Singapore announced it is set to require non-Singaporeans who recently came from the Philippines to undergo a COVID-19 swab test before entering the Lion City.
This requirement – which takes effect starting 11:59 pm on Monday, October 19 – covers non-citizens and permanent residents who had been in the Philippines 14 days before their arrival in Singapore.
According to the Singapore government, passengers with recent travel history to the Philippines, who will be traveling through Singapore, will be required to take a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) swab test 72 hours prior to departure.
They must then present a valid negative result for an approved entry into or travel through Singapore.
Following their entry into Singapore, these travelers from the Philippines must still proceed with the country’s standard 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) at assigned SHN facilities, and will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test before the end of their SHN.
These updated restrictions were imposed in the light of the recent increase of Singapore’s imported COVID-19 cases involving Filipino workers.
Based on Philippine Consul General Adrian Candolada’s recent update on TeleRadyo, overseas Filipino workers returning from the Philippines made up 11 of the 27 new COVID cases in Singapore from October 9 to 11.
The same restrictions were also imposed on passengers with recent travel history to Indonesia.
The Philippines and Indonesia are the countries with the highest number of coronavirus cases in Southeast Asia. Singapore is a far third, although most of its COVID-19 cases are from dormitories that house mostly Indian and Bangladeshi migrant workers. – Rappler.com
Lara Batulan is a 1st year communication student from the University of the Philippines Cebu. She is a Rappler volunteer.
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