Singapore has refused to allow entry to all those who have recently traveled to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, beginning May 2, following a huge spike in COVID-19 cases in these South Asian nations, the sovereign island-city state said in a notice.     

Singapore had earlier barred entry to people from India owing to the rising number of infections in that country.

The notice from the Singapore health ministry said all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history, including transit, to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into Singapore, or transit through Singapore from Saturday. 23-59 hours, until further notice.

Currently, all people with travel history to these four countries within 14 days of their departure for Singapore were required to serve a 14-day Stay Home Notice (SHN) at dedicated SHN facilities, The Himalayan Times reported.

As per the notice, entry will also be barred to those who had obtained prior approval for entry into Singapore. It has also increased quarantine period by seven days to all travellers with recent travel history to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka who have yet to complete their 14-day SHN by 2 May 2021, 23:59 pm.

‘They will need to complete an additional seven-day SHN at dedicated facilities and will have to get COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests on-arrival, on Day 14 of their SHN, and another test before the end of their 21-day SHN period,” the notice said.

(SAM)