SHN cut from 21 to 14 days for travellers to Singapore from higher-risk regions
SINGAPORE —Singapore will be easing its border measures from 11.59pm on Wednesday (23 June), with new travellers from higher-risk countries and regions being subjected to a 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHNs) instead of 21 days.
However, these travellers will be required to test themselves regularly with antigen rapid test (ART) self-test kits on Days 3, 7 and 11 of their arrival in Singapore, while serving their SHNs.
This new requirement is on top of the COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests they have to take upon arrival and before they exit their SHNs on Day 14. This new testing requirement will be implemented for new arrivals from 11.59pm on 27 June (Sunday).
The COVID-19 Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) said in a media release on Wednesday that the shortened SHN duration is based on updated evidence gathered over the past month.
"In late April, little was known about the emerging variant of concern, including its incubation period. As a precaution, we had required travellers with recent travel history to higher risk countries/regions to serve a 21-day SHN," it said.
"We have since reviewed the international evidence and local case data. While there is increased transmissibility with the new variants of concern, we have found no evidence – from both overseas and local data – that these variants come with longer incubation periods."
270 imported cases had incubation periods within 14-day window
MTF added that, since the introduction of the 21-day SHN on 8 May, it has had 270 imported cases among such travellers from these higher-risk countries/regions. All of them had incubation periods well within the 14-day window.
Additionally, travellers who had stayed in Taiwan and Israel in the 21 days prior to arrival in Singapore were previously subjected to a 14-day SHN at dedicated facilities as well as a seven-day SHN at their places of residence.
From 11.59pm on Wednesday, these travellers can apply to opt out of dedicated facilities and serve their 14-day SHN at their places of residence, if they fulfil these criteria:
They have not travelled to any other country or region other than Taiwan and Israel in the last consecutive 21 days prior to entry into Singapore;
They are occupying their places of residence alone, or only with household members who are also persons serving SHN with the same travel history and duration.
Measures for new migrant workers, harbour craft crew
Meanwhile, newly arrived migrant workers from higher-risk countries and regions and are staying in dormitories, or those working in the Construction, Marine and Process (CMP) sector, will continue to go through an additional seven-day stay at the Migrant Worker Onboarding Centre (MWOC) or a dedicated facility after they are cleared from their 14-day SHNs.
This additional seven-day stay has been in place since early this year, and includes an additional testing regime, medical examination and Settling-In-Programme where required.
Also, new crew from higher risk countries or regions who are entering Singapore on a long-term permit to work aboard harbour craft operating in the Port of Singapore will undergo an additional seven-day stay and testing regime at a dedicated facility after they are cleared from their 14-day SHNs.
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