Singapore will launch a new segregated travel lane aimed at business travelers on short-term stays, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing announced on Tuesday (Dec 15).
The travel lane, or the Connect@Singapore initiative, will be open to a “limited number” of business, official, and high economic value travelers from all countries who are staying in Singapore for up to 14 days, said the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in a separate press release.
Applications for the segregated travel lane will open in the middle of January 2021, and Singapore can expect the first travelers to arrive from the second half of January, it added.
“Global travel, especially global business travel has been severely impacted by the need for quarantine measures, and many people in different countries cannot meet each other for business activities, said Mr. Chan in an online media conference.
“The idea is for business people to come into Singapore for up to a period of 14 days. During these 14 days, they will undergo the necessary routine medical checks to provide themselves the assurance that they are safe and also to provide the assurance to their meeting partners that they are safe.”
How will the segregated travel lane be?
For their whole stay, travelers under the segregated travel lane will be housed within dedicated facilities, undergo regular testing, and observe all prevailing safe management measures, said MTI.
The travelers will have to stay within their pre-declared travel group of up to five travelers within the segregated facility and are not allowed to mingle with other travelers. They will also have to abide by all prevailing national safe management measures, and use Trace Together and Safe Entry.
At the segregated facilities, the travelers will be able to conduct meetings with local visitors and with other traveler groups with safe management measures in place to separate segregated travel lane travelers from other individuals, said MTI.
“For example, while travelers will be allowed to meet with local visitors, there will be floor-to-ceiling dividers separating travelers from local visitors,” the ministry added.
Travelers will also have to present a valid negative COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test before leaving their home country and take another PCR test after arriving in Singapore.
While in Singapore, they will take antigen rapid tests on days 3, 5, 7, and 11 after their arrival while they stay in Singapore.
Source: Channel News Asia
