TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Singapore will shorten the quarantine period from 14 to 7 days for individuals arriving from Taiwan and five other low-risk countries and regions.

During a virtual press conference Friday (Aug. 21), Singaporean Minister of Transportation Lawrence Wong (王乙康) announced that travelers from Taiwan, Australia, Malaysia, Macao, China, and Vietnam will be required to undergo only seven days of quarantine upon their arrival. He said the change will take effect on Sept. 1.

Wong added that visitors from Brunei and New Zealand will not be required to undergo quarantine at all if they have been in their home countries a full 14 days prior to arriving in Singapore. Instead, they will simply be tested for coronavirus at the airport.

Wong said the government's decision to ease border restrictions is intended as a cautious means of reviving Singapore's aviation industry and economy. He stressed that the Asian mega-hub cannot afford to cut off connections with the rest of the world if it wants to survive, reported CNA.