Singapore — Further easing of social measures and the opening of new vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs) will be halted while border controls tighten as Singapore monitors news of Omicron, the latest Covid-19 variant of concern.
No cases of Omicron have yet been detected in Singapore, said the Health Ministry (MOH) as it set up pre-emptive measures to reduce the risk of importing and spreading the variant.
At a press conference of the multi-ministry task force (MTF) for Covid-19 on Tuesday, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said, “This is a prudent thing to do for now when we are faced with a major uncertainty.”
That is why it has stopped relaxing curbs and other moves which were meant to help Singapore exit the stabilisation phase and transition to living with Covid-19.
Tighter border controls
Beginning at 11:59 pm on Dec 2, testing protocols will be enhanced for travellers arriving here. These measures will apply for four weeks at first and be reviewed and extended if needed.
Travellers transferring or transiting through Singapore must also undergo pre-departure tests (PDT) and test negative within two days of their leaving for Singapore.
Meanwhile, those entering Singapore must undergo a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test on arrival.
Air travellers on the VTL scheme arriving after the 11:59, Dec 2 cut-off will have to undergo additional supervised self-administered antigen rapid tests (ART) at a quick test centre on the third and seventh day of arrival.
“These measures will enable us to minimise importation and allow prompt detection and isolation of Omicron cases,” said MOH.
Other measures include suspending new VTLs after those with Thailand, Cambodia, Fiji, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Turkey, which are due to start in mid-December.
VTLs for Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates has been postponed indefinitely.
People who test positive for the Omicron variant will not be able to recover at home but will be taken to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases (NCID) for isolation.
In response to the announcement, Not a few netizens wondered why there was a need to wait till Dec 3 to launch the new measures.
“What can’t start today. We are at risk now to our country,” said Facebook user Jun Yang.
Others, like former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng, commended the decision.
“It’s excellent news that the MMTF has resisted closing borders or VTLs. Increased tests are ok. We must fight the Singaporean turtles on every beach and beat them back!” commented Mr Cheng.
“VTLs from the beginning should just be like between Malaysians and Singaporeans who are ‘stuck’ at either side to be reunited with families, or business travels,” said Facebook user Mitchie Mich.
“As much as everyone is yearning for the world to function like normal i.e. to travel again freely…just wait a while more, can?”
“Finally, Singapore is taking an active approach rather than a wait-and-see,” added another netizen.
To date, Omicron has been identified in at least 19 countries after it was first detected in South Africa last week. /TISG
Read related: COVID-19 | WHO unclear if new variant Omicron causes more severe disease
COVID-19 | WHO unclear if new variant Omicron causes more severe disease
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