With low numbers of daily infections and high vaccination rates in its country, the Singaporean government recently announced that it’s launching its first vaccinated travel lanes with two countries – Germany and Brunei. As reported by Channel News Asia, starting from 8 September 2021, fully vaccinated individuals in Singapore can now travel to Germany and Brunei without serving a stay-home notice. The same also applies to travellers departing from Germany or Brunei to enter Singapore.
The move was announced by Singapore’s Covid-19 multi-ministry task force on Thursday (19 August 2021) and requires travellers to undergo multiple Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests. These include a pre-departure test within 48 hours of flight, on arrival test at the Changi International Airport and also post-arrival tests on day 3 and 7 in Singapore at a designated local clinic. Failing to complete these tests is a chargeable offence under the country’s Infectious Diseases Act and if so, travellers will be issued a stay home notice to be quarantined in dedicated facilities.
For illustration purposes.
Furthermore, this vaccinated travel lanes will be open for all travel reasons and not only restricted for business or official purposes. The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said that the scheme is open for leisure, business, family visits and others.
This scheme is only available to those who are fully vaccinated with the Covid-19 vaccine. Singapore recognises someone as being fully vaccinated only if:
- 14 days have passed after they received both doses of vaccines listed under the World Health Organisation (WHO) emergency use list.
- These include Pfizer-BionNtech, Moderna, Sinovac and AstraZeneca.
Therefore, children under the age of 12 who can’t be vaccinated yet will not be able to travel under this scheme.
Travellers at Singapore’s Changi International Airport.
Other requirements for the scheme include:
- Travellers must travel to Singapore on non-stop designated flights.
- Travellers do not need to follow a controlled itinerary or have a sponsor but must remain in Singapore or their country of departure (Germany or Brunei) in the last 21 consecutive days before departing to Singapore.
What do you guys think of this fully vaccinated travel lanes introduced by Singapore? Do you think Malaysia should introduce something similar when our Covid-19 infection rates are under control? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!
Also read: Singapore Eases Covid-19 SOPs, Malls & Public Places No Longer Require Temperature Checks
