SINGAPORE: Singapore will enhance its COVID-19 testing protocols for all air arrivals as part of tighter measures to deal with the Omicron variant.
Among the measures, air travellers arriving in Singapore on the vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) from 11.59pm on Dec 2 must take additional antigen rapid tests (ART) to reduce the importation of the new Omicron coronavirus variant and allow prompt detection and isolation of cases who might have it.
These travellers must undergo supervised self-administered ARTs at a quick test centre on Days 3 and 7 of their arrival, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a news release on Tuesday (Nov 30).
Currently, VTL travellers only need to take an on-arrival polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and self-isolate until they get a negative result.
This comes as some countries have shut borders or tightened restrictions on travellers to contain the Omicron variant, which could potentially be more dangerous than the current dominant Delta variant.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Tuesday that Singapore will freeze new VTL openings amid "major uncertainty" brought by the Omicron variant, although he acknowledged that cases with the variant could "sporadically" slip into the country as authorities continue to learn about it.
This includes whether the variant is more infectious or harmful than others, its incubation and infectious period, whether ART and other tests can detect it, and how well vaccines work against it, Mr Ong said at a COVID-19 multi-ministerial task force press conference.
"For domestic healthcare protocols, we can use the Thermo Fisher PCR to preliminary identify Omicron infections and differentiate the follow-up actions," Mr Ong added.
"But for border policies, there is no basis for us to do so. So, this is where we need to judge very carefully and be prepared to adjust our border measures along the way."
COVID-19 multi-ministerial task force co-chair Gan Kim Yong said the land VTL with Malaysia will not be subjected to the additional ART tests as it is currently restricted to citizens, permanent residents and long-term passholders of either country.
"With Malaysia, we have always taken a risk management approach," he said, pointing to how authorities implemented additional on-arrival ART tests for those entering Singapore on the land VTL once the potential threat of the Omicron variant became clear.
"So, there are various measures in place to mitigate the risk."
When asked how Singapore might decide on suspending VTLs, COVID-19 multi-ministerial task force co-chair Lawrence Wong said authorities will look at data concerning the spread of the Omicron variant in these countries.
"If we think that there is a very strong likelihood or we assess that there is a risk of imported infections coming through that particular channel, then indeed we will consider suspending the VTL with that country," he said.
In further stepped up measures against the Omicron variant, air travellers entering or transiting through Singapore from Dec 3, including travellers from Category I regions, must undergo a pre-departure test within two days of their departure for Singapore and produce a negative result.
Those entering Singapore, including travellers from Category II, III and IV countries, must also undergo a PCR test on arrival.
Currently, travellers from the Category I regions of Hong Kong, Macao, mainland China and Taiwan only need to take a PCR test on arrival, while those from the Category II, III and IV only need to take a PCR test near the end of their stay-home notice period.
These enhanced measures will apply for four weeks in the first instance, and will be reviewed and extended if necessary, MOH said.
The ministry will also conduct a one-time surveillance PCR testing exercise for travellers who arrived between Nov 12 and Nov 27, and had travelled to the countries or regions affected by the Omicron variant in the 14 days before their arrival in Singapore.
These affected countries or regions are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
These travellers have been notified of their scheduled test time and venue. We seek the understanding and cooperation of affected travellers for the testing exercise.
"These travellers have been notified of their scheduled test time and venue. We seek the understanding and cooperation of affected travellers for the testing exercise," MOH said.
MOH advised Singapore residents to defer all travel to higher risk countries or regions, including those affected by the Omicron variant, until further notice.
Travellers who visit places with reported cases of the Omicron variant or countries that see a lot of visitors from these places should take extra precaution, MOH said.
This includes wearing masks, and observing good personal hygiene and safe management measures even if these requirements are not required there.
"This will protect you during this period of uncertainty," MOH added.
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Among the measures, air travellers arriving in Singapore on the vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) from 11.59pm on Dec 2 must take additional antigen rapid tests (ART) to reduce the importation of the new Omicron coronavirus variant and allow prompt detection and isolation of cases who might have it.
These travellers must undergo supervised self-administered ARTs at a quick test centre on Days 3 and 7 of their arrival, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a news release on Tuesday (Nov 30).
Currently, VTL travellers only need to take an on-arrival polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test and self-isolate until they get a negative result.
This comes as some countries have shut borders or tightened restrictions on travellers to contain the Omicron variant, which could potentially be more dangerous than the current dominant Delta variant.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Tuesday that Singapore will freeze new VTL openings amid "major uncertainty" brought by the Omicron variant, although he acknowledged that cases with the variant could "sporadically" slip into the country as authorities continue to learn about it.
This includes whether the variant is more infectious or harmful than others, its incubation and infectious period, whether ART and other tests can detect it, and how well vaccines work against it, Mr Ong said at a COVID-19 multi-ministerial task force press conference.
"For domestic healthcare protocols, we can use the Thermo Fisher PCR to preliminary identify Omicron infections and differentiate the follow-up actions," Mr Ong added.
"But for border policies, there is no basis for us to do so. So, this is where we need to judge very carefully and be prepared to adjust our border measures along the way."
COVID-19 multi-ministerial task force co-chair Gan Kim Yong said the land VTL with Malaysia will not be subjected to the additional ART tests as it is currently restricted to citizens, permanent residents and long-term passholders of either country.
"With Malaysia, we have always taken a risk management approach," he said, pointing to how authorities implemented additional on-arrival ART tests for those entering Singapore on the land VTL once the potential threat of the Omicron variant became clear.
"So, there are various measures in place to mitigate the risk."
When asked how Singapore might decide on suspending VTLs, COVID-19 multi-ministerial task force co-chair Lawrence Wong said authorities will look at data concerning the spread of the Omicron variant in these countries.
"If we think that there is a very strong likelihood or we assess that there is a risk of imported infections coming through that particular channel, then indeed we will consider suspending the VTL with that country," he said.
ADDITIONAL MEASURES
In further stepped up measures against the Omicron variant, air travellers entering or transiting through Singapore from Dec 3, including travellers from Category I regions, must undergo a pre-departure test within two days of their departure for Singapore and produce a negative result.
Those entering Singapore, including travellers from Category II, III and IV countries, must also undergo a PCR test on arrival.
Currently, travellers from the Category I regions of Hong Kong, Macao, mainland China and Taiwan only need to take a PCR test on arrival, while those from the Category II, III and IV only need to take a PCR test near the end of their stay-home notice period.
These enhanced measures will apply for four weeks in the first instance, and will be reviewed and extended if necessary, MOH said.
The ministry will also conduct a one-time surveillance PCR testing exercise for travellers who arrived between Nov 12 and Nov 27, and had travelled to the countries or regions affected by the Omicron variant in the 14 days before their arrival in Singapore.
These affected countries or regions are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
These travellers have been notified of their scheduled test time and venue. We seek the understanding and cooperation of affected travellers for the testing exercise.
"These travellers have been notified of their scheduled test time and venue. We seek the understanding and cooperation of affected travellers for the testing exercise," MOH said.
MOH advised Singapore residents to defer all travel to higher risk countries or regions, including those affected by the Omicron variant, until further notice.
Travellers who visit places with reported cases of the Omicron variant or countries that see a lot of visitors from these places should take extra precaution, MOH said.
This includes wearing masks, and observing good personal hygiene and safe management measures even if these requirements are not required there.
"This will protect you during this period of uncertainty," MOH added.
Continue reading...