Singapore: Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said on Monday (November 8) that the pandemic situation in Southeast Asia is “rapidly stabilizing” and Singapore has adjusted the risk classification of some of these countries accordingly.
“It is worth noting that our own region, Southeast Asia. The pandemic situation is rapidly stabilizing,” Mr. Ong said at a press conference of the multi-ministerial working group.
Therefore, Mr. Ong said that the risk classification of several ASEAN countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam will be adjusted from the third category to the second category.
In addition, the risk classification of Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Thailand will be adjusted from the fourth category to the third category.
Mr. Ong added: “This also gives us the opportunity to start opening up our borders with regional countries.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) stated in an accompanying press release that these changes will take effect at 11:59 pm on Thursday (November 11).
Earlier in the day, it was also announced that Singapore will restart cross-border air travel with Malaysia through the Vaccination Channel (VTL) between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) from November 29.
Applications for vaccination travel passes for short-term tourists and long-term pass holders will begin on November 22; however, the Ministry of Health has stated that Singapore citizens and permanent residents who are fully vaccinated do not need to apply.
The Ministry of Health added that Singapore and Malaysia are also discussing in detail the initiation of similar plans to resume land travel.
The ministry stated that the VTL program will also be extended to Finland and Sweden from November 29th.
The Ministry of Health announced that Singapore will also expand the type of testing recognized as a valid pre-departure test (PDT), which is applicable to all passengers arriving or transiting through Singapore from the second or third category countries and regions, including those arriving via VTL.
The ministry said: “This is consistent with the testing protocol we are currently implementing in Singapore.”
“From 2359 hours on November 11, 2021, we will also accept professionally managed negative ART (Rapid Antigen Test) results conducted within two days before departure as a valid PDT for travelers from these countries.”
The addition of three new VTL countries brings the number of locations under Singapore’s quarantine-free travel plan to 16.
Europe’s infection rate is rising but not out of control
Mr. Ong also talked about a new wave of infections in Europe as the European continent approaches winter. He said this was due to insufficient vaccination.
“The World Health Organization (World Health Organization) warns that Europe is again at the center of the pandemic,” Mr. Wang said.
“According to WHO data, three-quarters of new cases in Europe are over 65 years old, and most of them are not vaccinated. So we see that in European countries with low vaccination rates such as Germany, France, and Switzerland… …In contrast, more people are hospitalized in countries with higher vaccination rates and fewer hospitalizations, such as Denmark, Italy, and Spain.
Mr. Ong added that despite the increasing number of cases in Europe, their infection rate has not gone out of control.
“For example, the average infection rate in Singapore in the past 7 days was about 46 per 100,000 people. In Denmark and Germany, despite the increase in cases, there are still 28 cases. Spain has less than 5 cases, Sweden has 8 cases, and France has 10 cases. For example, Switzerland has 24 cases, the Netherlands 51, and the United Kingdom 55. Therefore, they are all comparable within a certain range,” he explained.
“The Ministry of Health will continue to closely monitor the situation in Europe and the rest of the world.”
