• All long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to the United Kingdom within the last 14 days will be barred from entering Singapore
• They will not be able to transit through Singapore either
• Short-term travellers with air travel passes who had been to New South Wales (NSW), Australia within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter as well
• Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders who had been to NSW within the last 14 days must serve a seven-day stay-home-notice 

SINGAPORE — All long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to the United Kingdom within the last 14 days will not be allowed to transit through or enter Singapore.

This will also apply to all those who had obtained prior approval for entry into Singapore, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Tuesday (Dec 22), citing recent reports of a potentially more contagious strain of the coronavirus circulating in the UK.

MOH added that officials within the UK are also concerned about this new strain of the virus and have put in place more stringent restrictions, including imposing a fresh lockdown in London.

Singapore citizens and permanent residents returning from the UK will be required to undergo a Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arrival here, at the start of their 14-day stay-home notice.

These measures will take effect from Wednesday, 11.59pm.

Right now, travellers with travel history to the UK within 14 days before departing for Singapore have to be isolated for 14 days at dedicated facilities. 

Travellers who are not Singapore citizens or permanent residents also have to take a Covid-19 PCR test within 72 hours before departure and present a valid negative test result as a condition of approval to enter Singapore.

MOh said: “While the strain has been suggested to be more transmissible, there is currently insufficient evidence to determine if this strain is associated with any change in disease severity, antibody response or vaccine efficacy.”

As these aspects of the virus are being investigated by the UK authorities, MOH will evaluate the data as it emerges and review Singapore’s border measures accordingly, it said.

TRAVELLERS FROM NEW SOUTH WALES

MOH also announced that it will be tightening border control measures for travellers who have been to New South Wales (NSW), Australia, and these regulations will take effect from 11.59 on Wednesday as well. 

Short-term travellers holding an air travel pass who have been to NSW within the last 14 days before departure for Singapore will not be allowed entry here.

Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders who have been to NSW within the last 14 days before departure for Singapore will be subject to a seven-day stay-home-notice at their place of residence and have to take a Covid-19 PCR test before the end of the isolation period.

All travellers departing from Australia to Singapore will need to declare their travel history at airline check-in counters before their flight. 

The authorities had earlier announced that travellers from Australia are allowed to undergo a Covid-19 PCR test upon arrival, and if the PCR test result is negative, they will be allowed to go about their activities here without a need to serve a stay-home notice.

MOH said that as the global situation evolves, it will continue to adjust border measures here to manage the risk of importation and transmission of Covid-19 to the community. Any changes to border measures will be updated on its SafeTravel website. This is where travellers can check on the most updated border measures before entering Singapore.

Travellers should also “be prepared to be subjected to the prevailing border measures upon entry, including payment for their stay at dedicated stay-home notice facilities, tests and treatment”.

“All travellers are reminded to accurately declare their travel history,” MOH added. “Strict enforcement actions will be taken against false declarations.”