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Singapore to waive quarantine for all vaccinated vacationers post-omicron


The transit corridor of Changi Worldwide Airport in Singapore on Jan. 12, 2022.

Roslan Rahman | AFP | Getty Photographs

SINGAPORE — Singapore intends to permit vaccinated guests from all nations to skip quarantine on arrival when the omicron wave has handed, authorities introduced on Wednesday throughout a digital press briefing.

Well being Minister Ong Ye Kung mentioned journey guidelines had been meant to forestall infections from being imported into the nation, however that class of instances represents just one% of every day instances and “now not have a cloth affect” on Singapore’s Covid state of affairs.

The main focus in future might be on whether or not guests to Singapore will fall severely sick and burden the health-care system, he mentioned.

“We should always really emphasize much less on SHN and exams on vacationers, [and] extra on guaranteeing that they’re totally vaccinated and boosted,” he mentioned.

“As a substitute of getting vaccinated journey lanes or VTLs with chosen nations that we predict are low threat, we must always really permit SHN-free journey for … totally vaccinated vacationers from all nations,” Ong mentioned, referring to stay-home notices issued to guests to Singapore.

“We should always make this transition not now, however after omicron wave has peaked and begin to subside,” he added.

The authorities didn’t set a date for this new coverage to take impact, however Gan Kim Yong, the minister for commerce and trade, mentioned that the omicron wave might peak in a couple of weeks.

Vaccinated journey lanes

In a bid to reopen its borders, Singapore beforehand introduced multiple so-called vaccinated travel lanes that allow travelers from certain countries to visit without serving quarantines.

However when the brand new border measures take impact, vaccinated vacationers from all nations is not going to be topic to quarantine necessities.

“Our final objective is quarantine-free journey for all vaccinated vacationers,” mentioned Minister for Transport S Iswaran.

As Singapore transitions to a “vaccinated traveler system,” it can first change the best way it categorizes nations that guests are arriving from.

From Feb. 22, nations might be divided into three primary teams — restricted, basic and low an infection. The overwhelming majority of nations might be within the basic class and be topic to the identical entry necessities except a VTL has been launched.

No nations might be within the restricted class for now, however nations and areas could also be moved there if a brand new variant of concern is detected, authorities mentioned.

Individually, a well being ministry press launch mentioned beforehand deferred vaccinated journey lanes with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will start on Feb. 25. Authorities additionally introduced that new VTLs for Israel, Hong Kong and the Philippines might be launched.

Covid state of affairs

Singapore reported a document 19,420 new Covid instances on Tuesday.

During the last 28 days, 99.7% of reported instances have had gentle or no signs.

Town-state has reported 497,997 Covid instances and 913 associated deaths for the reason that begin of the Covid pandemic.

Round 90% of Singapore’s inhabitants have obtained two photographs below the nationwide vaccination program, and 64% of the inhabitants have obtained boosters.



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