Singapore to allow more travellers to quarantine at home

SINGAPORE (Xinhua): Singapore's Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Tuesday (Oct 27)that the government will allow more travellers to opt out of dedicated facilities and serve their 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) at a suitable place of residence, if they fulfil certain criteria.

The ministry specified these travellers as coming from Estonia, Fiji, Finland, Japan, Norway, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkey and arriving on or after Nov. 4.

They must have not travelled to other countries or regions than above-mentioned in the last consecutive 14 days prior to their entry into Singapore, and will be occupying their place of residence alone, or only with household members who are also persons serving SHN with the same travel history and duration of SHN.

The MOH said the list of countries and regions will be updated from time to time depending on the public health risk assessment.

Currently, except for countries and regions that Singapore has unilaterally opened up to, travellers from selected low risk countries and regions serve a seven-day SHN at their place of residence or suitable accommodation of their choice, and all other travellers serve a 14-day SHN at dedicated SHN facilities, according to the ministry.

The MOH also announced that from Jan 1,2021, all incoming travellers will be required to pay for their stay at dedicated SHN facilities, and will be responsible for their inpatient medical bills if they have onset of symptoms of Covid-19 within 14 days of their entry to Singapore.