On November 15, Singapore’s Ministry of Health has announced the extension of Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) to include India, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) applications will commence on 22 November 2021. Returning Singaporean Citizens and Permanent Residents who are fully vaccinated will not need to apply for the VTP.
Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) allows quarantine-free travel to Singapore. Travellers who wish to visit Singapore must fulfil the following requirements:
1. Be fully vaccinated with WHO Emergency Use Listing Vaccines
2. Hold an Accepted Proof of Vaccination
3. Fulfil Travel History & Designated VTL Flight Requirements
4. [Foreign short-term visitors only]: COVID-19 Travel Insurance
5. [Foreign short-term visitors only]: Travel Visa for Visa-required Travel Document Holders
Below is the list of countries under the Vaccinated Travel Lanes programme of Singapore:
• Australia (from 8 November 2021 – only Australian Citizens, Permanent Residents or their immediate families), (from 21 November 2021: Singapore residents)
• Brunei
• Canada
• Denmark (from 10 November 2021 – Singapore Visitor needs to undergo quarantine in Denmark)
• Finland (from 29 November 2021)
• France
• Germany
• India (from 29 November 2021)
• Indonesia (from 29 November 2021)
• Italy
• Malaysia (from 29 November 2021)
• Netherlands (pre-departure COVID-19 test required starting from 13 November 2021)
• Qatar (from 6 December 2021)
• Saudi Arabia (From 6 December 2021)
• South Korea (from 15 November 2021)
• Spain
• Sweden (from 29 November 2021)
• Switzerland
• UAE (from 6 December 2021)
• United Kingdom (UK)
• United States (US)
Travellers who wish to visit the above-mentioned countries are advised to verify respective entry requirements, which may vary depending on the development of the situation. For more information, check https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/.
S'pore suspends ticket sales for VTL flights and buses for inbound travel between Dec 23 and Jan 20
SINGAPORE - Airlines will no longer be allowed to sell new vaccinated travel lane (VTL) flight tickets for travel into Singapore from Thursday (Dec 23) until Jan 20, as the country tightens its borders amid a rising number of imported Covid-19 cases.
The suspension of sales also applies to those travelling on the Singapore-Malaysia land VTL.
But eligible travellers who have earlier bought tickets will still be allowed to travel via the quarantine-free travel scheme.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced the new border measures on Wednesday. The move - the biggest setback in Singapore's attempt to reopen its borders so far - comes as the number of imported cases hit a new high since the emergence of the Omicron variant.
“Our border measures will help to buy us time to study and understand the Omicron variant, and to strengthen our defences, including enhancing our healthcare capacity and getting more people vaccinated and boosted,” the ministry said.
The authorities will also temporarily reduce VTL quotas and ticket sales for travel after Jan 20, in another move to limit exposure to imported Omicron cases.
More at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/airlines-to-suspend-sales-of-vtl-air-tickets-travellers-who-have-bought-tickets-not-affected
WOOHOO!!!! FINALLY CAN GO TO JB FOR MAKAN AND PIAK PIAK SESSIONS!!!!!
Ong Ye Kung must be feeling like a clown.
Hang on a sec, he is already one actually.
FYI
Vaccinated Travel Pass application on Safetravel website 'currently unavailable', ICA working to resume operations
SINGAPORE: Vaccinated Travel Pass applications on the SafeTravel website were unavailable on Monday (Nov 22), as applications opened for the Singapore-Malaysia vaccinated travel lane (VTL).
The application portal for the Vaccinated Travel Pass was down as of 1.45pm.
"We are currently down for maintenance," read a message on the affected portal at about 1.45pm.
"The system is undergoing schedule maintenance and will not be available. Please try again at a later time."
A notice on the overview page for the Vaccinated Travel Lane also showed that the Vaccinated Travel Pass application is currently unavailable.
Responding to CNA queries, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) said it was aware that the Vaccinated Travel Pass application on the website is "currently unavailable".
"We are working to resume operations of the system. We apologise for the inconvenience and seek the public’s continued understanding as we bring the system back to normalcy," said an ICA spokesperson.
Users were also advised to refer to the SafeTravel website for further updates.
It was announced earlier this month that Singapore and Malaysia will launch a VTL between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) on Nov 29.
The VTL will start with six designated services between Changi Airport and KLIA a day, said Transport Minister S Iswaran at a multi-ministry task force press conference.
Vaccinated Travel Pass applications for short-term visitors and long-term pass holders opened on Monday. Returning Singaporeans and permanent residents do not need to apply.
Under the VTL, fully vaccinated travellers will be able to travel between Singapore and Malaysia, and be subjected to COVID-19 tests in lieu of serving quarantine or stay-home notice.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/pm-lee-hsien-loong-fumio-kishida-singapore-japan-travel-cooperation-2330806
INCOMING: There will be 6 daily VTL flights from Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai starting Nov 29!!!
Karma will befall the People's Adultery Party someday for putting profits above people.
Austria imposes full lockdown and mandatory vaccines as Covid-19 surges
Austria announced on Friday that it will impose a lockdown for all and make vaccinations mandatory, becoming the first EU country to take such stringent measures as coronavirus cases spiral.
Other European countries are also tightening restrictions as Covid-19 cases surge across the continent, but so far none have reimposed full lockdowns and only the Vatican has mandated vaccinations for all.
The lockdown will start on Monday, while vaccination against Covid-19 in the Alpine nation will become mandatory from February 1 next year, Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg said.
The confinement will initially last 20 days with an evaluation after 10 days, he said.
"Despite months of persuasion, we have not succeeded in convincing enough people to get vaccinated," Schallenberg told a press conference in the western Tyrol state, where he met regional government heads.
"Sustainably increasing the vaccination rate is the only way to get out of this vicious circle," he said.
He also blamed those refusing to be vaccinated for an "attack on the health system", and said vaccinations were the "exit ticket" out of the pandemic.
The lockdown means people are no longer allowed to leave their houses with few exceptions such going to work, shopping for essentials and exercising.
Schools will remain open though parents have been asked to keep their children at home if possible. Teleworking is also recommended.
'Dictatorship'
At the beginning of the week, Austria already began a lockdown for those not vaccinated or recently cured, becoming the first EU country to do so.
But infections have continued to rise. On Thursday, a new record of more than 15,000 new cases were recorded in the Alpine EU member of nearly nine million people.
Demand for vaccinations has increased in recent days, and 66 percent of the population are now fully jabbed, slightly below the EU average of more than 67 percent.
The opposition party NEOs said the government should have acted sooner to avoid intensive care units from struggling and thus prevent another lockdown -- the fourth in the country since the pandemic hit Europe last year.
"Austria would have spared itself all of this if decisive action had been taken in summer and early autumn," NEOs chief Beate Meinl-Reisinger said.
"Austria is now a dictatorship!" said Herbert Kickl, the head of the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe), which was a junior partner in the country's last government.
On Sunday, hundreds demonstrated against the lockdown for the unvaccinated. The FPOe is planning a bigger rally on Saturday though Kickl will miss it as he has contracted the virus.
On Monday, Vienna city authorities also became the first in the EU to start inoculating children between the ages of five and 11.
They said they would increase the offer in line with high demand even though the European Medicines Agency has not yet approved any of the coronavirus vaccines for the five-to-11 age bracket.
Other European countries are also re-introducing curbs to fight the virus' spread.
Hungary, which neighbours Austria, is making wearing masks indoors again compulsory from Saturday, the government said Thursday.
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20211119-austria-to-impose-full-lockdown-and-mandatory-vaccines-as-covid-19-surges
Europe Relapses as Covid Hot Spot in Warning Sign for Recovery
Europe has again become an epicenter for the coronavirus, calling into question the region’s efforts to recover from the pandemic.
Despite an abundance of Covid-19 shots, countries from Germany to Greece have reported record infections in recent days, while Romania and Bulgaria are experiencing horrific levels of fatalities and overwhelmed hospitals.
That’s putting fresh urgency into efforts to vaccinate the masses, whether that means getting first doses into the arms of tens of millions of vaccine holdouts or preparing to offer booster shots to hundreds of millions of others.
While governments are reluctant to reintroduce lockdowns, countries like Latvia have already concluded there is currently little alternative.
Here’s an overview of the pandemic from across Europe after a sobering week:
Germany
Germany’s fourth Covid wave is hitting hard, with infections reaching record levels this week and hospitals in some hot spots becoming overwhelmed. The country is now calling on all adults to get booster shots six months after their second doses, with Health Minister Jens Spahn saying that should be “the rule, not the exception.”
With 16 million Germans who are eligible for Covid shots having thus far refused them, authorities have little recourse but to push for greater protection for those willing to roll up their sleeves. The country’s efforts to respond are further complicated by a change in power. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s authority is fading as Social Democrat Olaf Scholz proceeds with efforts to form a new government.
U.K.
Coronavirus infections in England reached a new high in October, according to large study by Imperial College London. U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said that the study sends an “important message” about remaining vigilant heading into winter.
Last month, the country kicked off its largest-ever flu shot drive to address concerns over a spike in Covid cases coinciding with a resurgent flu. National Health Service walk-in centers in England have started offering coronavirus boosters for at-risk people without an appointment. Britain’s regulator also became the first in the world to approve Merck & Co.’s Covid-19 antiviral pill.
Italy
In Italy, some northern regions, including Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, have seen a fast increase in cases, linked in part to protests by anti-vaccine activists against the introduction of a mandatory pass. The rise has prompted authorities to make a renewed push for people to get shots.
“We are working to extend the booster dose to new age groups starting next week,” Health Minister Roberto Speranza said Friday at a press conference in Rome. “We still need to catch up on first doses and accelerate on the third ones.”
France
In France, where government curbs helped keep infections at relatively low levels, cases are again beginning to rise. Officials across the country will reinstitute mask-wearing mandates in schools, while President Emmanuel Macron will take stock of the situation in an address to the nation on Tuesday.
Macron’s policy of requiring proof of vaccination for restaurants, cinemas and other venues helped bolster the immunization campaign and has been widely credited with keeping case counts, hospitalizations and deaths at lower levels than some neighboring countries. The French legislature passed a bill Friday that would keep the vaccine passport system in place as long as the end of July 2022, and officials are now encouraging older people to get booster shots.
More at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-06/europe-relapses-as-covid-hot-spot-in-warning-sign-for-recovery
Now is still hardly the time to travel, just look at the severe mess other countries are in. If you have a serious hard-on for flying and just can't wait, then be mentally prepared you may just come back in a box.