As Singapore tightens coronavirus curbs, families hope Hong Kong travel bubble will go ahead as planned

Singapore is seeking to prevent further community transmission amid 10 active clusters ahead of the May 26 quarantine-free travel arrangement

While the move has disappointed some, experts say it is warranted due to the presence of virus strains, such as those reported in India, Brazil and South Africa

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People pose for photos at the Merlion Park in Singapore. File photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 3:12pm, 7 May 2021Updated: 5:03pm, 7 May 2021

Andrew Li, 38, is looking forward to June. His father, who lives in Hong Kong, is set to visit Singapore if quarantine-free travel between both air hubs begins on May 26 as planned.

It will herald a reunion for most of the Li family, who have remained either in Singapore or Hong Kong without seeing each other since the Covid-19 pandemic erupted last year.

Li, the CEO of Zouk Group, said his mother and brother are now planning a series of family dinners, but like hundreds of others eager to travel or await visitors, they are also closely watching the news – in case the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked local cases rises above 5 in either city, triggering a pause in the bubble for two weeks. Currently, the number in Singapore is 1 and 0.14 in Hong Kong, well below that threshold.

“I can’t wait to do a cook-off with my dad as he’s also the chef in the family,” said Li, who has planned a menu with lobster, pasta and steak.

Singapore is seeing more community cases involving mutant Covid-19 strains. Photo: EPA-EFE

First though, Singapore residents will need to stomach a return to the social-distancing restrictions of last year for three weeks starting on Saturday.