Singapore will now require all travellers who are non-citizens and permanent residents to take a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours before departure.
Singapore’s Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) said these travellers will still be required to serve their Stay-Home-Notice (SHN) upon arrival in Singapore and be tested at the end of their SHN.
This will apply from 17 November 2020, 2359, except what the task force designates as “lower risk countries”.
“Lower risk countries” include travellers from Brunei Darussalam, New Zealand, Vietnam, Australia and Mainland China, and they are required to take a Covid-19 test upon arrival in lieu of a Stay-Home Notice (SHN).
In addition, Macao, Malaysia (except Sabah) and Taiwan are also considered “lower risk countries”, but travellers from these areas are required to serve a 7-day SHN at their place of residence with a Covid-19 test administered at the end of their SHN.
The MTF said Singapore’s border measures will evolve as the global situation changes, and said if the situation in a country or region deteriorates, more stringent measures will be put in place to limit the risk of importation and prevent community transmission from imported cases.
Similarly, if the situation in a country or region improves, Singapore will consider relaxing border health measures to facilitate travel.
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More accessible Covid-19 testing
From Dec 1, companies and individuals in Singapore will soon be able to procure a Covid-19 PCR test if they need it from approved providers.
The MTF said this was to make Covid-19 testing more accessible as the country reopens, to support a larger range of needs as Singapore resumes more economic and community activities
This includes individuals who require pre-departure testing, and individuals will no longer be required to seek approval from MOH for pre-departure tests.
The MTF said there are currently around 600 clinics and providers that can provide PCR testing, and they will continue to increase the number of clinics and providers who can administer the Covid-19 PCR tests.
Laboratories, clinics and swab service providers who are interested to provide such Covid-19 testing services at premises beyond a licensed clinic, laboratory or hospital can apply for an off-site Covid-19 testing application.
“We know that timely Covid-19 testing, when complemented with safe distancing and safe management measures, is a formidable weapon against the pandemic. Testing is therefore a critical enabler and key strategy in our fight against Covid-19,” Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said.
Singapore is also conducting pilots on pre-event testing using antigen rapid tests (ARTs) to enable more large-scale and higher-risk activities to resume in a safer manner.
In addition, a number of pilots have been conducted, such as at the Singapore International Energy Week and the ONE Championship Mixed Martial Arts events last month.
The MTF said it will continue to pilot different workflows in different settings, and will provide more details on requirements for pre-event testing when ready
