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23-10-2021, 06:56 PM
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapor...ia-2263722
Speaking at a press conference by the COVID-19 task force, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said one of the most common questions asked was why Singapore was re-opening its borders, despite not easing domestic restrictions such as allowing larger groups to dine in.
He explained that border restrictions were earlier put in place to prevent infections from “gushing into” the country.
“Now the situation has changed,” he said.
“After going through big transmission waves for many months, the pandemic situations in many countries have stabilised and their infection rates are - some of them are even lower than Singapore's. So we can open up travel lanes with these countries safely.”
A reporter also asked Mr Ong whether other countries’ categorisation of Singapore as a “high-risk” destination would impact travel negotiations with nations such as Australia.
To that, Mr Ong said: “I think they are reflecting the fact that we are going through a big wave … But there's a lot of goodwill between these partners, not just Germany and US, but also Australia.”
“At some point (infections) will stabilise, (they) will come down. And we all want to work together, maintain our connections, our people-to-people exchanges.
“And so, it should not, and I don't think it will stop us from continuing our joint initiative to develop vaccinated travel lanes,” said Mr Ong
Speaking at a press conference by the COVID-19 task force, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said one of the most common questions asked was why Singapore was re-opening its borders, despite not easing domestic restrictions such as allowing larger groups to dine in.
He explained that border restrictions were earlier put in place to prevent infections from “gushing into” the country.
“Now the situation has changed,” he said.
“After going through big transmission waves for many months, the pandemic situations in many countries have stabilised and their infection rates are - some of them are even lower than Singapore's. So we can open up travel lanes with these countries safely.”
A reporter also asked Mr Ong whether other countries’ categorisation of Singapore as a “high-risk” destination would impact travel negotiations with nations such as Australia.
To that, Mr Ong said: “I think they are reflecting the fact that we are going through a big wave … But there's a lot of goodwill between these partners, not just Germany and US, but also Australia.”
“At some point (infections) will stabilise, (they) will come down. And we all want to work together, maintain our connections, our people-to-people exchanges.
“And so, it should not, and I don't think it will stop us from continuing our joint initiative to develop vaccinated travel lanes,” said Mr Ong
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