Singapore embraces coronavirus tests, infection ratios to speed up travel restart

Trade Minister Chan Chun Sing said the plan for Singapore to allow increased numbers of international visitors will hopefully be a model for other countries

The city state has set up a travel bubble with Hong Kong that wouldn’t require travellers to undergo a 14-day quarantine

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Singapore, which is dependent upon international tourism and trade, is working hard to reopen its borders. Photo: Bloomberg

Published: 3:43pm, 5 Nov 2020Updated: 3:43pm, 5 Nov 2020

Singapore is using a plan involving ratios and testing to open its borders to as many international visitors as possible based on their home country of risk, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing said.

The government looks at a country’s “observed prevalence rate” of coronavirus infections and is “mathematically, statistically” managing this to make sure that “we have a highest number of visitors, business travellers” possible without breaking the risk budget, Chan said.

Singapore, which is dependent upon international tourism and trade, is working hard to reopen its borders. Details regarding a travel bubble with Hong Kong that wouldn’t require visitors to undergo a 14-day quarantine are expected to be announced soon.

Instead of self-isolating, travellers will need to take a Covid-19 test with a negative result.

Chan said Singapore is working on travel bubbles with other countries, urging them not to “wait for the conditions to be right” before discussions start.