Singapore could ease travel restrictions on vaccinated visitors

Singapore is considering relaxing travel restrictions for people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Singapore has maintained relative success in controlling the coronavirus pandemic since lockdown measures were lifted in June. Daily cases are almost zero thanks to a robust contact tracing system, high levels of public compliance, and a broad foreign travel ban that is considered one of the strictest in the world. Now officials are considering safe measures that will gradually relax these restrictions before May when the annual World Economic Forum will make its debut in Asia, after relocating from Davos due to coronavirus concerns in Europe.

Haji Lane is the Kampong Glam quarter famous for its cafes, restaurants and shops — January 30, 2019: Haji Lane in the Kampong Glam quarter, which is famous for its cafes, restaurants and shops ©Brostock/Getty Images

One measure that's being proposed is the lifting of travel restrictions on those who have been vaccinated, according to Reuters. But only when the vaccines have been proved to significantly curb the spread of the coronavirus. "If there is clear evidence that transmission risks can be lowered significantly (by vaccines), we will certainly consider some relaxation to the SHN (stay-home-notice) regime for vaccinated travellers," Lawrence Wong, co-head of Singapore's virus taskforce, said in a televised statement shared on social media. The proposal comes as Singapore became one of the first countries in Asia to roll out its national vaccination programme last week.

For now, vaccinated passengers and all other arrivals into Singapore must abide by the current COVID-19 SHN rules.

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A plane flies over downtown Singapore's skyline with a ferry on the river below ©Sakdawut Tangtongsap/Shutterstock

Currently travelers who enter Singapore from low-risk countries are required to serve a seven-day stay-home-notice (or quarantine) at their place of residence and undergo a COVID-19 test before arrival and before quarantine ends. All other travelers must quarantine at designated government facilities, and are also subject to COVID-19 tests. Travelers are required to wear an electronic monitoring device when undergoing quarantine.