All posts tagged: Covid-19

Singapore switches VTL on-arrival testing to ART; reduces travel history requirements

Published by

On-arrival tests changed from PCR to ART; travel history requirements shortened to 7 days Singapore earlier this week announced a slew of changes to the way it manages its Covid-19 restrictions in Singapore, and along with it made some key changes to travel requirements as well. These changes are largely in a positive direction, including using cheaper testing requirements, and simplification of how it categorises source countries. Cheaper ART test for VTL on-arrival testing From 22 Feb 2022, VTL and Category I travellers will no longer need to perform an on-arrival PCR test. Instead, they will have up to 24 hours from their entry into Singapore to take a supervised self-swab ART at one of the testing centres (Combined Test Centres (CTCs) or Quick Test Centres (QTCs)) located across Singapore. In addition, the current enhanced testing regime requiring VTL travellers to take self-administered Antigen Rapid Test (ART) from Day 2 to Day 7 will also cease. This change will see travellers save at least S$110 on testing, further lowering the costs of travelling into Singapore. …

Singapore to commence quarantine-free travel lanes from Germany and Brunei from 8 September

Published by

Singapore residents can now visit Germany and back without any form of isolation or quarantine requirements. The Singapore government yesterday (19 Aug 2021) announced that it will waive quarantine requirements for vaccinated travellers from Brunei and Germany from 8 Sep 2021, subject to several conditions, including frequent testing. The arrangement, called Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), will allow a set number of fully vaccinated visitors or returning residents to come into Singapore from these two countries without the need for any Stay-Home Notice. While this new VTL covers both Brunei and Germany for a start, many travellers will most likely be interested in Germany as a leisure destination, after being starved of travel for more than a year. Let’s cover how the VTL will work in detail. Overview of the mechanics To be clear, the VTL mechanism is only applicable for the inbound journey to Singapore. For Singapore-based residents, the outbound journey and its requirements is dependent on the country you are visiting (more on this later). For your VTL journey to Singapore from Germany, Civil …

Singapore to ease SHN requirements for vaccinated travellers from eight countries

Published by

Singapore will allow some visitors and returning Singaporeans and residents to serve Stay-Home Notice (SHN) at their place of residence starting from 20 August Singapore will soon allow fully vaccinated travellers from eight countries to serve their 7 or 14-day SHN at home, starting 11.59pm on 20 Aug 2021 (i.e 21 Aug 2021). The countries are: Australia 🇦🇺 Austria 🇦🇹 Canada 🇨🇦 Germany 🇩🇪 Italy 🇮🇹 Norway 🇳🇴 South Korea 🇰🇷 Switzerland 🇨🇭 While this doesn’t amount to a complete lifting of SHN requirements, this is still a very heartening development, as most arrivals into Singapore for the past 18 months had to be served in dedicated facilities (i.e. hotels).  Who is eligible to serve SHN at home? The option to serve a 14-day SHN at home will be available from 11.59pm, 20 Aug 2021 (i.e. 21 Aug onwards) to travellers arriving from the abovementioned countries, provided they fulfill the following conditions too: Travellers must be fully-vaccinated. Full vaccination is defined as having completed the full regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comiraty, Moderna, or any other vaccine on the WHO’s Emergency Use Listing (i.e. AstraZeneca, …

Singapore looking to lift quarantine requirements from September 2021 for vaccinated travellers

Published by

From September, travel-starved Singapore residents may be able to venture out to some countries and return to Singapore sans quarantine In parliament today (26 Jul 2021), Multi-ministry Task Force (MTF) co-chair Lawrence Wong, who’s the finance minister of Singapore, said that the government is planning to relook its border control measures for selected countries. It intends to set up travel corridors with certain countries that have good Covid-19 control measures, and allow only vaccinated travellers to venture out and come back into Singapore with testing measures in place. This is the full excerpt of what was spelt out in Parliament: It will start by setting up travel corridors with countries or regions that have “managed COVID-19 well”, and where the infection is under control.  “So fully vaccinated persons will then be able to travel to these countries or regions without needing to serve the full 14-day stay-home notice in a hotel when they return,” Mr Wong said. Depending on the risk level of the country they visit, the stay-home notice will be replaced with a …