Singapore has signalled an end to the era of COVID-19 restrictions, removing almost all remaining mask rules as well as all border restrictions for arrivals who are not fully vaccinated.
The measures, announced late last week, came into effect on Monday with the Ministry of Health (MOH) citing “the stable global and local situation, the mild nature of the disease especially among vaccinated individuals, and the minimal disruption posed to our healthcare capacity and daily lives.”
Under the new conditions, masks are no longer required on public transport and indoor healthcare and residential care settings, although the MOH has retained the practice of mask-wearing for visitors, staff and patients in healthcare and residential care settings where there is interaction with patients.
Likewise, all non-fully vaccinated travellers entering Singapore are no longer required to show proof of a negative pre-departure test nor do they need to purchase travel insurance, while all visitors are now free from showing proof of vaccination upon arrival.
“Singapore’s COVID-19 situation has remained stable in recent months,” the MOH said. “This is despite increased travel over the year-end holiday period, the Northern Hemisphere winter season and China’s shift away from a zero-COVID policy. We are therefore able to step down the remaining few COVID-19 measures and establish an endemic COVID-19 new norm.”
The Ministry added that restrictions could be reintroduced if required given the likelihood of new infection waves but stipulated that “unless it is a very dangerous and virulent variant, we should be able to manage these subsequent waves with an appropriate level of measures that does not deviate significantly from the new norm and continue to live our lives normally.”
