The new protocols include PCR on arrival tests for all travelers, additional rapid ART antigen tests for VTL travelers, improved management of confirmed / suspected Omicron cases and more.
The Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) will improve its testing protocols for travelers arriving in Singapore after December 2, 2021, 2359 hours. This is part of efforts by the Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) to step up the detection and containment of Omicron, a potentially more contagious variant of COVID-19. said on Tuesday (11/30/2021).
The protocols are as follows:
- COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction tests (PCR) on arrival for all travelers and additional rapid antigen tests (ART) for travelers on vaccinated routes (VTLs);
- One-time surveillance test exercise for travelers who have entered from affected countries / regions in the past two weeks;
- PCR Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) for frontline and frontline workers affected
- Improved management of confirmed and suspected Omicron cases.
“These extended measures are initially valid for four weeks and will be reviewed and extended if necessary,” said MTF.
PCR and ART
In order to, all air travelers arriving or transferring / transiting via Singapore, after December 2nd, 2359 p.m., from countries / regions of Category I, must:
- Take a pre-departure test (PDT) within two days of leaving Singapore and get a negative result.
As for Travelers entering Singapore from Category II [non-Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL)], III and IV countries, You need to:
- On arrival, undergo a PCR test.
“Either a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test (RT-PCR) or a professionally administered ART result is accepted as a valid PDT for countries / regions of Category I – III. Only RT-PCR test results are accepted as valid PDT for countries / Category IV regions, “noted MTF.
Air travelers on the Vaccinated itinerary (VTL-Air) that arrived after the deadline and time (December 2, 2021, 2359), you must also:
- Undergo additional supervised self-administered ART at a rapid testing center on days three and seven after arrival.
With regard to the VTL between Singapore and Malaysia, the task force announced that separate measures will apply to VTL travelers via land connections with Malaysia subject only one ART on arrival.
One-time surveillance test exercise
In addition, the task force added that the ministry will also conduct a one-time PCR monitoring exercise for arriving travelers between November 12th and 27th, 2021, and had traveled to Omicron-affected countries / regions in the 14 days prior to arriving in Singapore.
Those involved in the test exercise would have been informed of their scheduled test time and location.
[ALSO READ: Border measures tightened for those entering Singapore from some Cat IV countries owing to Omicron risks]
PCR RRT for frontline frontline workers
Starting December 2, 2021, as an additional precautionary measure, the Task Force will also conduct a weekly PCR RRT for airport and other frontline frontline workers who may come into contact with travelers from countries / regions affected by the Omicron variant.
The following provisions apply to flights with flight crew from these countries:
- A PCR test on arrival and
- A PCR test upon arrival on days 3 and 7 after each flight duty.
Other workers at airports and at the border will continue with the ART-based RRT. As an added precaution, those with a positive ART must undergo a confirmatory PCR test. All frontline frontline workers, including those who have recovered, must undergo the RRT.
Improved administration
As a final measure of MTF’s latest testing protocols, the task force said that individuals confirmed or suspected of being infected with the Omicron variant should is not allowed to relax at home. Instead, you will be referred to the National Center for Infectious Diseases (NCID) for isolation and treatment.
MTF added, “We will also do full contact tracing for these cases to identify their close contacts, place them in a 10-day quarantine at state quarantine facilities instead of allowing self-isolation at home, and PCR testing at the start and end.” at the end of their quarantine. “
With this in mind, the task force called on all Singapore residents to postpone all travel to higher risk countries / regions, including Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe, until further notice.
Apart from that, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung announced in his opening speech at the MTF conference yesterday that in view of the new variant, all new VTLs and easing of social measures will be frozen. “This is advisable for the time being when we are faced with a great deal of uncertainty,” he said.
This follows the earlier MTF announcement on November 28th that the VTLs with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE postponed until further notice. They were originally scheduled to hit the market on December 6, 2021.
Image / Ministry of Health
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