Singapore halts sale of quarantine-free travel tickets: COVID-19 live | Coronavirus pandemic News
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Governments have tightened restrictions on COVID-19 as the new variant of the Omicron coronavirus continues to spread.
Singapore has said it will freeze all new flight and bus ticket sales for four weeks from Thursday according to the quarantine-free travel scheme. Citing the danger of the new variant of the omicron coronavirus, the government said the move would gain time to strengthen defenses against COVID-19.
Australia repealed the Christmas lockout and renewed the vaccine push, as rising Omicron cases set new limits for authorities and accelerated COVID-19 booster launches.
The U.S. state of California said health workers would require a booster shot to prepare them for a new wave of infection.
Here are the latest updates:
Malaysia has halted ticket sales for non-quarantine trips to Singapore
Malaysia has temporarily suspended the sale of air and ground travel tickets in line with the vaccinated travel schedule scheme with Singapore until January 20, the Health Ministry said, amid concerns over the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant.
The action was taken by Singapore after a similar move to freeze all new ticket sales in the same period.
According to the vaccinated travel route program, both countries allow quarantine-free admission to fully vaccinated passengers, and must perform a variety of screenings.
California says health care workers should take booster shots
California health care workers will need to have coronary heart disease booster shots to ensure hospitals are prepared to deal with a surge in cases as the more transmissible Omicron variant spreads across the state.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the order on Tuesday on his personal Twitter account and planned to provide more details at a press conference on Wednesday.
California is already urging health care workers to get vaccinated against coronavirus, a directive that went into effect in September and has since led to the release or suspension of thousands of people. It will now join New Mexico, at least as the second state that needs booster shots for health care workers.
The Australian Prime Minister has met with state leaders as the number of virus cases has risen
New cases of COVID-19 in Australia’s most populous state were added to a pandemic record on Wednesday as Prime Minister Scott Morrison met with state leaders to discuss preventive measures.
Morrison walked out of a national cabinet meeting again ignoring blockades and masked orders imposed by the federal government. He said the policy of wearing masks was left to state governments and to Australians who should follow “reasonable course of action”.
“While these cases are on the rise, hospitals and health care systems remain in a strong position, but of course they will be tested,” Morrison told reporters after an emergency meeting in Canberra.
Singapore has suspended the sale of quarantine-free travel tickets
Singapore has said it will freeze all new flight and bus ticket sales as part of its program to make quarantine-free trips to the city-state from 23 December to 20 January, the government said, citing the rapidly expanding risk of Omicron.
“Our borderline measures will help us gain time to study and understand the Omicron variant, and strengthen our defenses, increase our health capacity and vaccinate and encourage more people,” the Singapore Ministry of Health said in a statement.
According to the vaccine’s embedded travel route program, Singapore allows quarantine-free entry for fully vaccinated passengers who need to take multiple COVID-19 tests.
The program lists about two dozen countries, including Australia, India, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Passengers who already have a ticket on flights or buses and who meet all other requirements can travel within the program.
Singapore has confirmed cases of imported Omicron and several local infections.
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