Singapore imposes daily tests on VTL travellers, tightens border further

All travellers entering Singapore on Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) must now take daily Covid-19 tests for seven days from the point of arrival, a new measure that will be enforced for four weeks until 11.59 on January 2, 2022.

The decision on December 3 follows an end-November announcement to tighten border controls in an attempt to buffer against the spread of the new Omicron variant.

Singapore imposes daily tests on VTL travellers

The new testing requirement will mean that VTL travellers will have to fulfil a pre-departure test, an on-arrival polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, self-administered antigen rapid tests (ART) on days 2, 4, 5 and 6, and supervised ARTs at designated centres on day 3 and day 7 of their visit.

The health ministry requires all VTL travellers to test negative on their self-administered ART before going out for activities.

At the same time, travel restrictions on countries have been extended. Since 11.59 on December 4, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history to Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria within the last 14 days have been denied entry.

The health ministry will apply the new restrictions for four weeks, and review their necessity after.

Seven countries – Bulgaria, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway and Poland – have been placed in Category 3 on December 6. Travellers from this category must take a Covid-19 test two days before departure for Singapore, an on-arrival test and another before the end of their 10-day stay-home notice at a declared place of accommodation.

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