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Singapore prepares to open up to the world

Singapore is stepping up measures to ensure safety once its border is reopened, including the establishment of a COVID-19 testing lab at Changi airport.
Singapore prepares to open up to the world ảnh 1Passengers at Changi airport (Source: straitstimes.com)

Singapore (VNA) – Singapore is stepping up measures to ensure safetyonce its border is reopened, including the establishment of a COVID-19 testinglab at Changi airport.

In his ministerial statement before the Parliament onOctober 6, new Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung said that a dedicated Covid-19testing laboratory will be set up in the next several months to support the oldone which can offer rapid testing for 10,000 passengers a day.

In addition, Singapore will negotiate Air Travel Bubbleswith safe countries or regions - an arrangement meant for general travellersthat does not require a controlled itinerary.

These two-way travel bubbles are different from reciprocalgreen lane arrangements meant for business and official travellers.

Singapore unilaterally opened its borders to travellers fromBrunei and New Zealand last month, and more recently to those from Vietnam andAustralia - excluding the state of Victoria.

“Such unilateral opening is still meaningful, because it islike a standing invitation. Although the other countries are not ready to lifttheir restrictions now, Singapore can be top of mind when they are readyeventually,” he added.

Compared to pre-COVID-19, Changi Airport is serving 1.5 percentof its usual passenger volume, and 6 percent of the usual number of passengerflights. If cargo flights are included, that goes up to 17 percent. Changi fellfrom the seventh busiest airport in the world to the 58th./.
VNA
#COVID-19#Singapore#COVID-19 testing lab#Changi airport#Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung#Air Travel Bubbles#Vietnam#Vietnamplus#Vietnam News Agency
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