Dear Passengers,
To ensure the safety of passengers, reduce cross-border transmission of Covid-19, the Embassy and Consulate-Generals of China issued “Notice on Further Strengthening Requirements on Pre-departure Tests to China（Mar-29-2022）”. According to requirements of the notice, China Southern Airlines have made changes on health checks for passenger departing from Singapore to China, passengers who travel on this flight are required to follow these instructions.
1. Take an additional antigen rapid test (ART) on the day of check-in
1.1 Passengers (6 years old and above) flying to China on and after 31 March (Thursday) are required to take an additional antigen rapid test 2 to 6 hours before the flight takes off. Passengers shall take the ART at Changi Testing Facility, located at Terminal 3 Level 1, Coach Stand.
1.2 Passengers shall make an appointment and pay online at least one day in advance via Raffles Connect of Raffles Medical Group. Testing fee is S$38 per person, inclusive of tax.
1.3 After the test, there is no need to wait at the testing facility. ART test results will be sent to passengers via SMS and email. Passengers are eligible to proceed to check in with the valid health codes and negative ART test results. If passengers fail to receive the test results within the normal waiting time, they can contact the airlines check-in counter for inquiry.
1.4 ART test results are only used for check-in procedures, not for health code application. Self-tests or ART tests performed at other clinics or beyond 6 hours prior to departure cannot be used for check-in.
2. Adjust the Requirements on Pre-departure PCR Tests
2.1 Take an additional PCR test before departure
Passengers taking flights on and after 8 April (Friday) shall undergo an additional PCR test on the seventh day before departure (the first day of self-isolation). Passengers can take the test at any of the testing facilities authorized by the Ministry of Health that can provide a standardised test memo with verifiable QR code.
For instance, passengers taking China Southern flight CZ3040 to Guangzhou on 12 April (Tuesday) shall take an additional pre-departure PCR test on 5 April (Tuesday).
2.2 Adjust testing time requirements of the PCR test 1 day before departure
Passengers taking flights on and after 8 April (Friday) shall undergo a PCR test within 24 hours prior to departure. Tests at other time points will be regarded as invalid.
For instance, passengers taking China Southern flight CZ3040 at 5:50PM on 12 April shall take a PCR test after 5:50PM on 11 April (the sampling time will be noted on the standardised memo, see attachment for the sample). Tests taken earlier than 5:50PM on 11 April will be regarded as invalid.
The principle of “cross-testing” for tests on the second day and within 24 hours before departure remains unchanged. As time is pressing for the test within 24 hours before departure, passengers are kindly advised to confirm with the clinics that they can obtain the test memos promptly to apply for health codes. Express testing is available at the Raffles Hospital Travel Testing Centre or A&E Department and some hospitals and clinics of Parkway Medical Group (express fees may apply depending on the urgency of the test, and the fastest results may be available in about 4 hours).
3. Testing Requirements for transit passengers, disembarking seafarers and short-term visitors
3.1 Passengers approved by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in their place of origin to transit via Singapore (shall enter Singapore for testing before taking the connecting flights to China) are exempted from the additional PCR test on the seventh day before departure if they stay in Singapore for less than 7 days (excluding the day of entry), given that they have already undergone the relevant testing in their place of origin, however, they are still required to fulfil the self-isolation during their stay in Singapore.
For instance, transit passengers arriving in Singapore on 5 April (Tuesday) will be exempted from the additional PCR test on the seventh day before departure if they travel to China on or before 12 April (Tuesday).
3.2 Pre-departure requirements for disembarking seafarers remain unchanged. Seafarers with a Singapore Long Term Pass are also required to undergo an ART test on the day of check-in besides the existing pre-departure tests for disembarking seafarers.
3.3 Short-term visitors to Singapore from China are required to fulfil a 7-day pre-departure self-isolation and health monitoring prior to their return to China and undergo relevant tests as required in this notice. Short-term outbound passengers from China who arrive in Singapore from a third country or region shall stay for no more than 14 days (excluding the day of departure to China) in Singapore, and undergo 7-day self-isolation, health monitoring and pre-departure tests as required in this notice. For the exact duration of stay in Singapore, please contact the Embassy for details in advance.
4. Other requirements regarding the format of test memos, vaccination certificates, direct flights, travel history and the recovery procedure for passengers with a history of infection remain unchanged.
After this adjustment, the pre-departure requirements for long-term pass holders and short-term outbound passengers travelling from Singapore to China are as follows: PCR test on the seventh day before departure, 7-day pre-departure self-isolation and health monitoring, dual testing of PCR and serology (depending on vaccination status) on the second day before departure, PCR test within 24 hours before departure, and ART test within 2-6 hours before departure on the day of check-in.
5. For other inquiries, timely check the latest policy update issued by the China Embassy. The official website of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore is: http://www.chinaembassy.org.sg/
China Southern Airlines Co., Ltd.
March 31, 2022