Turbulent times ahead as SG-HK travel bubble delayed anew

The declaration of a travel corridor between the two cities has been delayed for the second time.

The travel bubble announcement between the Singapore and Hong Kong will not push through this week, as previously scheduled.

According to a Bloomberg report, the announcement was cancelled last minute by the Singapore side. This will be the second delay in the anticipated quarantine-free travel measure, previously scheduled for November last year.

While Singapore has eased its travel restrictions for travellers from Hong Kong, the Chinese authonomous region has done the opposite, suspending flights from Singapore Airlines budget carrier Scoot.

Singapore lowered the requirements for Stay Home Notices (SHNs) for Hong Kong travellers to seven days, that can be served at their residence, from the previous 14-days at a dedicated SHN facility.

On the other hand, Hong Kong suspended flights from Scoot from April 16 to 29, after two passengers from Singapore tested positive for COVID-19 upon landing.

On April 21, the Singapore Ministry of Health confirmed that there had been two new cases of locally transmitted COVID-19. There were also 14 imported cases from people who had recently travelled from India and Indonesia.

There are 274 active COVID-19 cases in Singapore, as of April 21.

Hong Kong recorded 172 new COVID-19 cases between April 7 to 20, including 39 confirmed local cases, 1 possible local case, and 15 from unknown sources.

Both cities have started implementing their respective vaccination programmes.