The Stay-Home Notice (SHN) was implemented on 18 February 2020, 2359hrs for all travellers returning from mainland China (outside of Hubei) who are Singapore residents (Singapore citizens, permanent residents) and long term Pass holders (Long-Term Visit Pass holder, Dependant’s Pass holder, Student’s Pass holder, foreign employee issued with a work pass).

        The SHN was progressively expanded to include such travellers returning from:

• Daegu city and Cheongdo county in the Republic of Korea from 26 February, 2359hrs
• The whole of the Republic of Korea, as well as Iran and northern Italy from 4 March, 2359hrs
• France, Germany, Spain and the whole of Italy from 15 March, 2359hrs
• All other ASEAN countries (does not apply to land and sea crossings with Malaysia), Japan, Switzerland and the United Kingdom from 16 March, 2359hrs
• All other countries/regions from 20 March, 2359hrs

        Between 19 February and 19 March 2020, more than 21,200 SHNs have been issued, out of which more than 13,900 were issued in the past one week (i.e. 12 March 0800 hrs to 19 March, 0800 hrs).

        To ensure compliance, ICA adopts a three-pronged enforcement approach:

• Text messages are sent at various times a day to persons issued with the SHN. They are then required to update ICA of their location within an hour, through their phone’s GPS location service via a unique web link provided in the text message.
• Phone calls are made randomly, and also to those who do not respond to the text messages. These persons will be required to take photos of their surroundings, for verification of their whereabouts.
• Officers donning body-worn cameras will conduct house visits on those who did not respond to the calls or text messages. Random house visits are also conducted.

        ICA will not hesitate to take enforcement measures against those who do not comply with the requirements of the SHN. Anyone who fails to comply with an SHN may face the following penalties:

• Prosecution under Section 21A of the Infectious Diseases Act;
• If one is a Singapore Permanent Resident, Long-Term Visit Pass holder, Dependant’s Pass holder or Student’s Pass holder, the validity of their passes may be shortened, or their passes revoked;
• If one is a foreign employee issued with a Work Pass, it may be revoked;
• If one’s child/ward is a full-time student attending a preschool, school or other educational institutions in Singapore, the child/ward might be subjected to disciplinary action, including suspension or dismissal. For foreign students, we may also cancel the child/ward’s Student’s Pass or Dependant’s Pass;
• If one is a short-term visitor, their visit pass may be cancelled and they may be barred from re-entering Singapore.

        With SHNs being expanded to include travellers returning from all other countries/regions from 20 March 2020, 2359hrs, ICA is scaling up our manpower resources. <

IMMIGRATION & CHECKPOINTS AUTHORITY
20 March 2020