Follow us on Telegram for the latest updates: https://t.me/mothershipsg

Given the improving vaccination situation in Singapore, the Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) announced a change in Stay-Home Notice rules for travellers coming in from certain countries.

According to the MTF, from 11:59pm on Aug. 20, all fully vaccinated travellers from these countries can apply to opt-out of serving SHN at dedicated SHN facilities.

Instead, they can serve their 14-day SHN at their place of residence or other suitable accommodation, as long as it fulfils certain criteria. The countries are:

• Australia
• Austria
• Canada
• Germany
• Italy
• Norway
• Republic of Korea/South Korea
• Switzerland

They join travellers from Brunei Darussalam, Hong Kong, Macao, Mainland China, New Zealand and Taiwan in being allowed this option.

The MTF noted that travellers from Israel can no longer apply to opt out of serving SHN at a dedicated facility, due to a recent rise in Covid-19 cases there.

What does fully vaccinated mean?

According to the MTF, such travellers should have received their full regimen of vaccination of a Pfizer-BioNTech/Cominarty or a Moderna vaccine, or any vaccine on the World Health Organization's (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL).

The vaccines on this EUL include the AstraZeneca, Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines.

The traveller is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the full vaccination regimen.

Application details

Applications will be considered if the vaccinated traveller has fulfilled the following criteria:

• Remained in the above-mentioned countries in the last consecutive 21 days prior to arriving in Singapore
• Are occupying their respective places of residence or other suitable accommodation alone, or only with household members who are also vaccinated persons serving SHN with the same travel history and duration of SHN.

For Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs), the application must be made three days prior to arrival via the SafeTravel website.

Travellers who are not citizens or PRs may apply to opt out as part of the entry application process from 11:59pm, Aug. 20 onwards.

All travellers must present the approval to opt out upon arrival in Singapore.

All travellers who successfully opt out must remain in their declared place of residence or accommodation at all times, and are required to don an electronic monitoring device throughout their SHN period.

Action will be taken against those who breach the requirements of the SHN or make false declarations.

Travellers will also be required to utilise specially designated transport services to and from their place of residence and bear the costs for these transport arrangements, around S$220.

Top image from Changi Airport Facebook page.