The once-delayed Singapore-Hong Kong bilateral travel bubble may risk another disruption due to Singapore’s rising number of Covid-19 cases.
Singapore’s transport minister Ong Ye Kung said at a Covid-19 multi-ministry task force press conference on May 14 that a critical review of the travel bubble’s start date will be carried out.
“The assessment is: Given the rising cases in Singapore, it is very likely that Singapore will not be able to meet the resumption criteria,” said Ong.
A decide will be made early next week on the commencement of the Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble.
According to a CNA report, Ong had given Hong Kong’s secretary for commerce and economic development Edward Yau an update on Singapore’s situation on Friday morning. Ong shared that both parties have agreed that the travel bubble must be done safely and in accordance with the resumption mechanism that both sides have agreed on.
Under the terms of the agreement, the travel bubble will be suspended for at least 14 days if the seven-day moving average of unlinked local Covid-19 cases a day, excluding dormitory resident cases in Singapore, is more than five in either Singapore or Hong Kong.
As of noon on May 14, Singapore has 52 new infections, including 24 community cases, said the Ministry of Health.
