Singapore to release all COVID-19 travel restrictions

In the latest Asia travel news, Singapore will allow non-fully vaccinated travellers to enter the country without a negative pre-departure test starting on the 13th of February, as it seeks to exit the “acute phase” of the pandemic, the Ministry of Health announced. In addition, mask-wearing on public transportation will no longer be mandatory from Monday. Singapore’s Covid task force, which was created in January 2020, will also be deactivated.

According to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is also co-chair of the Covid task force, Singapore’s stable Covid situation over the recent months, coupled with its population’s high level of hybrid immunity, has made the risk of infections leading to severe illness or deaths very low, comparable to other endemic respiratory diseases like influenza. These further relaxations of pre-departure travel and mask requirements mark significant steps towards Covid-19 becoming an endemic and the “new norm” for Singapore. However, authorities have urged the public as well as hotels such as Travelodge Hotels Asia to remain vigilant and adhere to basic Covid-19 precautions to keep the virus at bay.