MANAGING OMICRON
The infections come amid an increase in the number of passengers passing through Changi Airport over the past year. Passenger traffic rose to 15 per cent of pre-pandemic levels by the end of December, up from just 3 per cent at the start of 2021.
With the rapid spread of Omicron overseas, MP Leon Perera (WP-Aljunied) and MP Desmond Lim (WP-Hougang) asked whether Singapore will review border control measures and if it will allow more flights during festive periods such as Chinese New Year and Hari Raya.
In response, Mr Iswaran said that the government will closely monitor the demand for VTL flights and will regularly review the VTL quotas, taking into consideration the prevailing public health assessment.
He added that the overall quota of inbound VTL travellers is allocated to airlines based on the plans they submit to CAAS.
Last month, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced enhanced safety measures for all airport workers who interact with arriving passengers, amid the rapid spread of Omicron variant overseas.
Among the new measures, airport workers who interact with passengers are now required to don enhanced personal protective equipment, including N95 masks and face shields.
The authority also stepped up its testing regime for all frontline workers, requiring them to take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, instead of an antigen rapid test (ART), every seven days at a minimum.
Meanwhile, Singapore air crew are placed on an enhanced seven-day PCR RRT regime, with an employer-supervised ART on the third day of the cycle.
To limit Singapore’s exposure to imported Omicron COVID-19 cases, all new ticket sales for VTL flights and buses have been frozen since Dec 23, and will remain suspended until Jan 20.
Mr Iswaran said it was essential for Singapore to press on with its mission to reopen its borders.
“As part of living with COVID-19, Singapore must shift to a new setting that will enable us to stay connected to the world,” he said. “The VTL scheme is a useful pathfinder for us to establish, test and build confidence in safe reopening to vaccinated travellers.”
“Ultimately, we want to work towards quarantine-free travel for all vaccinated travellers.”