Working & living in Singapore for the next 5 years despite Corana? - rather yes or no?

[ferion]

Hello everybody,

A few days ago my wife received an offer from her employer to be transferred to Singapore for around 5 years from around July on. The idea sounds very appealing to both of us - despite the current corona-related restrictions.

However, before she goes into negotiations regarding the “package”, the following question arises to which we have not really found any info. Therefore I am trying to find it here.

Our questions: is there any information / assessments from "official" side (i.e. government, press, TV) regarding
a) the time at which the current quarantine restrictions will be lifted.
b) the outlook for the second half of the year and especially for 2022 – should everything be back to normal by then, or can it be expected that there will still be significant restrictions in 2022 (and beyond). If so, in what form (especially with regard to international travel and daily life)

We would appreciate any comment that would help us in our decision-making process

[sundaymorningstaple]

Singapore cannot give but just a wishlist as the Pandemic is what it is, a pandemic which is world wide. Singapore's position is mostly reactive but in an aggressive way. They do not play-play and to give you an estimate as to when it will be safe for international travel, they had a safe travel bubble to a couple of country that have subsequently be closed due to an uptick in infection in the other countries. We all are, of course, hoping for a loosening up by the 2nd half of 22, but it is anybody's guess as it depends on what is happening with it's major trading partners. Maybe BBCDoc, one of our regulars closely working in this area, has a different prognosis.

[x9200]

Hello everybody,

A few days ago my wife received an offer from her employer to be transferred to Singapore for around 5 years from around July on. The idea sounds very appealing to both of us - despite the current corona-related restrictions.

However, before she goes into negotiations regarding the “package”, the following question arises to which we have not really found any info. Therefore I am trying to find it here.

Our questions: is there any information / assessments from "official" side (i.e. government, press, TV) regarding
a) the time at which the current quarantine restrictions will be lifted.

Probably when the vaccination exercise proves it works.

b) the outlook for the second half of the year and especially for 2022 – should everything be back to normal by then, or can it be expected that there will still be significant restrictions in 2022 (and beyond). If so, in what form (especially with regard to international travel and daily life)

As for the Q1... just imagine the vaccines fail against one of the numerous mutations... Unfortunately we just need to wait and observe.

Bottom line - I would not expect any hard written statements as of what and when. I agree with SMS, the gov handles the crises aggressively meaning it's a sort of overkill in expense of economy and social matters. I would not expect any significant loosening of the restrictions until all the signs tell, the crisis is over.


We would appreciate any comment that would help us in our decision-making process

[PNGMK]

Singapore has to open up. It is dying day by day. It will open up quite quickly once other nations are under control. Already there are agreements for NZ, Australia, Brunei and some others in place (mostly unilateral as those countries are shut up tighter than a hookers legs before she's paid).

Don't factor this in - factor in that you are moving to a country that has had more dengue deaths than Covid deaths while our neighbours are dying off like flies.

[Lisafuller]

There is no way the government will provide an estimate on when restrictions will be fully lifted. This is a pandemic after all, and it is unpredictable. However, take comfort in the fact that singapore is one of the countries that has best dealt with the virus. The percentage of COVID deaths compared to the total number of cases should tell you all you need to know about the governments effectiveness in dealing with this. You’d probably be better off here than elsewhere.

[BigginHill]

Do factor in, that Singapore is a tiny, tiny place.

Post-vaccine jab, no way I'd ever pick 5 years continuously in Singapore over pretty much anywhere else in the developed World.

Singapore has to open up.

I guess "when" is the 64 million dollar question. Who knows.

Will SG go full "Australia/NZ" & close up indefinitely until the rest of the World is at zero infection?

Or will SG react to the pressure of increased mobility in Europe / US when vaccines start making a difference?

[PNGMK]

Australia and NZ are nut cases. They may never properly open again. The flight caps just pushed out to June for Oz.

[BigginHill]

Already there are agreements for NZ, Australia, Brunei and some others in place (mostly unilateral as those countries are shut up tighter than a hookers legs before she's paid).

I'll say.

China makes anal swab Covid tests compulsory for foreign arrivals

You just can't make this stuff up.