SINGAPORE – Malaysia will be upgraded to Category 3 from Category 4 by Singapore as a part of its regular review of the Covid-19 situation.
This means all travellers from Malaysia will serve their 10-day stay-home notice (SHN) at their declared place of residence or accommodation in Singapore beginning October 27, 2021.
This is regardless of the travellers’ and their household members’ vaccination status and travel history, according to the city-state’s Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) on Covid-19.
Besides Malaysia, 14 other countries namely Cambodia, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Mongolia, Qatar, Rwanda, Samoa, Seychelles, South Africa, Tonga, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam will also be placed in Category 3.
Singapore has started classifying countries or regions under four categories since August, with higher vaccination rates providing a foundation for the country to introduce vaccination-differentiated border measures for travellers.
Malaysia’s Covid-19 situation has improved significantly with 94.4% of the adult population in the country having completed their Covid-19 vaccination as of yesterday.
In a press release detailing the measures, MTF said that by default, they will not be allocated accommodation in any dedicated SHN facilities.
“Returning residents should ensure that alternative accommodation is secured prior to their return if their homes are unsuitable for their SHN,” it said.
However, MTF noted that if travellers are residing with unvaccinated vulnerable household members, they are strongly encouraged to serve their SHN by isolating themselves in a room, and minimise contact with those members.
On testing procedures, Category 3 travellers are no longer required to undergo additional antigen rapid tests on the third and seventh days of their arrival during their SHN.
This includes travellers who arrived from October 22.
All travellers from Category 3 will no longer need to undergo an on-arrival polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and will only undergo an exit PCR test at the end of their SHN.
However, long-term pass holders (LTPHs) with passes issued by the Manpower Ministry may have to comply with additional requirements and measures.
“We will continue to adjust our border measures as the global situation evolves, so that we will reconnect with the world and reinstate our economic position globally,” said the taskforce.
Travellers who are not Singapore’s citizens, permanent residents or LTPHs may enter the city-state for short-term visits only if they are arriving from Category 1, unless arrangements have been separately announced like the Vaccinated Travel Lane or Reciprocal Green Lane. – Bernama, October 23, 2021
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