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Singapore to lift curbs for visitors travelling from Australia excluding Victoria state and Vietnam

A view of an empty baggage collection area, as airlines reduce flights following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), at Singapore's Changi Airport March 23, 2020.  REUTERS/Edgar Su
A view of an empty baggage collection area, as airlines reduce flights following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease, at Changi Airport on 23 March, 2020. (PHOTO: Reuters)

SINGAPORE — From 8 October, Singapore will lift border restrictions for visitors from Australia, excluding Victoria state, and Vietnam, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on Wednesday (30 September).

The two countries have comprehensive public health surveillance systems and displayed successful control over the spread of COVID-19, said the authority.

“Over the last 28 days, Vietnam has zero local COVID-19 case, while Australia (excluding Victoria State) has a virus local incidence rate of 0.02 per 100,000. The risk of importation from these countries is low,” the CAAS added.

From 12am on Thursday, visitors travelling from Australia, excluding Victoria State, and Vietnam can apply for an Air Travel Pass, which allows for all forms of short-term travel, for entry into Singapore on or after 8 October.

They must remained in either country in the last consecutive 14 days prior to their entry. They will need to take a COVID-19 test upon arrival, and they will be allowed to go about their activities in Singapore if the result is negative.

Visitors must also download the TraceTogether app on their mobile devices and keep it activated during their stay here.

Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung on Wednesday wrote on Facebook that “with each step of safe opening of our borders, we start to rebuild the bridges, and resuscitate Changi Airport”.

“I spoke to Mr Michael McCormack, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, and Mrs Tao Thi Than Huong, Viet Nam’s Ambassador to Singapore, earlier today. They were appreciative of Singapore’s decision, and when conditions are right, I believe they will consider reciprocating the lifting of restrictions to travellers from Singapore,” he added.

With the addition of both Australia, excluding Victoria state, and Vietnam, Singapore has lifted border restrictions on a total of four countries including Brunei and New Zealand.

As of 5pm on Wednesday, the CAAS said it has approved 331 applications from both Brunei and New Zealand to enter Singapore and received 136 visitors. None of the visitors tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival, it added.

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