Sarah Jane Lee
Image credit: Ruslan Bardash
Singaporeans were bummed when the travel bubble with Hong Kong had to be deferred last year due to a surge in the COVID-19 cases there. Months on, Singapore and Hong Kong are in ‘close discussions’ on resuming the air travel bubble for leisure travel without quarantine. Due to the easing COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong, we may get to travel to dim sum paradise once again!
Image credit: Gabrielle Henderson
Initially, both cities had agreed to suspend the bubble if the seven-day average of unlinked cases in either city exceeded five. However, the figure in Hong Kong dipped to 4.57 on Friday. This was down from 16 in November 2020.
According to Dr Leong Hoe Namm, an infectious diseases specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, travel bubbles would be safe to start provided the number of unlinked cases remains below five consistently for two to three weeks.
Initial arrangements for the Hong Kong travel bubble
Based on original arrangements, travellers between the countries can avoid extended quarantine periods by taking multiple COVID-19 tests. Both Singapore and Hong Kong agreed to have one flight into the city daily and a quote of 200 travellers per flight. Daniel Ng, director of air transport in the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore, said that more details will be announced when they are ready.
Road to recovery
Image credit: Bao Menglong
Despite borders unable to reopen that quickly even with vaccines, this first step could be a step to recovery for the aviation industry. After all, Singaporeans have been bitten by the travel bug for far too long and are travel-deprived!
With vaccinations underway in both Singapore and Hong Kong, let’s hope that these continued efforts will ensure each country’s safety. While the idea of travelling once again is tempting, citizens’ health and safety should be at the forefront of these decisions.
