S’pore & Hong Kong Discussing ATB Again As Both Cities Have Kept COVID-19 Under Control

On 15 March 2020, the Ministry of Health made the one announcement Singaporeans were dreading.

Residents should defer all travel abroad.

At the time, the advisory was only supposed to last for 30 days, but even then, some Singaporeans found one month of no travel unbearable.

Little did we know, the advisory would go on for one year, leaving Singaporeans’ wanderlust unsatiated.

Then, late last year, the promise of leisure travel was dangled in front of us in the form of a travel bubble with Hong Kong.

Tickets were quickly purchased, and bags were packed with haste, but we had to unpack them soon after because the travel bubble was suspended.

But if everything goes well, this bubble could soon open up again.

S’pore & Hong Kong Discussing ATB Again As Both Cities Have Kept COVID-19 Under Control

The improving Covid-19 situation in Hong Kong has prompted the authorities in both countries to hold discussions over their air travel bubble.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) told ST that talks between the two countries are ongoing.

“Singapore and Hong Kong are in close discussions on the ATB (air travel bubble). We will announce more details when ready.”

Under the arrangement, travellers from either country would be travel to the other without undergoing quarantine.

They had to, however, take multiple Covid-19 tests.

Both countries agreed to having one flight a day into each city and a quota of 200 travellers per flight.

Leisure travellers were allowed, and a control itinerary was not required.

In other words, it like travelling in 2019, minus the several swabs up your nose.

So, why lift the suspension now?

Covid-19 Situation in Hong Kong Improving

The arrangement was suspended on 21 Nov last year due to a spike in unlinked cases in Hong Kong.

Both sides agreed that the travel bubble would be suspended if the seven-day average of unlinked cases in either city exceeded five.

Hong Kong’s rolling seven-day average of unlinked cases was only 3.86 when the bubble was suspended, but it later shot up to 16, validating the authorities’ decision.

This week, however, the number of unlinked cases in Hong Kong dropped below five for the first time in almost three months. The current figure is 4.57.

Hong Kong recorded 15 new infections on Saturday (20 Feb), four of which were untraceable.

No Tests Required if Vaccinated?

Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious diseases specialist from Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, said travellers in the bubble should be vaccinated as an added precaution.

If they do this, they might be able to avoid all the Covid-19 tests required in the travel arrangement.

“As an added precaution, they should ask the individual be vaccinated. The incentive then should be no Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing will be done,” he said.

“Vaccination of travellers can expedite the formation of travel bubbles in a safe manner.”

Of course, while this sounds like a “Vaccine Passport”, it isn’t. Read this article to know more about what a Vaccine Passport is.

Hong Kong currently imposes a lengthy 21-day quarantine on all visitors from outside China, but this will probably not be a requirement for travellers under the travel bubble.

For the bubble to open up again, however, infections in both countries need to be controlled.

Let’s pray, hope, and pray some more that that happens.

Featured Image: Yung Chi Wai Derek / Shutterstock.com (Image is for illustration purpose only)