S’pore Residents Returning From UK & US To Serve SHN At Hotels, All Expenses Paid By Government

Residents Returning From UK & US From 11.59pm On 25 Mar Onwards To Serve SHN At Hotels

Since majority of Singapore’s rising number of imported Covid-19 cases hail from the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US), the government is drawing up emergency plans to address the matter.

From 11.59pm tomorrow (25 Mar), all residents returning from these places will have to serve their 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) in hotels instead of their homes.

This comes after Singapore reports 32 more imported cases, 25 of whom are from the US and UK.

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Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong announced the new measure at a press conference Channel NewsAsia (CNA) reported.

SHN will be at hotels instead of at home

Though returnees who tested positive so far have not infected their family members, the government is taking this step as an extra precaution.

Singapore expects to welcome more residents home from the US and UK in the coming weeks, with roughly 1,200 entering from the 2 countries each day.

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Once the new measure kicks in, authorities will transport returnees directly to the hotels from the airport.

The exact locations are unknown, but CNA quotes Mr Wong who said that they’re “all over Singapore”.

Single room with toilet & meals provided

Affected residents won’t have to worry as the government will fully cover all expenses throughout their maximum 14-day stay.

According to CNA, each returnee gets his or her own room, complete with a toilet and paid meals throughout the day.

While these will only commence tomorrow, those who recently returned and wish to serve SHN in such facilities can apply to do so. All they have to do is contact the SHN hotline at 6812 5555.

The hotline is open for all those serving SHN who need support.

Stricter checks & punishments for breach of SHN

In a bid to monitor potential cases more closely, authorities will also be engaging more enforcement officers to check on people serving their SHN.

Those who breach it may face a less than $10,000 fine, below 6-month jail term or both, reports CNA.

The panic many may experience amidst the storm of updates is understandable, but we hope we can all take a moment to pause and process everything.

Most importantly, we hope those affected or with friends and families affected by these updates will be able to sort out what’s necessary smoothly.

Featured image adapted from The Moodie Davitt Report.