China News Service, October 21. According to Singapore’s Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore will explore how to further open its borders, including adopting more frequent new coronavirus tests and other safety measures, so that more immigrants do not need to undergo quarantine or fulfill home notifications.
In order to ensure that more large-scale events can be gradually restarted, the anti-epidemic inter-departmental working group announced on the 20th that in the next two to three months, antigen rapid tests will be piloted at designated large-scale events.
When asked whether the government would also consider rapid antigen testing for inbound tourists to further restore mass cross-border tourism, Huang Xuncai, the Minister of Education and the Second Minister of Finance, who co-led the working group, said in a reply to the Lianhe Zaobao that the authorities did not exclude In passenger quarantine, a detection method other than the new coronavirus polymerase chain reaction (Polymerase Chain Reaction, PCR) swab test is used.
He said: "No matter which testing method we use, the key is to ensure that we can accurately detect cases and minimize the risk of imported cases from abroad."
At present, various travel arrangements implemented in Singapore, such as reciprocal green channels and air passes, require passengers to undergo PCR testing at least after entry.
Huang Xuncai mentioned that the 14-day quarantine period is the biggest obstacle to the restart of air travel. To circumvent this obstacle and ensure that the epidemic is under control, the government may consider implementing more frequent new coronavirus tests.
For example, after entering the country, passengers can undergo PCR testing first, and then frequent rapid antigen testing to shorten or eliminate isolation.
The Minister of Health Yan Jinyong, who is co-leading the working group, said that the government can also adopt different testing methods based on the travel history of travelers and the risk of infection, but this depends on the results of the antigen test.
In line with the gradual opening of the border, the Ministry of Health announced on the 20th that the relevant medical fee policies would be relaxed. Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term document holders who went abroad on March 27 this year and later have symptoms of new coronary pneumonia within 14 days after returning to New Zealand. You can also enjoy government subsidies and use insurance to pay for medical expenses, and you no longer need to pay in full.
On the other hand, the epidemic in neighboring Malaysia has recently increased, and whether the travel arrangements between Singapore and Malaysia will be affected has also raised concerns.
Huang Xuncai pointed out that in addition to closely monitoring the trend of the epidemic in Malaysia, the government has also taken necessary preventive measures, including testing Malaysians entering Singapore.
He also said that the government will make necessary adjustments according to changes in the situation.