Visa Requirements Lifted For Nationals From Guinea Entering Singapore

With effect from Tuesday 19 January 2016, Guinea nationals will no longer need a visa to enter Singapore. This follows World Health Organization’s (WHO) declaration on 29 December 2015 that Guinea was free of Ebola virus disease (EVD) transmission. In line with this development, all nationals from West African countries affected by Ebola, i.e. Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, will no longer require a visa when they enter Singapore.

2. The visa requirement was originally imposed in November 2014 on Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone nationals for better oversight and control of entry of nationals from these Ebola-affected countries, as well as to facilitate contact tracing of inbound travellers. Visa requirements for nationals from Liberia and Sierra Leone were earlier lifted on 30 May and 28 November 2015 respectively, following WHO’s declaration that these countries were free of EVD transmission.

3. The Ministry of Health will continue to monitor the situation closely and calibrate our preparedness measures as necessary. Temperature screening and other border health measures will still remain for passengers arriving from the Middle East for the early detection of MERS-CoV.

4. We advise travellers to maintain their vigilance and adopt the following health precautions when overseas:

• Practise frequent hand washing (e.g. after going to the toilet, or when hands are soiled). When soap and running water are unavailable, an alcohol-based hand rub can be used instead. The virus is not hardy and can easily be destroyed by such disinfectants;

• Avoid direct contact with blood or other body fluids of infected living or dead persons or animals, as well as objects that may have become contaminated with these infectious fluids, such as soiled clothing, bed sheets, or used needles;

• Avoid participating in burial ceremonies which require direct contact with the body of a deceased infected person;

• Avoid contact with wild animals, including bats, monkeys, apes, chimpanzees and gorillas, whether alive or dead, including their raw or undercooked meat; and

• Travellers who suspect that they have been exposed to Ebola virus should seek immediate medical attention if they develop EVD disease symptoms (i.e. sudden onset of high fever, stomach pains, diarrhoea, vomiting, rash or bleeding). They should inform their doctor of their recent contact history.

MINISTRY OF HEALTH

18 JANUARY 2016