Singapore announced on Friday, January 1 that is will block entry to visitors with recent travel history to South Africa.
The country are joining many others who have blocked travel from South Africa as a result of the possibly more contagious new variant of COVID-19. Already, the United Kingdom has restricted travel from the country and the island of Samoa has banned those travelling from both South Africa and the UK.
Long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with travel history to South Africa within the last 14 days will not be allowed to enter, according to Singapore’s Health Ministry.
‘While the strain has been suggested to be more transmissible, there is currently insufficient evidence to determine if this strain is associated with any change in disease severity, antibody response or vaccine efficacy,’ the Ministry told Reuters.
The new restrictions have taken effect as on January 4 and the government in Singapore said they will evaluate the situation as more information is released.
This means that depending on evidence found relating to the new strain, restrictions on travel by South Africans and those who have recently been to South African could change.
Singapore has been relatively untouched by the virus, with only 29 deaths and 35 active cases as of the end of December 2020.
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