Singapore

Joshua Ang/Unsplash The Merlion, the official mascot of Singapore

Singapore bans Bangladeshi tourists

Singapore's travel ban on the four countries will take effect on May 2 (Sunday). According to the decision, no one from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka will be able to enter Singapore. Those who have traveled to these countries in the last 14 days will not be able to enter. Even those waiting to enter the transit visa and have traveled to these four countries will not be able to enter Singapore from Sunday.

Long-term pass holders and short-term travelers who have stayed or traveled in these countries for the past 14 days will not be able to enter Singapore directly or in transit.

Lawrence Wong, deputy head of the country's inter-ministerial Covid-19 task force, said the travel ban would take effect on Sunday for those who had previously obtained prior permission from the Singapore authorities to enter Singapore. That is, they will not be allowed to enter even after having permission.

In addition, those who have recently visited the four countries and are now in the 14-day quarantine in Singapore and whose quarantine is due to expire on May 3, will have to stay in the quarantine center designated by the government for another 7 days.

And those who enter Singapore before the ban takes effect on May 2 will have to undergo a PCR test once there, once on the last day of the 14-day quarantine and once more at the end of the 21-day quarantine.

Lawrence Wong said the move was prompted by the deteriorating coronavirus situation in India and the spread of the virus to neighboring countries. It is to be noted that over the last one week, more than three lakh patients are being identified daily in India.