No need to tighten curbs on China travellers despite Covid-19 surge: Singapore health experts

Infectious disease experts said such restrictions are unnecessary as the city state has a high Covid-19 vaccination rate

The virus is spreading rapidly in China after it ditched its zero Covid policy, causing nationwide shortages of test kits and key drugs

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Relatives gather near the bed of a Covid-19 patient at a hospital in Bazhou city, northern China’s Hebei province, on December 22. Photo: AP

Published: 9:58am, 26 Dec 2022

There is no need for tighter entry requirements to be imposed on travellers from China despite a surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, say infectious disease experts, due to factors such as Singapore’s high vaccination rate.

China is moving away from its zero-tolerance policy towards Covid-19 and adopting an approach of living with the coronavirus.

The change in policy has led to a surge in Covid-19 infections, causing nationwide shortages of test kits and key drugs such as fever and cold medicines.

There has also been increased demand for flu medicines in Singapore, which are reportedly bought by customers to be couriered to China, causing pharmacies to limit customers’ purchase of these products.

Despite China’s reopening, there is no need for Singapore to toughen its entry requirements for travellers from China, said Dr Paul Tambyah, president of the Asia-Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection.

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