In response to the increasing number of Covid-19 cases globally, Singapore's Ministry of Health is again stepping up on precautionary measures concerning arriving individuals this week.

This includes imposing a ban on all travellers with recent travel history to Iran, northern Italy and South Korea in the past 14 days.

It is likely that other countries might see a surge in infection cases as well, including the United States, Europe and other parts of the Middle East and Asia.

Being a "small and globally-connected" city-state, Singapore faces a "higher risk" of imported cases, the Ministry of Health said.

New swab test for visitors with fever and symptoms

In addition to the latest travel restrictions announced, travellers who arrive in Singapore and exhibit fever or other symptoms of respiratory illness but may not meet the definition of a clinical suspect case for Covid-19 will have to undergo a swab test for Covid-19 at immigration checkpoints from March 4, 11:59pm onwards.

MOH has also expanded its definition of suspect cases to include persons with pneumonia or severe respiratory infection with breathlessness who had been to Iran, northern Italy, Japan and the Republic of Korea within 14 days before onset of symptoms. Individuals meeting this expanded definition will be referred to hospitals for further assessment.

After taking the swab test, these travellers will be allowed to carry on with their journeys in Singapore.

Pending the results, which may take between three and six hours, the travellers are advised to minimise contact with others as a precautionary measure.

Individuals will be contacted regarding their swab test results. Those who test positive will be conveyed to the hospital from wherever they are in a dedicated ambulance.

Penalties against those who refuse to cooperate

Arriving short-term visitors who are flagged for testing but refuse to do so will not be allowed entry into Singapore.

Singapore Permanent Residents and long-term pass holders who refuse testing may have their immigration facilities and work pass privileges revoked or the validity of their passes shortened.

All travellers, including Singapore Citizens, who do not comply with the testing or who cannot be contacted subsequently may face penalties and can be prosecuted under the Infectious Diseases Act.

Symptomatic people advised to minimise social contact

The Covid-19 swab test kit deployed at checkpoints will allow the authorities to test beyond persons who are referred to hospitals, and extend testing to lower-risk symptomatic travellers as an added precautionary measure.

It is hoped that when deployed upfront at checkpoints, these tests can increase our likelihood of detecting imported cases at our points of entry.

As with any test, a negative result does not completely rule out the possibility of infection either.

As such, those with negative test results will be advised to continue to minimise social contact and seek medical attention should their symptoms not improve over the next three days.

Top photo via Changi Airport's Facebook page