COVID-19 stay-home notice for some travellers cut to 10 days; travel history assessment period also shortened

SINGAPORE: Travellers entering Singapore who are currently required to serve a 14-day stay-home notice will have this reduced to 10 days, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Saturday (Oct 2).

This is in line with the shortening of local quarantine periods, which have taken into consideration the shorter incubation period of the Delta variant, said MOH.

The new stay-home notice period, which applies to those who are coming from Category III and IV regions, will kick in from 11.59pm on Oct 6.

Such travellers will undergo a COVID-19 polymerase reaction chain (PCR) test on arrival and on day 10. They will also undergo self-administered antigen rapid tests (ARTs) on days three and seven.

“They end their SHN as long as they have a negative result for their PCR test on Day 10,” said MOH.

A 10-day stay at dedicated stay-home notice facilities will cost S$1,450, compared to S$2,000 for a 14-day stay.

Refund details will be worked out for travellers affected by these changes, and will be shared with them separately, said MOH.

Meanwhile, affected travellers who are currently serving their stay-home notice will have this reviewed and be informed of check-out arrangements separately, the ministry added.

SHORTENING OF TRAVEL HISTORY PERIODS

The ministry added that border measures will be determined based on the traveller’s travel history in the last 14 days, instead of the existing 21 days.

The travel history still includes transits en route to Singapore and time spent in Singapore prior to travel.

Fully vaccinated travellers who stayed in Category III countries or regions in the past 14 days before arriving in Singapore can apply to serve their stay-home notice periods at their place of residence or other suitable accommodation.

But this is only if they are occupying such accommodation alone, or with household members who are also vaccinated, and serving stay-home notice with the same travel history.

Unvaccinated travellers will still be required to undergo a 10-day stay-home notice at dedicated facilities.

NEW COUNTRIES/REGIONS ADDED

More countries and regions have also been added to Singapore’s classifications, based on their COVID-19 situations.

The new countries added to Category II from 11.59pm on Oct 6 are the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Finland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

For Category III, the new additions are Bahrain, Bhutan, Cyprus, Fiji, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Slovakia, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

NEW VACCINATION ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

From Nov 1, all work pass holders, their dependants, as well as student’s pass holders must be fully vaccinated before arriving in Singapore.

This is to “allow the necessary workers and students to enter Singapore’s borders in a safe and calibrated manner while minimising public health risk”, said MOH.

The vaccination condition for entry will not apply to those aged below 18 years old at the point of arrival.

Those aged between 12 and less than 18 at the point of arrival, who are unvaccinated, can enter - but must complete the full vaccination regimen within two months of arrival.

There are also exemptions for those who are medically ineligible for vaccinations.

MOH added that for travellers entering Singapore via the Familial Ties Lane, priority will be given to those who are fully vaccinated.

RESUMING ENTRY APPROVALS

The Manpower Ministry will also be resuming entry approvals for migrant domestic workers, and S Pass and work permit holders from the construction, marine shipyard and process sectors entering Singapore from higher-risk countries/regions. Applications for entry approval will start from Oct 15.

But these workers must also be fully vaccinated before arrival.

"Entry approvals will be limited in view of the evolving local and global COVID-19 situation and need to minimise importation risk.

"Pass holders may have to wait about three to six months before they can enter Singapore," said MOH.