SINGAPORE: The island republic will enhance its testing protocols for travellers arriving in the republic from Dec 3, 2021, including those entering via the air Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL-Air) as it steps up efforts to detect and contain the Omicron variant.

       All travellers on the VTL-Air scheme who arrived after the cut-off date and time, will have to undergo additional supervised self-administered Antigen Rapid Tests (ART) at a Quick Test Centre on days three and seven of their arrival.

       According to the country’s multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) on Covid-19, these enhanced measures will apply for four weeks in the first instance, and will be reviewed and extended if necessary.

       Travellers using the land VTL-Land scheme with Malaysia, however, will not be subject to the measures, said co-chair of the taskforce Gan Kim Yong at a virtual press conference here yesterday.

       Gan who is also the republic’s Trade and Industry Minister, said the risk of importation via the VTL-Land arrangement is mitigated by the travel restrictions Malaysia has imposed on countries and regions affected by Omicron.

       “The land link between Singapore and Malaysia is quite different from the air link. Currently, it is restricted only to citizens and long-term pass holders, which means no foreigners will be allowed to make use of the land link.

       “So there are various measures in place to mitigate the risk and therefore, the days three and seven additional ART test currently may not be applied to the VTL-Land link between Singapore and Malaysia.

       “We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will do a continuous risk assessment and, if necessary, introduce additional measures. Currently, there is no plan to introduce additional ART for arrivals from Malaysia via land,” he said.

       Travellers arriving in Singapore from Malaysia via the VTL-Land will only be required to undertake the test upon arrival, said the Ministry of Trade And Industry on Sunday.

       The ministry said this is in view of recent reports of a potentially more contagious variant of the Covid-19 virus, the B.1.1.529, now known as Omicron.

       Under the enhanced measures, among others, all air travellers entering or transiting through Singapore, including travellers from Category I countries or regions, must undergo a pre-departure test within two days of their departure for Singapore.

       Those entering Singapore, including travellers from Category II (non-VTL), III and IV countries, must undergo a Covid-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test on arrival.

       With effect from Aug 28, 2021, Singapore has classified countries or regions into four categories, each with differentiated border measures.

       Malaysia and Singapore had just officially launched the air and land VTLs on Monday. — Bernama