paperwastage

Which one? I've been asking for this info

The ST article in this thread didn't say that. Just a hypothetical future where someone takes their first overseas vacation (8years since onset of covid), these are steps you need to take before departing sg(covid test, vaccine booster, verification of hotel with covid cleaning standards)

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...life-look-like

Nowhere did it quote govt officials saying that sg govt expects closed borders for next 8 years, or sg researchers/scientists expecting or aiming for that
it is speculation, but seems like the author is just exaggerating stuff to hook the reader within the article intro. Difference between news and op-ed

JNelson113

That's true. But if the author thinks that it will take 8 years for Singaporeans to first take a vacation, then it's unlikely that the border would be open until then.

Fair enough. I continue to have fingers crossed that Singapore will open by 2022.

invisible

Don’t have too much hope:
https://mothership.sg/2021/06/no-ope...lawrence-wong/


What is ‘anytime soon’ I will let everyone interpret on his/her own.

lokijuh

Singapore is not going for Covid zero in the way Australia and NZ are . It’s really quite obvious. They do allow visitors albeit from very few nations. They do allow citizens and PRs to leave and return without permission (although nearly always need to quarantine) unlike the fortress my “home” country has become.


They don’t really want to know how much of the virus is out there - as long as people aren’t getting sick. You basically have to be quite sick already to get a test if you can be bothered fronting up to a doctor, paying for the privilege and maybe or maybe not you will get referred for a test . In Australia testing is much more liberal - anyone who has a slight symptom. They want Covid zero. Singapore just wants to make their people think they want Covid zero, but stuff around behind the scenes which is why there are permanent mask restrictions and even outside “heightened restrictions” alcohol curfews.

hdogan

So, basically, it's not about protecting the nation, but about exercising control?

paperwastage

Oh the other hand, moh on 10 June says

https://www.moh.gov.sg/news-highligh...re-open-safely

lifting restrictions for any Travel in 2021 probably won't happen (again, aiming Oct for 75% of population first)

Free travel probably won't happen for a long time(maybe 1-3 modified SHN for vaccinated as Lawrence Wong mentioned)

Visconti

I'd settle for a shorter quarantine time, say, 3 days? HK has reduced it to 7 (or, plans to), I hope the rest of SE Asia will follow.

Testing I'm fine with, unless the PRC's rectal method mentioned in one of invisible's posts becomes widespread. Initially, I thought he was joking; it's probably just a precaution reserved for some guests the PRC deems "special," whose exclusive membership I'll likely never achieve enough in life to find myself on.

yosithezet

Dining-in indeed restarting next week but only groups of 2.

yosithezet

COVID testing in Singapore is very common. All you need is a runny nose or a sore throat and nearly automatically you will be tested, for free. I’m vaccinated and still had to her a test when I went to a clinic for a stuffy nose and sore throat.

Many service workers are tested on a regular basis and F&B workers will start to be regularly tested.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapo...in-higher-risk

paperwastage

Test wasn't widespread enough to catch outbreaks
I Think the changi workers did pooled tests every 14-28 days, but not enough to catch the cluster in time.

That said, i think Singapore has been doing a lot more than other countries
- sewage testing to catch HDB cluster (some countries do that)
- serology vs PCR test to test past vs current infection
- genome sequencing to try to see who transmitted to who (very few countries do enough sequencing to detect variant, let alone trying to trace the the transmission chain)

this is the biggest signal for future border opening
https://sg.news.yahoo.com/snap-lockd...090346016.html

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...ase-3-15041028

yosithezet

I imagine that this is what is leading to the new policy of sending a message to everyone who was in a place where a case has been detected directing them to mandatory COVID testing.

Yesterday I was in the Orchard MRT station and noticed the pharmacies selling home testing kits for COVID-19.

lokijuh

Perhaps the attitude of doctors has now changed, but last November I went to doctor (at a clinic registered to do testing) after a sore throat and headaches for a few days and sent home and told to take some (more) paracetomol, no suggestion of testing. There were also still a few positive cases earlier in this outbreak that had been to doctors with coughs and the doctors hadn't organised testing of patients, and were only picked up after their condition deteriorated and went to alternative doctors.. By contrast in Australia and I think NZ - there is not medical filter, no need to visit a doctor first, you turn up a testing station, they just ask your symptoms and you get a test, I know several family members who've done that in Victoria. I guess the difference is motor vehicles, many of the testing stations you just drive up to. Many people here do not have cars, so testing clinics could be more problematic with respect to infection control.

yosithezet

Maybe one just needs to go to the right clinic. These SASH clinics are the clinics that are designated for swabs for flu like symptoms.

https://flu.gowhere.gov.sg

washeelers747

Will be interesting to see where is tipping point for government to decide, "screw it, we will open up our borders if vaccination rate don't hit their target numbers" it's not fair for government to keep borders closed for too long if there is plenty of vaccines available but people either refuse or being too slow to take it. Obviously, SG government can decide what they want to do with tourism / border but it seems all states in usa decide to go forward with "we are opening up, so get vaccinated asap or don't weep if you refuse to get it and get sick from covid".

They aren't holding the door for people who refuse to take it so risks fall on them. Will be interesting to see if SG and others in Asia will take similar approach (hopefully next few months).

paperwastage

I think we will hear something starting sept/Oct/Nov

FDA should be giving full approval by then ​​​​​(Pfizer/biontech applied at mid may, moderna June, FDA typically aims 6 months for expedited approval though it can be quicker). This gives governments backing for mandatory vaccination

By that time,.Pfizer/biontech expects to apply for EUA 2-11.

By that time, SG should have enough vaccines for anyone volunteering, and enough to cover a mass mandatory vaccination (add another 2months so people can complete the two dose & 2 weeks.to be fully vaccinated, which leads to Jan 2022

Just don't know how to handle people who can't take vaccines (allergy/medical reason), and under 2. That part is a risk