All returnees including Singapore Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Long Term Pass holders entering the country will be required to serve a 14-day self-isolation at dedicated Stay-Home Notice (SHN) facilities, starting from 11.59 pm, Thursday (9 April), said Ministry of Health (MOH) on Wednesday (8 April).
Meanwhile, the returnees who are already back in Singapore will continue to serve their 14-day SHN at their current location.
The enhanced SHN requirement – which was previously only for those who return from France, Switzerland, India, ASEAN countries, the United Kingdom, and the United States – has been extended to returnees from all countries.
MOH said that it has stepped up the capacity of SHN facilities and is now able to accommodate all returnees.
It was noted that each returnee will have their own room with toilet and will be provided all meals so as to avoid physical contact with other individuals.
However, the returnees from certain regions or countries will be prioritised for the dedicated SHN facilities based on its risk assessment of COVID-19 if there are unexpected capacity constraints such as having a more than expected number of returnees.
MOH also reiterated that the returnees would be required to bear the full cost of their 14-day SHN at dedicated SHN facilities if they neglected the prevailing travel advisories and left the country from 27 March.
Other than that, the residents will also not be able to claim from MediShield Life or Integrated Shield Plans for treatments related to COVID-19 at public and private hospitals.
As part of containment efforts against the spread of COVID-19, the Government is working with hotel operators to provide dedicated facilities for returnees to serve their 14-days SHN.
Under SHN, transportation will be arranged to send returnees directly from the airport to the dedicated hotels.
“The dedicated SHN facilities are not just about the provision of hotel rooms. We also work with the hotel operators to provide training for their staff, and to put in place proper security arrangements, as well as infection control and precautions,” the statement read.
