SINGAPORE – Singapore today announced a new segregated travel lane (STL) as part of the republic’s efforts to reopen its borders in a controlled and safe manner.
According to its Trade and Industry Ministry, the STL will facilitate essential global business exchanges and support the revival of Singapore’s air hub status and hospitality sector.
The STL will be open to a limited number of business, official and high economic value travellers from all countries coming to Singapore for short-term stays of up to 14 days, it said in a statement.
The ministry said applications will open in the middle of next month and the first travellers will be able to arrive from the second half of that month.
The ministry said the STL, which will complement other travel lanes that have already been established, such as the reciprocal green lane (RGL), will have strict health and testing protocols to protect travellers and the local community.
For the entire duration of their stay in Singapore, STL travellers will be housed in a “bubble” within dedicated facilities (segregated facilities), must undergo regular testing and strictly observe all prevailing safe management measures (SMMs).
The STL travellers will be able to conduct meetings with local visitors and with other STL traveller groups, with SMMs in place, while in segregated facilities.
Among the health and testing protocols, the travellers will have to present a valid negative Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test prior to leaving their home country, and obtain a PCR test on arrival in Singapore.
They will also have to undergo antigen rapid tests (ART) on days three, five, seven, and 11, insofar as the traveller remains accommodated in the segregated facilities. – Bernama, December 15, 2020
