Singapore is about to drop all testing requirements and travel restrictions for vaccinated travelers, which I’d consider to be pretty exciting.
In this post:
Singapore drops testing for vaccinated travelers
As of April 26, 2022, Singapore will be dropping all testing requirements for vaccinated travelers, as well as unvaccinated children aged 12 and below. Assuming you’re vaccinated, entering Singapore will more or less be the same as it was pre-pandemic.
Not only are entry restrictions being eased, but it’ll also be a different situation within the country. Singapore is scrapping most coronavirus-related restrictions, ranging from social distancing guidelines, to limits on group sizes, to limits on people in workplaces. However, mandatory masks will continue to be required while indoors, and also while on public transportation.
Roughly 93% of Singapore’s population is vaccinated, so the country has one of the highest vaccination rates in the world. Singapore has just gone through a huge omicron wave (as so much of the world has), but the country is now seeing case numbers drop. Furthermore, Singapore hasn’t seen nearly as many deaths per capita as some other countries, given the vaccination rate in the country.
Kudos to Singapore!
The progress Singapore has made with restrictions during the pandemic, while also following science, has been pretty cool to see. When the pandemic started, Singapore took a zero-tolerance approach toward coronavirus, and remained (more or less) fully closed for well over a year.
Since then, the country has made a lot of progress, and has modified restrictions based on the epidemiological situation in the country. The country started by opening very gradually, with stringent testing requirements. Then we saw the vaccinated travel lane (VTL) concept launched.
Then we gradually saw more and more restrictions be eased, up until this current point. Two years ago I wondered if visiting Singapore would be practical within the next five years. And now we’ve seen Singapore drop testing requirements for travel ahead of the United States, which I would have never expected to see at the time.
What I appreciate equally is Singapore’s rational approach toward all this. The country was conservative at a time when treatment options were limited, and the priority was to protect people. But Singapore’s government is also recognizing that coronavirus is here to stay, that it’s something that we have to live with, and that protecting people has to be balanced with a return to normal.
Bottom line
As of April 26, 2022, Singapore is dropping all testing requirements for vaccinated travelers. While the country took a very conservative approach at the start of the pandemic, Singapore has come a long way.
If you asked me a year ago if Singapore or the United States would drop the testing requirement for vaccinated travelers first, I would have guessed the United States with 100:1 odds… and I would have been wrong.
What do you make of Singapore’s reopening and easing of restrictions?
Good news at last after so many cancellations during the pandemic. Due to fly to SIN & Bali in 45 days .
Arrived in Singapore 2 days ago for a week's holiday. Masks still compulsory inside. 95% wear them outside too even though not compulsory except of course while eating. Feeling very safe here.
Any word on dropping the transit restrictions requiring either a single airline or a single itinerary? Would love to do a JL to SQ trip to SE Asia, transiting through SIN, but I understand that a 100% airside transit isn't permitted.
Great timing! I'll be departing to SIN in just 2 weeks! Looking forward to stuffing my face with the delicious food there!
Fingers crossed they don't change or rescind this requirement before my trip at end of July.
Definition of "fully vaccinated"? Does having 2 doses more than a year ago count? Or booster required?
2 shots for travelers is considered vaccinated, booster is not required.
for more updated info, you can refer to their safetravel website:
https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/
This is great news! I've had an 18 hour layover scheduled in late May for almost a year now and for a while it seemed like we wouldn't be able to leave the airport. Given how nice the airport and lounges are, we were ok with that... but I'm so happy we'll be able to easily get out into the city now!
Thailand has also announced its lifting restrictions for fully vaccinated travellers from May 1st with a voluntary antigen test and adequate medical insurance. The Far East is finally returning to some normality.
the normality is not wearing a mask on the beach or when driving a motorbikes...
So Thailand is still very far of any normality.
Remember when Singapore proposed its separate-ventilation in person meeting rooms, and implied that this would be in place for the indefinite future? (While at the same time, the US was letting anyone eligible enter and leave with one test three days before travel). Crazy how the tables have turned.
Now what are the chances of Hong Kong seeing sense and reopening? Singapore will be taking all its business (and good for SIN!).
Not surprised, considering Singapore is run by reasonably competent people whereas the USA is run by woke and deranged politicians.
America has become the laughing stock of the world over the last 16 months,
Yeah, they're laughing at how our president when covid began politicized the simple act of wearing a mask, a cheap and effective tool that prevents the spread of disease. We currently have almost one million people dead from covid, I wonder how many would've been saved if masks weren't made into a divisive political issue/identity.
Most who died were in- or partially vaccinated. By choice. Don’t blame the masks (or lack thereof).
Actually the world laughed at us when our president mused about ingesting bleach and using light to fight the virus. Who wouldn’t laugh at such an imbecilic suggestion?
I never liked trump but anybody can see Biden is as a embarrassment to the USA. I’m right down the middle politically and Biden is hurting the democrats.
I wonder how many would have died anyways. What is the average age of death from covid? How did the extra money from the government effect the “cause of death”? Questions we will never know the answers…I’m vaxed and ready to move on. Wear the mask if you want to feel safe. I’m ready to get back to living.
Well, Notbad, 100% of those people would have died anyway..... If you waited long enough. Human mortality is still 100%.
If you actually wanted to know the answers, you can actually find them; there is an actual definition of "premature" death and calculations you can make for years of life lost.
Not sure about "government money" affecting cause of death listed as COVID. You do know that there isn't actually a "bounty" for reporting...
Well, Notbad, 100% of those people would have died anyway..... If you waited long enough. Human mortality is still 100%.
If you actually wanted to know the answers, you can actually find them; there is an actual definition of "premature" death and calculations you can make for years of life lost.
Not sure about "government money" affecting cause of death listed as COVID. You do know that there isn't actually a "bounty" for reporting COVID deaths anywhere except on fringe radio/ websites. Pretty easy to figure out when someone died of COVID when they spent three weeks on a vent beforehand. Besides, if you don't somehow believe cause of death reporting, one could always look at the raw numbers of total excess deaths in the us the last 2 years. Those extra deaths weren't from vaccine complications or mask related deaths.....
But, anyway, vaxx works well, I agree. Interesting that Singapore expects masking in lots of places, so expect to wear them there.
How many would have been saved if masks were not a divisive policy? Roughly one million.
As we have learned anything short of strict adherence to n95 use results in you eventually catching Covid.
The death rate from Covid has only sharply declined when vaccination became widely available and there was good uptake in the population.
The mitigation that’s has saved lives is vaccination. Masks, social distancing, “lockdowns” that still slowed for...
How many would have been saved if masks were not a divisive policy? Roughly one million.
As we have learned anything short of strict adherence to n95 use results in you eventually catching Covid.
The death rate from Covid has only sharply declined when vaccination became widely available and there was good uptake in the population.
The mitigation that’s has saved lives is vaccination. Masks, social distancing, “lockdowns” that still slowed for people to leave their homes and go to “essential“ businesses, did nothing to change the eventual case count and subsequent deaths.
2 years in and the NIH or CDC have not provided and study results as to the viability and effectiveness of mask. Remember at the start King Fauci said DONT mask.
Singapore has mandatory vaccinations for the workplace. Is that what you're looking for?
That is right. Lee cares about people, Trump/Biden cares about power.
Amen! I'm heading there this summer with the family and this is a huge relief. It's a major pain still in countries like South Korea where you have to do several tests. Not to mention countries like Japan that are STILL closed.
Cannot compare with the US, which is dropping all public health measures and is not vaccinated, like Singapore. In the US, fewer than half the population is really fully vaccinated (up to date with boosters). Note that "booster" is inaccurate because receiving 2 shots is not fully vaccinated, just like hepatitis vaccinations require 3 shots (and hepatitis virus doesn't mutate much).
Singapore still requires masks, unlike stupid America. Americans must like to die or have...
Cannot compare with the US, which is dropping all public health measures and is not vaccinated, like Singapore. In the US, fewer than half the population is really fully vaccinated (up to date with boosters). Note that "booster" is inaccurate because receiving 2 shots is not fully vaccinated, just like hepatitis vaccinations require 3 shots (and hepatitis virus doesn't mutate much).
Singapore still requires masks, unlike stupid America. Americans must like to die or have brain shrinkage (occurs with mild Covid).
Who hurt you as a child? You must be one of those donkeys who thinks the entire planet should be "boosted". Only thing you've been boosted with is jimmy crack cocaine.
I wonder how you earned that Diamond label, Alonzo. Take a step back and re-read your post. Did it make valuable or interesting point? Did it use a tone that makes for a healthy, constructive discussion? I'll let you be your own judge.
I earned it by responding to idiots like you who ask moronic questions. And yes, I found what I said to be extremely valuable and insightful. Next question.
But derek calling all Americans with brain shrinkage or a desire to die is "healthy" and "constructive"?
Italla what point did you make? Did you make a valuable or interesting point? Why is ok for you to criticize someone but others are not allowed to? Classic do as i say not as i do mentality you have there.
Alonzo = Donald J.
Alonzo drank too much bleach and Kool-Aid.