The SG Arrival Card, which travelers, including Singaporean residents, must submit before returning to the Republic, will be a permanent measure to prevent the importation of infectious diseases of concern, such as yellow fever, Middle East respiratory syndrome, and Ebola, Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung announced in Parliament on Monday.
"We don't want them to become endemic in our area of the world," Mr. Ong added, emphasizing that the SG Arrival Card is a permanent measure required to prevent such diseases from entering Singapore. “Of course, all features are reviewed from time to time.”
Mr. Ong further stated that information on a traveler's trip history and their emotional state is dynamic and hence not captured by existing government systems.
Moreover, the needed information may be supplied digitally, with only three questions to determine a traveler's risk of contracting the current illnesses of concern.
He was responding to a question posed by Mr. Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang) on whether the Ministry of Health (MOH) will review the card's need.
Currently, all air and sea travelers entering Singapore are required to fill out the SG Arrival Card within three days of their arrival. They may submit the card for free using the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) website or the MyICA Mobile application.
Only Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and holders of long-term passes entering the country via land checkpoints are exempted from submitting the SG Arrival Card.
The ICA stated in December of 2012 that this was due to the large volume of traffic and the need for everyday commuters.
Mr. Ong stated, "Travelers at risk of yellow fever illness and lacking a valid vaccination certificate may be confined to protect against the possibility of yellow fever importation into Singapore."
"This is a severe issue for Singapore since the mosquito vector that transmits yellow fever, Aedes aegypti, is there."
Vomiting, muscular pains, and fever are typical yellow fever symptoms. According to the MOH website, several African and Latin American nations are related with the transmission risk of yellow fever.
A question on the SG Arrival Card requires travelers to indicate if they have a fever, cough, or other symptoms, as well as whether they have traveled to Africa or the Middle East in the 14 days prior to their arrival in Singapore.
Mr. Ong stated, "Travelers suspected of being infected can be referred for additional medical evaluation and, if required, isolation."
He continued, "All travelers are required to file a health statement since they all face the danger of contracting infectious illnesses."
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