Passengers have their body temperature checked at Changi airport in Singapore as part of COVID-19 prevention and control measures. — AFP/VNA Photo

SINGAPORE — Singapore will lift border restrictions for visitors from Việt Nam and Australia, excluding Victoria state, from October 8.

Short-time visitors from the two countries can apply to fly to Singapore from October 1 and arrive in the Southeast Asian country from October 8.

The two countries have successfully controlled the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of importation is low, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), noting that Việt Nam had zero local COVID-19 cases over the last 28 days, while Australia (excluding Victoria state) has a virus local incidence rate of 0.02 per 100,000.

At the same time, Singapore will also update its travel advisory to allow travel to Australia (excluding Victoria State) and Việt Nam, said CAAS. People visiting these two countries are advised to check the entry requirements imposed by those countries and take the necessary precautionary measures.

As of September 30, CAAS had approved 331 applications from the two countries, of which 136 visitors have arrived so far. None of them have tested positive for COVID-19 upon arrival, said CAAS.

Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders returning from Australia (excluding Victoria State) and Việt Nam will similarly undergo a COVID-19 test upon arrival, in lieu of a seven-day stay-home notice with a COVID-19 test administered before the end of the notice period.

The Embassy of Singapore in Hà Nội has informed the Consular Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Việt Nam on the issue, the ministry's spokesperson Lê Thị Thu Hằng said on Thursday, noting that the two sides have agreed to strengthen co-operation and facilitate the entry of citizens depending on the epidemiological developments in each country. — VNS