People who have been fully vaccinated from countries such as India, Indonesia, and Saudi Arabia will be allowed to travel freely, the city-state announced on Monday. The move is part of an effort to safely move past the pandemic that has kept the city’s 5.7 million residents confined to their homes for more than a year.
Visitors from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar who have been immunized can enter Singapore without quarantine or waiting period from November 29 to December 6, according to a statement issued by Singapore’s Ministry of Health on Monday. Immunized adults are permitted to bring unvaccinated children under the age of 12.
Singapore plans to start the agreement with Indonesia with two daily designated flights between Singapore and Jakarta, according to Transport Minister S Iswaran. According to him, the airline intends to fly to Chennai, Delhi, and Mumbai twice a day. Passengers arriving at Singapore’s Changi Airport from both countries were among the top five markets in 2019.
In September, a vaccinated travel lane between Germany and Brunei opened, marking the first step in the country’s gradual opening to the general public. Its Covid-Zero policy has been abandoned in favor of an eight-year strategy of coexistence with the virus until 2020 when the city-state will host the world’s best airport.
Infections are becoming more common
Officials expect infection rates to rise as more travel lanes open and restrictions on the use of Covid are relaxed as a result of the increased number of vaccinations being distributed. The number of newly diagnosed infections is expected to fall to 2,700 per day as the current outbreak winds down.
“We should expect higher transmission rates and infection cases in the coming days and weeks,” said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung at a press conference on Monday. More people are recovering and developing resistance to the virus as a result of these efforts.” While this is going on, we are also giving out more booster shots.”
According to him, natural immunity and vaccine protection will eventually reduce infection rates.
Inoculations Are Required for Travel Abroad
The VTL program currently has thirteen countries participating, including the United States, Canada, and Italy. Three new countries will be added to the list between now and November 29: Malaysia, Finland, and Sweden. The specifics of our Malaysia trip will be revealed at the end of the week.
The daily quota for those arriving in Singapore under the VTL program will increase from 6,000 to 10,000 once the latest countries are added to the list. More than 24,000 vaccinated visitors had arrived in Singapore by the 14th of November.
To rebuild its status as a hub, the country is attempting to reopen with 85 percent of its population fully immunized while also keeping a tight lid on infections that could overwhelm its healthcare system.
Passenger traffic at Changi Airport, Asia’s second busiest airport for international flights last year, was only 2% of pre-Covid levels in the first nine months of the year.
Even though the pandemic has cost Singapore Airlines Ltd. money, the airline’s new routes are already paying off. It carried 165,000 passengers in October, a 16% increase over the previous month.
By allowing previously confined migrant workers to return to the community, Singapore is increasing the number of vaccinated workers from 3,000 per week to 3,000 per day.
Singapore is experimenting with the resumption of business events, sports, and live performances through vaccination and testing, with encouraging results so far. To cap off the month, a two-day charity concert will be held in conjunction with the Milken Institute Asia Summit and the Bloomberg New Economy Forum.
According to country officials, international events such as the Formula One night racing event have been resurrected to a large extent, albeit gradually.
F1 and the Singapore Grand Prix are in contract extension talks in Singapore
Food court customers who have been fully immunized will be distinguished from those who have not by the implementation of access control and checking systems by authorities. Up to five people from the same household can dine at these restaurants. Restaurants are exempt from this rule for the time being.
