working together, we can look forward to achieving COVID-19 resiliency as a nation.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH 24 MARCH 2022

[1]  Large events and settings include attractions, cruises, MICE and large work-related events, as well as large performing arts venues and sports stadiums. For other settings such as shopping malls and large standalone stores, the density limit of 7 sqm/pax roughly translates to 75% capacity. [2]  For example, for a 1,200 pax event, the event would need to be held at a venue which accommodates 1,600 pax, otherwise the event size would have to be capped at 1,000 pax. Events where 1m safe distancing and group size limits apply will not be subject to the 75% capacity limit, as the SMMs already ensure spreading out of attendees and the lowering of risk through mask-wearing. [3]  Busking will resume per the National Arts Council (NAC) Busking Scheme. Please refer to the NAC website for details. [4]  This includes settings with children below 5 years old (e.g. preschools, Early Intervention Centres, and private education institutions). Data continues to show that COVID-19 is a mild disease in children. For Omicron, 0.018% of cases aged 0-4 years old and 0.013% of unvaccinated cases aged 5-11 years old had illness requiring oxygen supplementation or ICU care. There were no fully vaccinated cases aged 5-11 years old with severe illness. [5]  This includes Short-Term Visitors (STVs) and Work Permit Holders (WPH) such as Migrant Domestic Workers (MDWs) and existing CMP WPHs holding issued work permits who will no longer need to serve their SHN at the Onboard centres. Non-Malaysian WPHs holding an In-Principle Approval (IPA) in the Construction, Marine Shipyard and Process (CMP) sectors will still be required to meet the Ministry of Manpower(MOM)’s entry requirements which include obtaining entry approvals from MOM, pending further review and until MOM announces any changes. Please refer to MOM website for details. [6]  To illustrate, for 2022, non-fully vaccinated children born in or after 2010 may enter Singapore using the protocols for fully vaccinated travellers. [7]  Non-fully vaccinated LTPHs aged 13 – 17 years may enter Singapore without needing to apply for entry approval, subject to a 7-day SHN at their declared place of accommodation and exit-SHN PCR test. They should also complete the full vaccination regime after arriving in Singapore. [8]  There are currently no Restricted Category countries/regions. Travellers with travel history to Restricted Category countries/regions in the last 7 days will be required to take pre-departure and on-arrival  PCR  tests. They will have to serve their 7-day SHN in a dedicated facility and be required to test negative on a PCR test before exiting their SHN. [9]  This includes those who have been medically exempted from COVID-19 vaccination, and children aged 12 years and below (based on year of birth). [10]  Patients may tap on regular healthcare financing arrangements to help pay for these bills – for SC/PRs, this includes Government subsidies and MediShield Life/Integrated Shield Plan (MSHL/IP) coverage. For LTPHs, this refers to any usual financing arrangements they may have, such as private insurance. [11]  The paediatric VC at Yusof Ishak Secondary School (VC@YISS) will cease operations on 1 April 2022. The 12 paediatric VCs are located at Clementi CC, Former Hong Kah Secondary School, Hougang CC, Jalan Besar CC, Marine Parade CC, Nee Soon CC, Our Tampines Hub, Pasir Ris Elias CC, Woodlands Galaxy CC, Senja-Cashew CC, The Serangoon CC and Toa Payoh West CC. [12]  Vulnerable persons may receive a fourth dose as recommended by their doctors. Vulnerable persons are individuals who are at increased risk of severe disease due to significant medical risk factors. These include persons with chronic diseases of the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and other organ systems.

Category: Press Releases Highlights

You might be interested in...

The Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) was launched in April 2022 to facilitate the safe resumption of international travel. Given the stable and improving global COVID-19 situation, and the low impact of imported cases on our healthcare capacity, the remaining COVID-19 border measures will be lifted.

From 13 February 2023,

• All non-fully vaccinated travellers entering Singapore will no longer be required to show proof of a negative Pre-Departure Test.
• Non-fully vaccinated Short Term Visitors will no longer be required to purchase COVID-19 travel insurance.

The VTF will remain in place for reactivation if there are international developments of concern, such as new severe variants or signs that our healthcare capacity is strained by imported cases.

Continued submission of health declaration and screening of infectious diseases

All travellers entering Singapore via air or sea (including Singapore residents), and Short-Term Visitors entering via land, are to continue submitting their health declaration via the SG Arrival Card e-service. They will also be screened for other infectious diseases of concern, such as Yellow Fever, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome and Ebola.

Travellers are advised to check the  ICA website  for the latest border measures before entering Singapore.

For more information, please refer to MOH’s  press release .

• Travel pass

RELATED ARTICLES

We use cookies to tailor your browsing experience. By continuing to use Gov.sg, you accept our use of cookies. To decline cookies at any time, you may adjust your browser settings. Find out more about your cookie preferences  here .

• Privacy Statement
• Terms of Use
• Rate This Website
• Report Vulnerability

The Dos and Don’ts of Hot Vax Summer

A vaccinated American’s guide to traveling this summer

If your wanderlust is coming on extra strong this summer, you may be wondering what to do with it. Being vaccinated may feel like a superpower, but what exactly is safe—or not?

The CDC suggests, for example, that this may be the summer for road-tripping by RV. “If traveling in a RV, you may have to stop less often for food or bathroom breaks, but you could still be in close contact with others while staying at RV parks overnight and while getting gas and supplies,” the agency advises in its travel tips for families with unvaccinated children . For long distances, RVs are more to the CDC’s liking than trains, buses, cruise ships, or river boats.

But if your wanderlust is coming on extra strong and you don’t have $40,000 to drop on a Winnebago, you might have some questions about those trains and buses (if not the river boats). Fewer state and federal rules govern travel within the United States this summer than last, but that freedom—along with the differing recommendations for people with differing vaccination statuses, and scary new coronavirus variants that spread more quickly—can still make assessing the risk involved in driving to a wedding or flying to see Grandpa quite tricky.

To help you decide on the best travel plan for you and your family, here are answers to five summer-vacation questions that go beyond the CDC’s tips. They are not exhaustive, but I hope that they will provide you with a framework for nuanced conversations about how dangerous a particular itinerary really is, and how much of that danger you’re willing to tolerate.

1. Are states with low vaccination rates off-limits?

About 45 percent of all Americans are fully vaccinated, but that sweeping number belies a lot of local differences. The percentage of adult Vermonters who are fully vaccinated (75 percent) is almost exactly double that of adult Mississippians (38 percent). Things are even more disparate on the county level: In McKinley County, New Mexico, which includes part of the Pueblo of Zuni reservation, more than 99 percent of eligible residents are vaccinated. In Union County, on the other side of the state, only 17 percent are.

If you’re at least two weeks past your final dose (and you’re not immunosuppressed or immunocompromised), visiting areas of the U.S. with low vaccine rates isn’t necessarily dangerous for you. (You will probably eventually need a booster shot , but we still don’t know when.) Saskia Popescu, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at George Mason University, told me that the bottom line is “we have very efficacious vaccines” in the U.S. Still, she said, getting infected with the coronavirus post-vaccination is “quite rare, but it is possible,” and it’s mathematically more likely in an area where the virus is circulating at high levels and more people are vulnerable to it.

Read: The rural pandemic isn’t ending

Those who are worried about breakthrough infections—especially those who have vulnerable people in their household—might want to take more precautions in a low-vaccination area than they would in a high-vaccination one. If you’ve returned to indoor dining or CrossFit at home in a highly vaccinated region, consider skipping those activities while traveling to a place that has given out fewer shots.

Visiting less-vaccinated areas can also be an opportunity to model good behavior. “If I’m visiting friends or family there, and maybe they haven’t been vaccinated, I would take that opportunity to talk to them about getting vaccinated,” Popescu said. If you’re traveling because you’ve been invited to an indoor, mask-free, no-shots-required event, attending with a mask “encourages those people who aren’t vaccinated to wear a mask.” Better yet, you can have a conversation with your hosts about how to make the event safer, perhaps by hosting it outside.

2. Plane, train, or automobile?

“If you’re vaccinated, you really don’t need to worry about your exposure on an airplane, on a bus, in the subway, or at the office, or anywhere else you go,” Joseph Allen, an associate professor at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, told me. Planes especially tend to get a bad rap when it comes to infectious disease (see: the classic Airborne packaging ), but flying is actually rather COVID-safe once you’re off the ground. “When the airplane is running, the ventilation and filtration are better than you find in a hospital,” said Allen, who also directs Harvard’s Healthy Buildings Program.

That doesn’t mean air travel is 100 percent risk-free. Security lines, baggage claims, and gates usually don’t have the same ventilation standards as a plane does at 30,000 feet. They can also put you in proximity with lots of people for a long time. Air travel isn’t quite back to pre-pandemic levels, but it’s close: 2.1 million people flew this past Sunday, and about 2.7 million people flew around this same time in 2019. As Popescu put it, “We went from a place where not a lot of people are traveling, and it just snowballed overnight.”

James Fallows: Air travel is going to be very bad, for a very long time

If you or someone you’re traveling with is still vulnerable to the virus—whether it’s because of an immune condition or because they’re still too young to get the shot—Allen recommended paying special attention to the boarding period, when planes might not run their ventilation systems to save power. Similarly, if you’re considering traveling by bus, make sure that operators are replenishing the cabin with fresh air from the outdoors, and not just recirculating unfiltered air from inside.

No matter what form of public transit you choose, you will be required to wear a mask. If you’re not already accustomed to doing so for hours and hours at a time, you could be in for a rude awakening. Before you depart, make sure that your mask is comfortable and fits well, mentally prepare for how long you’ll be wearing it, and make a plan for mask breaks—preferably outside, away from other people, or while the plane’s ventilation system is running at full blast.

3. Are kids invited?

Although the long-term effects of COVID-19 on anyone won’t be clear for a while, it’s pretty evident that young people are at much lower risk of severe illness and death if they do get infected. For a lot of the past year, one of the scariest possible outcomes of a second grader being exposed to the virus was her passing it to her parents; now everyone in the family might be protected but her.

Sean O’Leary, a pediatrician and a professor at the University of Colorado, told me that families that include both kids under 12 and people who can’t be vaccinated or are at high risk for severe COVID-19 might want to be extra mindful of their kids’ exposure, because they could pass it to someone who’s not protected. He also cautioned that “we don’t really have good data yet” on how severe the Delta variant of the coronavirus , which is on track to quickly become dominant in the U.S., is in children, though it does seem to be more transmissible among people of all ages.

Read: We are turning COVID-19 into a young person’s disease

Still, the kids don’t necessarily need to stay home all summer. “Flying appears to be a relatively low-risk activity, including with kids,” O’Leary said. If you’re bringing your unvaccinated children to an area with low vaccination and high case rates, make sure that you’re taking appropriate precautions. “If you’re unvaccinated or you have a young child who’s not yet vaccinated or if you’re just feeling extra cautious,” Allen said, “the best thing to do is wear a high-quality mask,” such as an N95, a KN95, or a KF94. That’s especially true if you want to bring the kids to any kind of large event where adults might be unvaccinated too.

4. What if I get stuck next to an anti-masker?

If you’re fully vaccinated and not immunosuppressed or immunocompromised , you shouldn’t be in any significant danger from a seatmate with their nose out. On any long trip, your fellow passengers are going to need to eat and drink, and you should be prepared for that eventuality before buying a ticket. If the guy in seat 27B, say, takes a phone call mask-free and you do want to intervene, Popescu recommends making eye contact with the offender, then making the motion of pulling up your own mask. If you’re particularly worried about mask compliance, you might want to opt for travel by train or plane, where conductors and flight attendants are more likely to be patrolling the rows. But that doesn’t eliminate the possibility of a free-for-all at the station or airport before you board.

5. When’s the right time to go?

Things are, for the most part, looking up in the U.S. right now. But the country’s—and the world’s—recovery from the pandemic likely won’t be linear. A fall or winter surge is a distinct possibility, and though vaccinated people will likely still be protected, travel is always riskier when more virus is circulating. The longer vaccination rates lag worldwide , the more opportunity the virus will have to mutate into forms that can outwit existing vaccines.

Read: Expect the unexpected from the Delta variant

As long as case rates stay low this summer, it might be a good idea to take the mental-health break you need while you can, so that you’ll be better prepared to hunker down in the cold weather, if needed. The warmer months also offer the advantage of allowing for more outdoor visits and sightseeing. One caveat: Pfizer announced earlier this month that it will likely seek an emergency-use authorization for its vaccine in children under 12 in September. If you’re particularly worried about your young children’s exposure, keep an eye on that target for your vacation planning.

After so long without regular travel, don’t be surprised if you forget some of the basics. Yes, Amtrak will scan your ticket off your phone. (My friends keep forgetting this one.) No, you don’t need to take off all your jewelry in the TSA line. (I forgot that one.)

One of the more important things you might have forgotten is how often you come home from a trip with a cold or worse. Travel forces lots of people together into small spaces, regardless of whether they have the sniffles. It’s hard to keep away from others or wash your hands on a bus. Before the pandemic, Popescu said, travel was a common way people got infected with viruses such as the flu, parainfluenza (which can lead to croup or pneumonia), and a cold-like sickness called RSV that can be dangerous to the very young and the very old.

Read: The only way we’ll know when we need COVID-19 boosters

While you’re busy thinking about how to keep yourself safe from the coronavirus, don’t forget that your shiny new vaccine still leaves you vulnerable to the same old pathogens that plagued us before. Cloroxing your seat-back tray table might not protect you from COVID-19. But maybe we should’ve been doing it all along.

The Atlantic ’s COVID-19 coverage is supported by grants from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Jon Bon Jovi thanks Taylor Swift for enticing Prince William onstage to sing ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’

Exclusive: Bon Jovi tells ‘The Independent’ that Swift ‘literally grabbed him by the arm and ran up on stage’

Chinese students in US tell of ‘chilling’ interrogations and deportations

As tensions with China rise, scientists at America’s leading universities complain of stalled research after crackdown at airports

Trump’s $175m bond in fraud case should be voided, says New York attorney general

Mr Trump’s hefty bond was posted by California-based Knight Specialty Insurance Company last month

Championship promotion race is closest in years with three teams struggling to reach finish line

This season’s exciting Premier League title race has been much discussed, but the chase for the automatic promotion spots in the Championship is shaping up to be just as dramatic.

How a store manager from India ended up killed on the battlefields of Ukraine fighting for Russia

They opened the box on a Sunday in late March, getting their first look at Asfan Mohammed since he departed India for Russia four months earlier.

Koung’s Wan Tan Mee opens 2nd outlet in Bedok North

The post Koung’s Wan Tan Mee opens 2nd outlet in Bedok North appeared first on SETHLUI.com.

‘He was rattled’: Legal expert reacts to Trump’s statement after hearing

Criminal defense attorney Stacey Schneider says that former President Donald Trump was “rattled” following a Sandoval hearing in the New York hush money trial where he heard a recounting of his criminal history.

New! You can personalise your feed. Try it now

S'pore to simplify VTL framework, lift 'most restrictions' for fully vaccinated travellers: PM Lee

Advertisement.

SINGAPORE — Singapore will ease up cross-border travel "substantially" with Singaporeans being able to travel abroad "almost like before Covid-19", Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday (March 24).

Border controls for Covid-19 will be significantly eased to make it easier for Singaporeans to travel abroad as well as tourists arriving in Singapore.

• Cross-border controls for Covid-19 will be eased substantially, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said
• Travellers entering Singapore will be subjected to either of two boarder control categories — general travel or restricted
• Under the general travel category, fully vaccinated travellers will only need to go through a pre-departure test 
• For the restricted category, travellers will have to do a pre-departure test, an on-arrival test, be isolated for seven days and be tested again
• There are now no countries in the restricted travel categories

Loraine Lee

SINGAPORE — Cross-border travel measures will be eased "substantially" with Singaporeans being able to travel abroad "almost like before Covid-19", Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Thursday (March 24).

Speaking during a national broadcast, Mr Lee said that the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) scheme, which allows vaccinated persons to travel without the need to quarantine, will be simplified and most travel restrictions for fully vaccinated visitors entering Singapore will also be lifted.

The easing of border measures will take place at the same time as the relaxation of infection controls  for the community here.

Larger group sizes for social activities will be permitted from next Tuesday and mask-wearing will be optional when one is outdoors. 

OMICRON SITUATION UNDER CONTROL

Speaking about the easing of cross-border controls, Mr Lee said that the Government was cautious because of the uncertainty of the Omicron coronavirus' impact at first. 

"We were relieved that Omicron turned out less severe than earlier variants, and that relatively few cases were serious enough to need oxygen support or intensive care." 

Over the last two weeks, daily new cases have been coming down and the weekly infection rate is now around 0.8. 

"At this rate, the number of daily infections will halve in about three weeks," Mr Lee said.

Most Omicron cases here are originating within the community, the situation is "well under control" and arrivals of travellers make up a very small proportion of cases, Mr Lee noted.

"We can therefore safely open up our borders," he added.

"This will reconnect Singapore with the world. It will give a much-needed boost to businesses, particularly the tourism sector, and will help Singapore reclaim its position as a business and aviation hub." 

TWO CATEGORIES: GENERAL TRAVEL AND RESTRICTED  

From March 31, there will be just two categories for travel into Singapore — the general travel category and the restricted category. 

The rules under the general travel category for fully vaccinated travellers and unvaccinated children aged 12 and below are as follows:

• Travellers arriving at air or sea checkpoints will be permitted to enter Singapore without applying for entry approvals 
• They do not need to take designated transport under the vaccinated travel lane arrangement
• They must take a pre-departure test within two days before their departure for Singapore
• Upon arrival, they will not need to serve a stay-home notice or undergo an unsupervised antigen rapid test

Individuals who are not fully vaccinated are not allowed to enter Singapore under the general travel category.

However, exemptions will be made for the following groups of people: 

• Long-term pass holders who are medically ineligible for Covid-19 vaccines
• Non-fully vaccinated long-term pass holders aged 13 to 17 
• Long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with other valid entry approvals, such as for compassionate reasons

People who are exempted will need 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 (PCR) test at the end of their stay-home order.

Long-term pass holders aged 13 to 17 will also need to complete their vaccination regime in Singapore.

To help Singaporeans, Singapore permanent residents, work pass holders and other long-term pass holders in selected countries who are unable to obtain a pre-departure test, MOH said that it will introduce a remote supervised antigen rapid test service conducted by approved licensed providers here.

Such pre-departure tests will be accepted alongside PCR tests and professionally administered rapid tests.

"In the event of a new variant with potentially significant public health risk, we may re-classify significantly affected countries or regions under the restricted category with stringent border measures," it added.

There are no countries under the restricted category for now, MOH said.

The rules for vaccinated travellers arriving from countries in the restricted category are as follows:

• Upon arrival, they will need to do a PCR test
• They will also need to serve a seven-day stay-home notice at a dedicated facility
• After the isolation period, they will need to undergo an exit PCR test

"This is to enable us to limit the risk of importing new and potentially dangerous variants if they arise, as well as to buy time for experts to better understand the characteristics of these variants and to develop appropriate public health recommendations," MOH said.

MEDICAL BILLS FROM CATCHING COVID-19 OVERSEAS

Singaporeans, Singapore permanent residents and long-term pass holder travellers are now responsible for their own medical bills in hospitals and dedicated Covid-19 treatment and recovery facilities, if they develop onset of symptoms or test positive for the coronavirus within 14 days of their return to Singapore.

However, the Government will streamline the charging policies for travellers depending on which border measures they are subjected to and their vaccination status.

For travellers in the general travel category:

• They will no longer have to pay for medical bills incurred for Covid-19 treatment in hospitals and treatment facilities even if they develop onset of symptoms or test positive within 14 days of their return to Singapore
• This also applies to travellers who are medically exempted from the vaccines and children aged 12 years and below
• Any future changes to the charging policy for community cases here will correspondingly apply to this group of travellers
• Travellers who are not fully vaccinated will remain responsible for their treatment costs, just like the charging policy for unvaccinated individuals who contracted Covid-19 in the community

For travellers in the restricted category:

• Regardless of their vaccinated status, they will have to pay for medical bills in hospitals and dedicated Covid-19 treatment and recovery facilities
• This applies if they develop symptoms or test positive for Covid-19 within seven days of their return to Singapore

Short-term pass holders will remain responsible for any Covid-19 medical bill incurred throughout their stay in Singapore, MOH added.

RESTORING THE CHANGI EXPERIENCE

With the discontinuation of designated travel lane flights, Transport Minister S Iswaran said at a press conference by the national Covid-19 task force on Thursday that airlines may submit their plans to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and operate flights "as they used to pre-Covid".

As for the air crew, they may "also resume normal activities in Singapore or overseas" and will be subject to similar testing requirements as vaccinated travellers, Mr Iswaran said.

TODAY previously reported that rules set by  CAAS meant that air crew, including pilots, are largely confined to their hotel rooms while abroad. 

Similarly, airport workers will only need to put on surgical masks, except for those in higher-risk roles who must wear a face shield and gloves, Mr Iswaran added. They will not need to do rostered routine testing as well.

Changi Airport will no longer be segregated into zones. Previously, the airport terminals, as well as airport staff members, were split into different zones , each with varying infection prevention and control measures. 

Removing these zones will allow all travellers arriving from countries and regions in the general travel category to move about freely in the transit areas.

In addition, Mr Iswaran said that the Changi Airport Group is also progressively reopening the retail and food-and-beverage outlets in the transit areas.

"With these moves, our aim is to welcome airlines back to Singapore, to serve Singapore and the region, raise passenger volumes to at least 50 per cent of pre-Covid levels this year and restore the traveller experience that Changi is renowned for."  ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY LOW YOUJIN

Related topics

Read more of the latest in

Stay in the know. Anytime. Anywhere.

Subscribe to get daily news updates, insights and must reads delivered straight to your inbox.

By clicking subscribe, I agree for my personal data to be used to send me TODAY newsletters, promotional offers and for research and analysis.

Recent Searches

This browser is no longer supported.

We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with TODAY to be fast, secure and the best it can possibly be.

To continue, upgrade to a supported browser or, for the finest experience, download the mobile app.

Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us

Middle East GCC

• Iran English ایران فارسی
• Iraq English العراق العربيّة
• Jordan English الأردن العربيّة
• Kuwait English الكويت العربيّة
• Lebanon English لبنان العربيّة Liban Français
• Oman English عُمان العربيّة
• Qatar English قطر العربيّة
• Saudi Arabia English المملكة العربِيّة السعودية العربِيّة
• United Arab Emirates English الإمارات العربِيّة المتحدة العربِيّة
• Bahrain English البحرين العربية

Discover your next journey

• Before you fly
• At the airport
• Hamad International Airport
• Oryx Airport Hotel
• Qatar Duty Free
• Checking in

Meet & assist services

• Privilege Club
• Claim missing Avios
• Buy, gift & transfer
• Buy Qpoints
• My Calculator
• Cash + Avios
• Student Club
• Family Programme

Enjoy exclusive benefits

• Flight Status
• Search Search
• Popular searches

Choose your region

Get more on our app.

Make the most out of your trips!

Your upcoming trip

• Dashboard Edit profile Logout
• Earn Avios on every booking
• Enjoy award flights & upgrades
• Pay with Cash + Avios & save
• Not fully vaccinated
• Fully vaccinated

This information is provided by Qatar Airways as a courtesy, and although updated regularly, we recommended you frequently check back due to the rapid changes in travel conditions, and that you verify travel and entry requirements through independent enquiries before your trip.

Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF)

Vaccinated travel framework.

Effective 26 April 2022, COVID-19 pre-departure test is not required. All fully-vaccinated travellers can enter Singapore quarantine-free. Please refer to the table below for more details. 

All countries/regions are currently in the General Travel Category. Air Travel Pass (ATP) and Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) schemes will be retired. There will be no restrictions on departing cities. All flights can carry vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers. Based on your vaccination status, kindly visit ICA website for full checklist of the new Vaccinated Travel Framework requirements before you book your flight. Otherwise, you may be turned away by airlines/immigration, or be subjected to the prevailing health requirements and quarantine.

Information extracted from Immigration & Checkpoints Authority Singapore (ICA). More details and requirements can be accessed here .

1. Travelling to Singapore

Under the new Vaccinated Travel Framework, all travel requirements are calibrated based mainly on the traveller’s COVID-19 vaccination status.

There are no Restricted Category countries/regions today; all countries/regions come under the COVID-19 General Travel Category. For the detailed entry and health protocols, click on the checklist that best describes the traveller’s profile:

Overview of Border Measures (General Travel Category)

2. departing from singapore.

On this page , travellers intending to depart from Singapore can find information on:

1.   Departure advisories and requirements

2..  Obtaining a pre-departure COVID-19 test in Singapore for overseas travel (if required)

3.   Obtaining a digitally authenticated pre-departure COVID-19 test result (if required)

4.   Obtaining digitally authenticated vaccination certificate (if required)

3. Transiting through Singapore

Information extracted as per ICA’s guideline here .

Singapore is open to all transit travellers with no specific COVID-19 regulations or requirements. However, please note the following points to ensure that you have a smooth transit experience: 

1. Qualifying as a transit traveller 

Transit travellers refer to those who depart for a third country via Singapore  without clearing arrival immigration . Singapore does not require COVID-19 tests, travel visas or entry approvals for transit travellers. However, travellers who transit in Changi must have their flights booked on the same itinerary, in order to ensure that their checked-in luggage can be tagged-through from the origin airport to their final destination. Travelling with flights operated by different airlines on the same journey is allowed, if the flights are made under the same booking. 

Travellers who intend to clear arrival immigration to enter Singapore, or booked separate flights under different itineraries, which requires them to enter Singapore to collect baggage and check-in again for the connecting flight, are not considered transit travellers. They are responsible for ensuring that they fulfill all requirements for entry into Singapore, and should refer to the “ Travelling to Singapore ” page for more information on entry requirements.

2. Transit travellers must fulfil destination country requirements

Please note that the authorities of the destination country may impose requirements on travellers transiting in Singapore, which travellers also have to comply with.   As an illustration, if travellers intend to depart from  Country X , transit in Singapore, and fly to destination  Country Y , they are strongly advised to check the requirements of  Country Y , such as:

        i.  Acceptance of transit travellers:  Whether the authorities of destination  Country Y  accept travellers transiting through Singapore, including whether they impose requirements on using certain flights for transit.

         ii. Entry requirements:  Whether the authorities of destination Country Y impose conditions of entry such as visas, entry approvals, vaccinations or other documentation. The airline will check upon boarding if you have the relevant documentation on hand.

         iii. Pre-departure testing (PDT) requirements:  If  Country Y  requires travellers to take a COVID-19 test for entry into  Country Y . Such COVID-19 tests are not available in the transit area of Changi Airport and travellers should take their PDT in  Country X , if  Country Y  requires them to do so.

The above information is subject to change based on Singapore local authorities and may change at any time.

Plan ahead with guaranteed flexibility

Change your travel date and destination or request a refund with guaranteed flexibility. Applicable for travel up to 30 Sep 2022.

Conditions apply. 

Stopover in Qatar

Turn one holiday into two with incredible stopover packages to Qatar, the perfect destination for a taste of local culture, desert adventures, world-class shopping, fine dining, and much more. 

The World's Best Value Stopover starting from USD 14*, including luxurious accommodation at 4-star and 5-star hotels. 

Join Privilege Club

Our members enjoy a range of exclusive privileges and benefits designed to make travelling with us even more rewarding.

World's Best Airline

We are proud to be named the World’s Best Airline by Skytrax for the sixth time, an achievement of no other airline. 

• This email address is already subscribed. You can change your preferences, click here.
• Thank you for subscribing. We have sent you an email; please confirm your subscription by clicking on the link.
• The email address you entered was found in our records. Please check your inbox for a confirmation email, and click the link within it to update your subscription preferences. If you can't find the email in your inbox, please check your spam or junk folder, if you have one.
• Something went wrong. Please try again later.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Be the first to receive exclusive offers and the latest news on our products and services directly in your inbox.

• A valid email address is required.
• Please provide a valid email address.
• Please select the preferred departure airport.

I would like to get offers and news from Qatar Airways. I have read and understood the privacy notice .

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking on the link in the newsletter. The information that you provided above will be processed in accordance with the Qatar Airways  Privacy Notice .

One-time pin

Add an extra layer of security to your account with a one-time pin (OTP).

Secure your account with an OTP:

Receive your otp via:.

Enter a mobile number

login.otp.mobile.calling.code.emptyerrormessage

Please enter email address

Mobile number and email address should not be empty

Please enter valid email address

Placeholder for service error message

Your account is less secure without an OTP

Your OTP preferences have been updated.

A verification link will be sent to your newly amended email address. You will now logged out of your Privilege Club account. Do you wish to continue

Please enter the one-time pin (OTP) sent to your registered mobile number {0}.

A new OTP was sent successfully.

Please enter the one-time password received in your registered email, {0}.

one-time password has been re-sent. Please enter the one-time password received in your registered email, {0}.

Please enter the one-time pin (OTP) sent to your registered email address {1} and mobile number {0}.

A new OTP has been sent to your registered email address {1} and mobile number {0}. Please enter it below.

Please enter the valid one-time password

OTP should not be empty

Your account has been temporarily locked as the maximum number of daily attempts has been reached. Please try again by resetting your password after 24 hours.  Back

The OTP has been successfully verified.

Your contact details have been successfully changed..

Lounge Pass Allocate

Tier status allocate, qrbb lounge pass allocate.

• Lounge Pass Allocated: 0 |
• Tier Status Allocated: 0 |

Please provide any of the input details

No results found

Place holder for service error

The requested benefits allocated successfully

Program Admin Details

Cannot add more than 2 program admins

• philippines

Singapore's Vaccinated Travel Framework is underway: 5 things to know

• main#clickShareSocial">email
• main#clickShareSocial">telegram
• main#clickShareSocial">whatsapp
• main#clickShareSocial">wechat
• main#clickShareSocial">pinterest
• main#clickShareSocial">line
• main#clickShareSocial">snapchat
• main#clickShareSocial">reddit

Among the key things to note, eligible travellers arriving via air or sea are still subject to a pre-departure test within two days before departure for Singapore.

Following the earlier announcement launching the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) from 31 March 2022 (2359 hours) in which all fully vaccinated travellers can enter Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has released further information  on the VTF. We've compiled five main things for you to note if you're keen to use the VTF.

1. Eligibility

The following groups will be eligible under the Framework:

• Travellers aged 12 years and below, regardless of vaccination status;
• Travellers who have received the full regimen of World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL) vaccines at least 14 days before arrival in Singapore and have met the minimum dose interval period. 

"This is because the WHO EUL vaccination guidelines are the most widely-accepted definition for full vaccination around the world, and it is appropriate for Singapore’s entry requirements to align to this definition. It will facilitate Singaporeans travelling in and out of Singapore and foreigners visiting Singapore," MOH stated.

It should be noted that eligible travellers arriving via air or sea are still subject to a pre-departure test (PDT) within two days before departure for Singapore. However, they are not subject to on-arrival tests or Stay-Home Notice.

2. Vaccinations and boosters for travellers

Incoming travellers who were not vaccinated in Singapore and do not have their records reflected in Singapore’s National Immunisation Registry (NIR), will have their vaccination status in their TraceTogether app be reflected as fully vaccinated for 30 days , for purposes of entering premises subject to Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS).

To register your status in NIR, this process can be done at any Public Health Preparedness Clinic . You must confirm if your chosen clinic can facilitate the registration before heading down with the following documents:

• Personal identification documents
• Valid vaccination certificate (see Stage 1A for details).

If their stay in Singapore exceeds 30 days , they will need to have their vaccination records ingested into the NIR and may be required to receive additional doses to continue to meet Singapore’s requirements for vaccination. 

For clarity, the rules described in the above paragraph do not apply to travellers aged 12 years and below. All children aged 12 years and below are allowed to enter settings where VDS is implemented regardless of their vaccination status.

Currently, short-term travellers are not eligible to receive doses under Singapore’s National Vaccination Programme. From mid-April, MOH will enable such travellers to pay to receive COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters. More details, including pricing and the list of participating healthcare providers, will be provided at a later.

3. Documents to prepare prior to departure

The first type of document to prepare is vaccination documentation . For those who have a recognised Digitally Verifiable Vaccination Certificate (DVC) , they can use the Vaccination Check Portal (VCP) to confirm their DVC is recognised by the Singapore authorities. If the verification is successful, they will receive a vaccination acceptance letter to be used for boarding and immigration checks. For those unable to get their DVC verified, please refer to the vaccination certificate FAQ .

For those who do not have a recognised DVC, or have had difficulties verifying their DVC, prepare a Vaccination Certificate (including certificate on a vaccination app) that is in English, or accompanied with notarised English Translation, with the following details:

• Name (per travel document used for entry),
• At least one other personal identifier, e.g. date of birth or passport number (per travel document used for entry),
• Country of vaccination,
• Name of vaccine(s) administered, i.e. different names for different vaccine type,
• Vaccination date(s).

The second type of documentation needed is the right entry visa . For example, foreigners entering Singapore without a long-term pass must apply for an entry visa . For another category, i.e. long-term pass and in-principle approval (IPA) holders, the travellers will require a valid pass card or IPA letter for pre-boarding checks or immigration clearance

Travellers across all entry categories must ensure that their passport is valid for at least six months. Entries for non-Citizens or Permanent Residents can be denied if the required documents are not produced during pre-boarding or immigration clearance. 

The third type of documentation needed is the filled-in SG Arrival Card (SGAC) with the Electronic Health declaration which must be completed within three days before arrival. Upon completion of the declaration, travellers will receive an email acknowledgement which can be used for smoother preboarding and immigration clearance.

The fourth thing travellers need to look out for is to install and activate TraceTogether. Only travellers aged six or below this year are exempted from installing TraceTogether. For those who encounter issues activating TraceTogether, they can submit a  request for assistance or collect a TraceTogether token after arrival for a one-time fee of S$13.

4. Pre-departure test (PDT)

PDT is not required for travellers who:

• Are entering Singapore via land (i.e. those from Malaysia); or
• Tested positive for COVID-19 between seven to 90 days before their date of departure for Singapore, in which case they must use this tool to check if the PDT can be waived, and the documentation required to prove recovery.

For all travellers arriving by air/sea, and born before 2020 (i.e. above two years old), they must take any of the following COVID-19 tests within two days before departure:

• COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction test (PCR test) at an internationally accredited or recognised lab/clinic/medical facility ; OR
• Administered by a trained professional; OR
• [Eligible travellers only] Self-administered Antigen Rapid Test (ART) remotely supervised by an approved ART provider in Singapore .

Ask for a non-handwritten PDT report that is in English (or accompanied with a notarised English Translation) containing the following details:

• Traveller's name, and date of birth or passport number (per the passport used to travel to Singapore); and
• Reflects the date and result of the COVID-19 test.

5. What to do if you get COVID-19 whilst in Singapore

Any traveller who tests positive for COVID-19 during their stay must adhere to the recovery protocols listed here in detail , and summarised below. Those assessed to be ineligible for home or in-situ recovery may be conveyed to a suitable COVID-19 care facility. Information on treatment and costs for COVID-19 for travellers can be found on this page .

Testing positive for those residing in hotels* *(includes both Stay-Home Notice (SHN)-Dedicated Facilities (SDFs) and non-SDF hotels, as well as other managed residences such as serviced apartments)

Most groups of travellers (including tourists, Singaporeans, and PRs) are responsible for all costs associated with COVID-19 treatment and recovery, and if tested positive, the necessary arrangements for self-isolation, including in self-sourced accommodation. Travellers may depart Singapore when they are recovered and officially discharged from their isolation and/or tested negative for COVID-19 in accordance with Ministry of Health (MOH) health protocols.

For those who feel unwell

If you feel unwell while serving your SHN, follow the instructions in the notice issued to you, which include:

• If you test negative for COVID-19 and are not placed on a recovery protocol following medical consultation, you should continue to serve the remaining duration of your SHN.
• If you test positive for COVID-19 and are placed on a recovery protocol, you are not required to undergo further testing. Instead, you should follow the protocols for the recovery procedure assigned to you by your medical provider. If you receive an SMS from the MOH following your positive test, you should also follow all the instructions in the SMS.
• After discharge from the relevant recovery protocol, you do not need to adhere to further testing/ SHN obligations.
• If you are not under any border health measures  but feel unwell, seek medical advice at a clinic immediately via private transport or call 995 for urgent conveyance to a medical facility.

If you feel well but tested positive for COVID-19

In such a scenario, if you fulfil any of the following criteria, you should receive medical advice even if you are feeling well:

• Individuals aged 70 years old and above,
• Children less than one year old,
• Congenital condition or chronic condition that affects the heart, lung, brain, nerves or muscles
• Diabetes Mellitus or hypertension
• Had an organ transplant surgery before,
• Have any disease or are taking medications which weaken the immune system,
• Diagnosed with cancer before (including blood cancers),
• On dialysis, 
• Diagnosed with HIV or AIDS, 
• Have disease affecting heart, lungs, kidneys, liver or brain that required hospital admission in the last six months,

If you don't fall under any of the above categories, for the first 72 hours, isolate at your hotel or residential accommodation and follow these instructions . Following exit from 72-hour isolation, you do not need to adhere to further testing/ SHN obligations.

If you receive a Health Risk Notice (HRN) via SMS

Please follow the instructions in the SMS and the relevant webpage .

Self-administered ART kits can be purchased online or from pharmacies and drugstores around Singapore. Hotels may also carry self-administered ART kits for purchase. If you are still serving SHN or tested positive on an COVID-19 test and are isolating, you should purchase your ART kits through contactless methods. 

ALSO READ   Singapore's latest endemic measures: 24 Mar 2022 updates on masking, workplace return, border reopening, and more

Image /  123RF

Follow us on  Telegram  and on  Instagram  @humanresourcesonline for all the latest HR and manpower news from around the region!

Follow us on Telegram and on Instagram @humanresourcesonline for all the latest HR and manpower news from around the region!

Related topics

• Statutory updates
• National guidelines

Free newsletter

Get the daily lowdown on Asia's top Human Resources stories.

We break down the big and messy topics of the day so you're updated on the most important developments in Asia's Human Resources development – for free.

• Sustainability
• Latest News
• News Reports
• Documentaries & Shows
• TV Schedule
• CNA938 Live
• Radio Schedule
• Singapore Parliament
• Mental Health
• Interactives
• Entertainment
• Style & Beauty
• Experiences
• Remarkable Living
• Send us a news tip
• Events & Partnerships
• Business Blueprint
• Health Matters
• The Asian Traveller

Trending Topics

Follow our news, recent searches, travel companies see surge in enquiries, bookings following announcement on singapore's border reopening, advertisement.

A Singapore Airlines plane is parked beside Scoot aircraft on the tarmac at Singapore's Changi Airport on Mar 15, 2021. (File photo: AFP/Roslan Rahman)

Vanessa Lim

SINGAPORE: Bookings for flights out of Singapore, as well as overseas accommodation, more than doubled as of Friday (Mar 25), just a day after the country announced that it would  reopen its borders to all fully vaccinated travellers . 

Among the slew of border measures announced - which take effect from 11.59pm on Mar 31 - all fully vaccinated travellers, as well as children aged 12 and below, will be able to enter Singapore with just a pre-departure COVID-19 test.

In addition, fully vaccinated travellers from Malaysia entering Singapore via private vehicles through the land borders are not required to do pre-departure or on-arrival tests. 

The new simplified framework will replace the existing vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs) and unilateral opening arrangements and instead, classify countries and regions into either the general travel or the restricted category.

Data provided by regional online travel platform Traveloka showed a surge in demand for flights and hotels following the announcement, with a 152 per cent increase in average search volume and a 227 per cent in average booking volume.

Similarly, online travel giant Expedia said it had also seen a doubling of flight searches when compared to a day before the announcement was made.

It added that New York, Tokyo, Bangkok and London, were among the top most-searched destinations on its website.

SURGE IN DEMAND EXPECTED TO CONTINUE

With the relaxation of Singapore’s border measures, travel agencies told CNA that they are expecting a further surge in bookings, particularly for outbound travel, due to pent-up demand.

Luxury travel specialist Intriq Journey, which focuses on exotic destinations, said it received two confirmed bookings immediately after the announcement on Thursday.

However, prior to this, it had already observed a high demand for bespoke vacations to countries under Singapore’s vaccinated travel lane (VTL) scheme.

The company had started a recruitment drive for local talents earlier this year to cope with the increasing demand and volume of enquiries.

“We anticipate even greater demand and inquiries in the coming days,” said the company’s co-founder Jess Yap, adding that she expects that enquiries will “easily” double very soon.

Meanwhile, local firm Chan Brothers said there will be greater confidence to travel, with the Government's announcement that fully vaccinated travellers will not have to bear the costs of their COVID-19 medical bills or treatment if they test positive after returning to Singapore. 

The company - which has seen a 50 per cent surge in enquires since Thursday - said it is planning to increase the frequency of its tours and offer trips to more destinations.

"We will retain our smaller-group size at a maximum of 25 per group and (safe travelling) protocols to ensure that our customers can continue to travel fuss-free and safely with an absolute peace of mind," said the company's senior marketing communications manager Jeremiah Wong.

What you need to know about Singapore's new vaccinated travel framework

IN FOCUS: After signs of recovery, how much damage is Omicron doing to the battered travel and tourism industry?

The long road to recovery.

While the travel industry is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel, especially with the recent announcement, challenges lay ahead as it claws its way back to a revival.

Founder and director of luxury travel agency Blue Sky Escapes Krystal Tan said she does not expect to see a massive surge in demand for travel, as this will depend on restrictions in other countries as well as their local COVID-19 situation.

"Singaporean travellers are genuinely more cautious and because some are afraid of catching the virus, we do sense that they're not really travelling to super remote places," she said, adding that 95 per cent of their sales were to VTL countries or places where the virus is under control.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine could also impact demand for trips to Europe, said Ms Tan. 

In addition, having gone through nearly two years of changing restrictions and border closures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the travel industry has lost a lot of talent due to uncertainty and massive layoffs, said Mr Charles Tan, who is the secretary-general of the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS).

“Now that we’re reopening, getting these people back will take a lot of convincing as some of them, having gone through SARS and COVID-19, may not want to take another risk by returning to the industry and may be comfortable in their new industry,” said Mr Tan.

“Companies will also have to figure out how many new people to recruit because what happens if restrictions come back into force and they have to right-size again?”

“We must be mindful that travel agencies have been burning for the last two years and so now, are we even able to afford the kind of salary that will make us competitive enough to attract talent?” he added.

To address the manpower shortage, NATAS is working with partners including NTUC and the Singapore Tourism Board to boost the industry's digital capabilities in hopes of attracting more young talent.

It is also planning to bring back its annual travel fair in August or September this year, after a two-year hiatus.

“We are hoping that everything goes well, and then we can resume the fair because that will bring business and a lot of agents back,” said Mr Tan.

Related Topics

Also worth reading, this browser is no longer supported.

We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast, secure and the best it can possibly be.

To continue, upgrade to a supported browser or, for the finest experience, download the mobile app.

Upgraded but still having issues? Contact us