Singapore to limit workplace access for unvaccinated people

Travellers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar approved

Singapore is set to restrict access to the workplace for those who are unvaccinated from January unless they test negative daily as part of plans to resume normal activities in the pandemic.

“Unvaccinated employees will not be allowed to return to the workplace unless they have tested negative for Covid-19 before returning to the workplace, and they will need to pay for the costs of these tests,” the health ministry said in a statement yesterday. The testing requirements will also apply to people who are medically-ineligible to take the vaccines and pregnant women, it said.

Singapore joins Italy in introducing tough Covid-19 rules for workers by mandating vaccinations for those planning to enter workplaces, while most countries either leave such decisions to companies, or require only selected groups such as health care workers and civil servants to be inoculated.

The island nation currently bars those not inoculated from malls, food centers and local attractions, seen as a way to prompt more people to follow through with vaccinations.

Only employees who are fully vaccinated, or have recovered from Covid-19 in the past 270 days, can return to the workplace from January 1. Those who haven’t been jabbed will have to test negative on an antigen-rapid test carried out by an approved provider, with such results only valid for 24 hours.

Authorities yesterday also announced a resumption of travellers from South Asian nations Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka from October 26 after recent reviews. Arrivals from the regions will be still subject to strict border measures that are applied to areas deemed as high-risk from the virus.

New vaccine cleared

The city-state also added Si nov ac Biotech Ltd’s vaccine to its national vaccination programme to allow those who cannot take the mRNA vaccines to become fully inoculated. The current program has approved only those from Pfizer and Moderna. Sinovac will be used in a three-dose regime, and won’t be eligible for those below 18 years old, the health ministry said.