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On Mar. 15, it was announced that travellers with recent travel history to ASEAN countries, Japan, Switzerland and UK would be issued with a 14-day Stay Home Notice (SHN).

However, from Mar. 20, 11:59pm, all travellers entering Singapore will be issued a Stay-Home Notice.

This applies to all Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, Long Term Pass holders and short term visitors entering Singapore.

This is part of enhanced precautionary travel restriction measures announced by the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Mar. 18.

Details about SHN

Travellers will have to provide proof of the place where they will serve the 14-day SHN.

People under SHN have to remain in their place of residence at all times.

For land crossings with Malaysia, there are already restrictions imposed by Malaysia under their movement control order.

Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong also highlighted that travel restrictions will apply to all checkpoints including land and sea.

However, exceptions have to be made for some, such as those delivering goods between Malaysia and Singapore. Wong also said that closer bilateral discussions are required to work out such details.

As previously announced, short-term visitors with recent travel history to mainland China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Republic of Korea and Spain are not allowed to enter or transit in Singapore.

All travellers entering Singapore and exhibiting fever and/or other symptoms of respiratory illness are also required to undergo a Covid-19 swab test at the checkpoints, regardless of travel history.

They will also be issued a 14-day SHN, which they will have to serve in full even if the result of the swab test is negative.

Concern over rising number of imported cases

The new SHN policy is an additional measure taken to further reduce the risk of further importation leading to community spread in Singapore.

On Tuesday (Mar. 17), Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong explained that the government was concerned about Singapore’s rising numbers of imported cases.

These refer to not only foreign travellers, but Singaporeans, Permanent Residents, and Long Term Pass-holders who have been overseas, became infected, and came back.

On Mar. 18, Wong also urged Singaporeans to defer all travel abroad, superceding the earlier advisory announced on Mar. 15 to defer all non-essential travel abroad.

Mar. 18 Covid updates

On Wednesday (Mar. 18), a highest single-day jump of 47 confirmed cases of Covid-19 were announced.

This takes the total confirmed cases in Singapore to 313.

Of the newly reported cases, 33 are imported.

As of Mar. 17, 114 patients have been discharged. 14 are in intensive care.

Top image by Hugh Llewelyn via Flickr