US updates COVID-19 travel health notice for Singapore after ‚unknown‘ classification

SINGAPORE: The USA has up to date its journey well being discover for Singapore, a few week after it advised against travel to the nation.

In an replace on Monday (Jan 10), the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) reclassified Singapore as a Degree 3 vacation spot, the place COVID-19 ranges are “excessive”. 

“Ensure you are absolutely vaccinated earlier than travelling to Singapore,” the up to date discover mentioned on the CDC website. “Unvaccinated travellers ought to keep away from nonessential journey to Singapore.”

In accordance with the CDC web site, Degree 3 international locations have a COVID-19 incidence price of between 100 and 500 new circumstances over the previous 28 days per 100,000 inhabitants.

Different Degree 3 international locations embody Malaysia, Australia, Israel, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

On Jan 4, the CDC mentioned that the extent of COVID-19 in Singapore was „unknown“.

„As a result of the present scenario in Singapore is unknown, even absolutely vaccinated travellers could also be vulnerable to getting and spreading COVID-19 variants,“ the CDC mentioned on the time, advising individuals to keep away from journey to Singapore.

On Jan 5, Well being Minister Ong Ye Kung mentioned that this classification was utilized as a result of the US CDC was „not conscious of our surveillance take a look at numbers“, and that Singapore was offering it with the info.

The CDC makes use of COVID-19 information reported by the World Well being Group (WHO) and different official sources to make determinations about journey well being discover ranges, in accordance with its web site.

„If a vacation spot doesn’t present information, their journey well being discover stage is designated as ‚unknown‘ and travellers are suggested to observe journey well being discover Degree 4 suggestions,“ the CDC mentioned.

Mr Ong mentioned on Jan 5 that the Singapore Ministry of Well being was participating the US embassy in Singapore and the CDC to offer the mandatory information.

„Simply to be clear, we all know our scenario very properly,“ Mr Ong mentioned throughout a COVID-19 multi-ministry process pressure press convention.

„Each week, we administer over 150,000 PCR (polymerase chain response) checks. And that works out to over 21,000 PCR checks per day. Optimistic charges for these checks are below 2 per cent.“

There are additionally 145 wastewater testing stations throughout Singapore in locations like housing estates, dormitories and nursing houses, he mentioned.

„Solely a really small handful are registering the presence of COVID-19 viral fragments. So we’re certain that the incidence of COVID-19 in our neighborhood is at the moment low and secure.“