SINGAPORE – Cargo drivers coming into Singapore from Malaysia and those accompanying them have to do a pre-departure PCR or ART test at an accredited facility in Malaysia within two calendar days of departure to the republic.
The Straits Times’ online news on Sunday reported the new arrangement would come into force effective Thursday (March 24) when Singapore stops conducting COVID-19 on-arrival tests (OAT) at land checkpoints.
The drivers and those accompanying them have to present a negative COVID-19 test result or prove that they have recently recovered from COVID-19 at the checkpoints in Tuas and Woodlands, before allowed entry into Singapore.
According to the report, since March 14 the republic’s Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has been handing out pamphlets to cargo drivers entering Singapore to inform them of the new procedure.
The ministry issued a copy to the news outlet on Sunday, it added.
Under the new procedure, for example, a driver from Malaysia looking to depart for Singapore at any time on April 3 can do his test earliest at the start of April 1, the report said.
This test result can be used for multiple entries into Singapore, so long as it falls within the two-calendar-day window.
Test certificates presented at the checkpoints must be in English, and in either hard or soft copy and they cannot be handwritten.
The certificates must also include the individual’s name, date of birth, and passport number. They must state the date and time of the test, as well as the name of the test provider, said the report.
The news outlet also reported that all cargo drivers from Malaysia entering under this arrangement must be fully vaccinated.
Those who have recently recovered from COVID-19 will be allowed entry without having to show a test result if they show documentary proof of an infection within the last 90 days.
They will, however, also need to be fully vaccinated, said the report.
