Free PCR test if you coming from hk for the first week

The_King · November 21, 2020

SINGAPORE - The first few flights under a travel arrangement between Hong Kong and Singapore will proceed as planned on Sunday (Nov 22) but travellers from Hong Kong will have to go for a Covid-19 test upon arriving in Singapore.

The additional requirement, which will take effect on Sunday, comes after a rise in the number of Covid-19 cases in Hong Kong in recent days. Visitors from Hong Kong were previously required to take the test only prior to departure for Singapore.

Revealing the change on Saturday (Nov 21), the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said visitors will need to take the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at Changi Airport as "a precautionary measure".

"More cases are expected in Hong Kong over the next few days due to the emergence of new clusters," said the CAAS in a statement.

Hong Kong reported 26 cases on Friday (Nov 20), with its Health Secretary, Professor Sophia Chan, describing the situation as "severe".

"The Singapore and Hong Kong health authorities are in close contact and monitoring the situation," the CAAS added.

Speaking to reporters after a tour of Singapore Airlines training centre in Changi on Saturday, Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said: "As you know, Hong Kong cases have spiked yesterday. Chances are today's cases may go up even further, and we should expect a few days of high cases, in the tens."

He added: "If within the next three days there are more than 22 unlinked cases, then I think the suspension will kick in. But that will not affect tomorrow's flight. Tomorrow's flight will still start because our mechanism is as such that when (the threshold) is breached, (the bubble) will be suspended with a 48-hour notice so that travellers are not stranded."

The PCR test here will cost $196 per traveller, but this will be waived in the first week from Nov 22 to 28 to allow travellers to adjust to the change, said the CAAS.

Travellers must immediately take private transport to a declared place of accommodation - a hotel or home (for Singapore residents) - for self-isolation while waiting for the test results, which will take about six to eight hours.

The Singapore-Hong Kong air travel bubble arrangement is the Republic's first since border restrictions were imposed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the arrangement, there will be one flight a day into each city and a quota of 200 travellers per flight from Sunday (Nov 22).

Travellers between Singapore and Hong Kong will have to take Covid-19 tests, in lieu of serving quarantine or stay-home notices.

There will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel, and no need for a controlled itinerary, but travellers are required to meet eligibility criteria and adhere to the prevailing border control measures and public health requirements of both cities.

Under the terms of the arrangement, travel will be suspended for two weeks if the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked Covid-19 cases is more than five in either Singapore or Hong Kong.

The figure for Hong Kong is currently at 2.14, said the CAAS on Saturday (Nov 21).

The_King · November 21, 2020

Thanks tax payer, special thanks to 61 club

Edited November 21, 2020 by The_King

The_King · November 21, 2020

Muahahahahahahahahah

Thank you hk for putting moral over money first

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3110799/coronavirus-hong-kong-party-rooms-clo

The travel bubble between Hong Kong and Singapore, initially set to launch on Sunday, is set to be postponed for two weeks with the former facing more than 100 confirmed and preliminary Covid-19 cases, continuing an alarming trend of a fresh surge in infections.

Hong Kong health authorities on Saturday reported 43 Covid-19 cases, 13 of which were untraceable, with more than 60 preliminary infections.

Under the bubble plan, the arrangement will be suspended for two weeks if the number of untraceable local infections in either city exceeds five on a rolling seven-day average. Saturday’s untraceable cases took the number to 27, or an average of 3.86 for the period.

In tightening measures for the long-awaited travel policy earlier on Saturday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said the threshold would be exceeded if there were more than 22 unlinked cases in Hong Kong over the next three days.

Although the mark of five was not yet reached, authorities expect the situation in Hong Kong to worsen in the coming days. Sources familiar with the matter said the travel bubble with Singapore would be postponed.

A party room in Causeway Bay, with dart machines and video games. Such businesses will be closed from Sunday. Photo: Jamie Lam

Hong Kong health officials also announced the closing of party rooms, with live performances and dancing at bars and nightclubs banned for five days from Sunday

Those found in breach of the regulation face a maximum fine of HK$50,000 (US$6,450) and six months’ imprisonment.

Secretary for Food and Health Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee also revealed plans to tighten other rules, including more stringent criteria for suspending flights carrying in infected passengers, adding she had already secured private doctors’ support for compulsory tests on symptomatic patients as early as possible.

The Food and Health Bureau noted the number of untraceable local cases had been on the rise, proving silent transmission chains were in the community.

If confirmed, the number of emerging cases, obtained from a source, would be the highest since August 16 when the city recorded 74 infections. The government will hold a press briefing at 4.30pm to announce the latest caseload.