Advisory on COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)

ADVISORY ON COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)

16 FEB 2020

Since last month, the Singapore Government has implemented a series of measures to reduce the risk of imported cases and community transmission of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019). We have strengthened these measures progressively as the situation escalated, both globally and in Singapore.

On 7 Feb 2020, we stepped up our risk assessment from DORSCON Yellow to DORSCON Orange¹, as there were a few local cases without links to previous cases or travel history to China. This advisory provides a summary of the current measures to reduce the risk of imported cases and community transmission, to help guide visitors and tourism businesses.

General Advisory for Visitors

1. Visitors travelling from China.
   
   1. All new visitors with recent travel history to Mainland China within the last 14 days will not be allowed entry into Singapore, or to transit through Singapore.
      
      
   2. Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has suspended the issuance of all forms of new visas to those with PRC Passports. Singapore’s status as a visa-free transit facility for those with PRC passports has also been suspended.
      
      
   3. Previously issued short-term and multiple-visit visas for those with PRC passports have also been suspended. During this period of suspension, they will not be allowed entry into Singapore. For more details, please visit Ministry of Health (MOH)’s website (https://www.moh.gov.sg).
   
   
2. All other travellers should monitor their health closely for 2 weeks upon entering Singapore. They should seek medical attention promptly if they feel unwell, and also inform their doctor of their travel history. If they have a fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, runny nose), they should wear a mask and call the clinic ahead of the visit.
   
   
3. Travellers should adopt the following precautions at all times:
   • Avoid contact with live animals including poultry and birds, and consumption of raw and undercooked meats;
   • Avoid crowded places and close contact with people who are unwell or showing symptoms of illness;
   • Observe good personal hygiene;
   • Practise frequent hand washing with soap (e.g. before handling food or eating, after going to toilet, or when hands are dirtied by respiratory secretions after coughing or sneezing);
   • Wear a mask if you have respiratory symptoms such as a cough or runny nose;
   • Cover your mouth with a tissue paper when coughing or sneezing, and dispose the soiled tissue paper in the rubbish bin immediately; and
   • Seek medical attention promptly if you are feeling unwell.

General Advisory for Tourism Businesses

4. Businesses are advised to obtain health and travel declarations from employees on whether they have travelled to China recently, or if they have any upcoming travel plans to China. Businesses are also advised to defer all travel to Hubei Province and non-essential travel to mainland China.
   
   
5. Returning residents, work pass holders and other employees with recent travel history to mainland China within the last 14 days will be placed on Leave of Absence (LOA), where they have to stay at home and avoid social contact. They should monitor their health closely, and seek medical attention immediately if they develop any fever or symptoms of acute respiratory illness such as cough or shortness of breath.
   
   
6. Employers and employees must ensure that employees behave responsibly during the LOA. The Ministry of Manpower (MOM) may take action against the employer or employee if they do not discharge their responsibility.
   
   
7. With the heightened risk posture of DORSCON Orange, the government has introduced additional precautionary measures to minimise the risk of further transmission of the virus in the community.
   
   
8. Businesses are strongly urged to exercise necessary precautions at the workplace to prevent spread of COVID-19. Employers and employees should adopt additional precautions such as stepping up the cleaning of the workplace and avoiding contact with persons who are unwell, particularly for businesses which have frontline workers serving customers. All employers should require employees to conduct regular temperature taking and check whether they have respiratory symptoms such as cough and runny nose. Temperature should be taken at least twice daily, and anyone with fever or is unwell should leave office immediately to see a doctor. For more details on the precautions that employers and employees can take, please refer to MOM’s guidelines (https://www.mom.gov.sg)
   
   
9. We advise event organisers (EOs) to take necessary precautions when organising an event. EOs may refer to Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)'s advisory for businesses on large scale events for more information. (https://www.mti.gov.sg)
   
   
10. We would also like to encourage tourism businesses to prepare for all eventualities, and step up their business continuity plans (BCP) if they have not already done so. BCP can include allowing employees to telecommute or dividing the workforce into segregated teams. 

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