SINGAPORE — The Government is exploring the possibility of testing “green lane”, or fast-track, immigration arrangements with several countries under which essential travel in limited numbers and with safeguards could be done safely.

In a statement on Tuesday (May 19), the Ministry of Health (MOH) said these countries, which were not specified, are assessed to be at an equivalent or lower risk of community transmission of Covid-19.

These arrangements, the ministry said, could be expanded gradually as the global Covid-19 situation improves.

It added that Singapore would gradually reopen its borders so that Singaporeans may conduct essential activities overseas and allow foreigners to enter or transit through the city-state safely. This comes as Singapore gears up to ease movement controls in three phases.

“As the global situation remains volatile, such moves will be assessed and implemented separately from the timing of the three broad phases of reopening,” MOH said.

The first phase, which will start on June 2 and last at least several weeks, will involve the resumption of economic activities that do not pose a high risk of transmission. If community transmission rates remain “low and stable” and the situation at migrant workers’ dormitories stays under control, Singapore can move to the second phase, which will include the gradual resumption of more activities, such as social activities in small groups.

Measures will continue to be eased gradually until Singapore reaches “a new normal” in the third phase depending on the Covid-19 situation and the authorities’ risk assessment. This is a state in which Singapore can expect to remain until an effective vaccine or treatment for Covid-19 is developed.

On the domestic front, with more people expected to return to work and school after June 1, MOH reiterated that commuters using public transport must wear a mask, refrain from talking to one another or on their mobile phones, and maintain good personal hygiene.

“Businesses will be required to stagger their working hours to minimise travel during peak periods.

“Despite these efforts, it will be difficult to maintain physical distancing between commuters, especially during peak periods,” the ministry said.

INCREASING TESTING, QUICKENING CONTACT-TRACING

MOH said that a “critical precondition” to ease restrictions further was to improve capabilities to arrest any subsequent outbreak of the coronavirus.

These capabilities include:

• Testing for Covid-19: As of Sunday, Singapore had done more than 290,000 Covid-19 tests, covering about 5,100 per 100,000 people in the country. This includes the testing of about 22,000 residents and staff members at residential care facilities, such as nursing and welfare homes, and about 82,000 of the 323,000 migrant workers in dormitories. About 8,500 preschool and early-intervention staff members have also been swabbed, none of whom has tested positive for the coronavirus as of Tuesday. The Government previously said that about 30,000 staff members at preschools will be required to take a one-time swab test for Covid-19 before preschools reopen progressively from June 2

• Accelerating contact-tracing: This pinpoints and isolates close contacts of those infected with Covid-19 to ringfence infections and cut the odds of clusters forming

• Ensuring enough healthcare capacity: This will allow the country to deal with potential surges in cases that could happen from time to time

EVERYONE MUST PLAY A PART

MOH said that everyone has a part to play to keep the coronavirus at bay.

• Individuals and families must develop a greater sense of social responsibility by practising cleanliness and hygiene. This includes wearing masks when outdoors, which will continue to be compulsory, using separate utensils during meals, staying home when sick and minimising the time they spend outside their homes.

• Employers must roll out safe management measures, such as allowing staff members to work from home, staggering working hours or rolling out segregation arrangements, and avoiding physical meetings for business or social purposes. They should also monitor the health of their employees, and have evacuation and follow-up plans should a staff member be infected with the virus.

• Students should return only to schools and other educational institutions that are approved to restart operations. They should stay within their assigned classes and avoid mingling with other students, including during recess and breaks. They should return home after their school activities and avoid crowded places.

• Seniors are advised to keep active, and stay connected with their family and friends online. Families who visit elders at home should continue to observe good hygiene and keep a safe distance where possible. Those who are ill should stay away from seniors altogether.

MOH said that the road ahead to creating a safe environment in the midst of the pandemic may be a long one, but “with everyone playing their part and staying united, we can get through this and emerge stronger from this experience”.