Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung told Parliament on Monday that the government is not imposing new restrictions on travelers from China because limited flight capacity, combined with its current border policies, has resulted in few imported cases – and even fewer severe cases – from China.
Ong said the government was “acutely aware” that some Singaporeans fear an influx of visitors from China could lead to an increase in infections.
But he said travel volumes between Singapore and China are “very low”, with fewer than 1,000 people arriving from China each day.
“As of now, we operate 38 flights a week from China to Singapore, up from about 400 pre-Covid flights,” he said.
Ong acknowledged that a new, more dangerous variant could emerge from China as the virus spreads through its population of 1.4 billion, but said that had not materialized so far.
With broad vaccination coverage, we can treat Covid-19 as an endemic disease.
Ong said Singapore is monitoring it through GISAID, a non-profit organization that is obtaining viral sequencing data from authorities in major Chinese cities and provinces, such as Beijing, Shanghai and Sichuan, which are processed in Singapore’s GISAID office. .
While there are “gaps in the data,” Ong said, “So far, the data show that the outbreak in China is driven by well-known and circulating variants in other regions of the world,” namely BA.5.2 and BF.7. .
Current rules are effective
So far, more than a dozen countries have announced new rules for visitors from China. Read also : Travel July Fourth weekend can be ugly. Here are 5 ways to prepare.. But Ong said Singapore has not done so, because it already has effective border measures in place.
“Many countries have dismantled all their border measures,” he said. “Singapore … maintained the relevant measures precisely because we anticipated these risks.”
Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung attends a G-20 summit meeting in Bali, Indonesia Oct. 27, 2022.
Sonny Tumbelaka | afp | Getty Images
He said that while “many Singaporeans have forgotten,” all travelers must be fully vaccinated or test negative for Covid before entering, which is the same requirement Spain recently announced for travelers from China.
While South Korea has reported that up to 80% of its imported cases come from China, Ong said that, in December, less than 5% of Singapore’s imported cases – about 200 people – came from China, while “i ASEAN countries accounted for over 50%.”
In the same month, seven imported cases fell seriously ill and only one was from China, he said.
“Most were Singaporeans returning from these countries and regions,” he said. “These are not large numbers, so the impact on our healthcare system has been very small.”
Singapore’s ‘greatest concern’
The government’s “biggest concern” is the emergence of a new, more dangerous variant that could escape vaccine protection — “a nightmarish variant [that] can almost bring us back to square one,” Ong said. To see also : Advice | 8 New England fall trips to check out any travel style.
If that happens, “we may have to reinstate measures such as strict border controls, quarantine for travellers, social restrictions including limiting group sizes, until a new and effective vaccine is developed.”
To monitor this, Singapore will remain connected to the “global surveillance system,” he said.
Ong said the other main concern is to protect Singapore’s healthcare system. He said that during the early stages of the pandemic, infections were the government’s main concern, but as vaccines have been rolled out, he is now focusing on serious infections.
It said 60% of people aged 18 and over were up to date on their vaccinations at the end of 2022.
“Over the past 30 days, the number of Covid-19 patients in the intensive care unit is in the low single digits,” he said. “So with broad vaccination coverage, we can treat Covid-19 as an endemic disease.”
Why other rules may not work
Ong questioned the effectiveness of some travel rules imposed on Chinese travellers: This may interest you : Cases of COVID-19 are on the rise in Cumberland County, the health director says.
Ong added that if Singapore tested all travelers from China, questions would arise about travelers from other regions contributing to more infections and severe cases.
Ong called Covid outbreaks “the new norm”, saying “Today it’s China, tomorrow another region”.
Roslan Rahman | afp | Getty Images
“Also, by activating [pre-departure testing] on travelers from a part of the world experiencing a high number of infections, are we contributing to an international precedent of imposing testing on travelers from countries experiencing an infection surge? “
Ong added, “How will other countries treat travelers from Singapore when we encounter another wave of infection?”
‘We do not discriminate’
Increasing flights with China
Singapore appears to have remained in the good graces of the Chinese government and its residents. Rein said Chinese travelers are now heading to Singapore, as well as Thailand, because “both countries welcome us.”
Singapore Airlines resumed passenger service from Singapore to Beijing in late December. To start, the service will only run twice a month.
Yet flights between Singapore and China are ‘less than 10 per cent of the number of pre-Covid flights’, accounting for about 1.5 per cent of Singapore’s Changi Airport’s total flights, Singapore’s transport minister said on Monday , S. Iswaran.
Overall, passenger traffic and weekly flights at Changi Airport are back to 80% of pre-pandemic levels, he said.
“Singapore and Chinese airlines have called for more flights to be operated between the two countries,” Iswaran said, adding that the government is taking a “careful and calibrated” approach to restoring air connectivity with China.
Right now, more than 60 percent of inbound travelers from China are Singapore citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders, Iswaran said.
“China’s opening up to the world is great news and something we look forward to,” Ong said, adding that the government will carefully adjust travel volume “at least until the wave of infection clearly subsides.” appeased in China”.
When did Singapore relax Covid restrictions?
From 29 August 2022, the use of the mask in closed environments is no longer mandatory, with the exception of environments where essential services are carried out in closed and crowded areas and which are frequently used by vulnerable people. The use of the mask remains optional in external environments.
Are face masks still mandatory in Singapore?
Has Singapore opened its borders?
Singapore is open to all non-quarantine travellers, subject to COVID-19 testing prior to departure for travelers who are not fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines. More details are available here. 2.
Is Singapore Open to unvaccinated?
General Travel All travelers are welcome to Singapore regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status.
Can US citizens travel to Singapore without visa?
US passport holders (regular, official and diplomatic) do not need a visa to enter Singapore for business or social visiting purposes.
Can a US Green Card holder travel to Singapore without a visa? The visa-free countries to which US permanent residents with green cards can travel are: Albania, Aruba, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Georgia, Mexico, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Peru, and Singapore.
Who can enter Singapore without visa?
The Visa-Free Transit Facility allows certain foreign nationals transiting through Singapore to enter the country for 96 hours if they meet certain conditions….Visa-Free Transit Facility (VFTF)
- Australia.
- Canada.
- Germany.
- Japan.
- New Zeland.
- Swiss.
- United Kingdom.
- United States of America.
Can Americans travel to Singapore?
Singapore Entry and Exit Requirements Travelers born on or after 1 January 2010 are exempt from COVID-19 border measures. Travelers born on or before 31 December 2009 can enter Singapore without testing or quarantine if they are fully vaccinated with a WHO-EUL vaccine and can show proof of vaccination.
How long can US citizens stay in Singapore without a visa?
You do not need a tourist or business visa for up to 90 days. Visit the Singapore Embassy website for the most up-to-date visa information. The US Department of State is not aware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to Singapore.
Is Singapore Open to fully vaccinated tourists?
Singapore is open to all non-quarantine travellers, subject to COVID-19 testing prior to departure for travelers who are not fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines. More details are available here.
Is Singapore open for US tourists now? Singapore Entry and Exit Requirements Travelers born on or after 1 January 2010 are exempt from COVID-19 border measures. Travelers born on or before 31 December 2009 can enter Singapore without testing or quarantine if they are fully vaccinated with a WHO-EUL vaccine and can show proof of vaccination.
