Singapore imposes ban on Pakistani travellers

It also restricts travellers from Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka

Considering the increase in Covid positive cases, Singapore on Friday announced that travellers from Pakistan would not be allowed entry into the country or transit through the country from Saturday (today), according to a statement issued by the country’s ministry.

The statement read: “We will further tighten our border measures given the sustained increase in cases reported in the regions around Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.”

“From May 1, 2359 hours, until further notice, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history (including transit) to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into Singapore, or transit through Singapore. This will also apply to all those who had obtained prior approval for entry into Singapore,” said the ministry in the statement.

Read more: Pakistan mulls over banning inbound flights from May 5 amid virus upsurge

Briefing on the coronavirus situation in the country, the ministry said that it had identified a new cluster of infection within the community in the past week.

Considering the situation, the ministry would be tightening safe management measures in the wider community to reduce the risk of transmission.

The ministry had announced a 14-day Stay Home Notice (SHN) at dedicated facilities for the travellers with travel history to Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka within 14 days of their departure to Singapore.

Also read: Pakistan records 5,112 new positive cases, 131 deaths in 24 hours

“The travellers have yet to complete their 14-day SHN by May 2, 2359 hours. They will need to complete an additional 7-day SHN at dedicated facilities,” said the statement, adding the travellers would undergo Covid-19 Polymerase Chain

Reaction (PCR) tests on-arrival, on Day 14 of their SHN, and another test before the end of their 21-day SHN period.

Earlier this week, Iran was the latest country to impose a travel ban on Pakistani travellers, while the neighbouring country also closed its land border for the travellers amid Indian variant fears.