Singapore reopens for quarantine-free visits from 11 countries, India excluded for now

Covid-19: Singapore had last week made a major announcement that it will reopen its borders to visitors from another nine countries without the need for quarantine. Since September 8, travellers from Brunei and Germany, which were on a trial of the Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), have been enjoying quarantine-free entry to Singapore.

Now, starting October 19, vaccinated travellers from another six European countries ---Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and those from the United States of America and Canada --- will join visitors from Germany and Brunei on the Singapore VTL scheme. People travelling from South Korea will be able to enter Singapore quarantine-free from November 15.

Also read | Seven judges transferred to other HCs

To be considered travelling from VTL countries, visitors must have stayed in these countries for 14 consecutive days before their trip. They are allowed to be in multiple VTL countries or transit through these countries during this time.

Those travelling on the Singapore Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme must fly on a  designated flight that are mainly operated by Singapore Airlines and Lufthansa (from Germany) at the moment. Other carriers will be added in due course.

In addition, travellers will be required to show proof of having been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with vaccines that are on the WHO (World Health Organisation) Emergency Use List.

Residents of Singapore or the EU, who were previously unvaccinated and had recovered from a past Covid-19 infection, are considered fully vaccinated if they have received at least one dose of an approved vaccine.

Passengers arriving in Singapore must undergo a pre-departure PCR (polymerase chain reaction) Covid-19 test within 48 hours of flight departure and take another test on arrival at Changi Airport. Non-residents of Singapore must also apply for a Vaccinated Travel Pass (VRP) online between seven and 30 days prior to the intended entry into Singapore.

Also read | 20-year-old Rajasthan girl spends a day as British High Commissioner

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, while addressing the nation, said, "Singapore cannot stay locked down and closed off indefinitely. It would not work, and it would be very costly. We would be unable to resume our lives, participate in social activities, open our borders, and revive our economy."

Although Singapore has seen the number of Covid-19 cases soar to record levels recently with an average of almost 3,200 cases per day in the last week, the number of those who have become seriously ill is low at two per cent. Only two out of every thousand needed intensive care treatment or have died. Due to a vaccination rate of about 85 per cent of the total population, about 98 per cent of those who catch Covid-19 in Singapore have mild or no symptoms.

-PTC News with inputs from ANI