All VTL travellers entering Singapore will have to take COVID-19 tests for 7 days on arrival

SINGAPORE: All travellers entering Singapore on vaccinated journey lanes (VTL) will quickly have to take COVID-19 tests each day for seven days on arrival because the nation tightens measures in opposition to the Omicron variant.This means there will be extra swabs on high of the present requirement for a pre-departure take a look at, an on-arrival polymerase chain response (PCR) take a look at and supervised antigen speedy tests (ARTs) on day 3 and day 7 of their go to.The new testing requirement will take impact from 11.59pm on Dec 6, the Ministry of Health (MOH) introduced on Friday (Dec 3).It will stay in place for 4 weeks "in the first instance" till 11.59pm on Jan 2, 2023, the ministry added.The extra tests - on days 2, 4, 5 and 6 - are self-administered and will be executed utilizing ARTs. Travellers should submit their outcomes online utilizing a {link} that will be despatched to them through their declared contact particulars.On days 3 and 7, the ARTs will be executed in a supervised setting at a Combined Test Centre or Quick Test Centre."Day 3 is the median incubation period, and Day 7 is the day of exit from this testing protocol," mentioned MOH. "During this seven-day period, other than on days when they go out for their supervised tests, these travellers must test negative on their self-administered ART before going out for activities on that day."This new testing regime will additionally apply to travellers arriving from Malaysia utilizing the land VTL from 11.59pm subsequent Monday. These travellers already have to take a pre-departure take a look at and on-arrival ART.

ANTIGEN RAPID TESTS EFFECTIVE AT DETECTING OMICRON

The new testing regime comes amid considerations over the brand new Omicron variant. Two imported instances in Singapore have examined "preliminarily positive" for the variant.The National Public Health Laboratory is conducting entire genome sequencing to affirm the Omicron variant."We have also been closely monitoring studies on the sensitivity of ARTs to the Omicron variant," mentioned MOH. "Preliminary validation by the producers present that ARTs stay efficient in detecting COVID-19 instances of the Omicron variant, and laboratories are doing additional biochemical tests to affirm these outcomes."These initial results lend confidence that ARTs remain effective as a method of detecting COVID-19, including Omicron cases."