This Country Plans To Start Quarantine-Free Travel In September

The Southeast Asian city-state expects to have fully vaccinated 80% of its population by then, placing the nation in a solid position to move forward with reopening, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong told Parliament on Monday.

Singapore aims to relax more virus curbs, including starting to allow quarantine-free travel in September, marking the first time it's set out a timeline to reopen borders that have been mostly shut for more than a year. The Southeast Asian city-state expects to have fully vaccinated 80% of its population by then, placing the nation in a solid position to move forward with reopening, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong told Parliament on Monday. Wong's comments sent shares of flagship carrier Singapore Airlines Ltd. and airport ground-handler SATS Ltd. spiking. SIA shares rose as much as 2.2% while SATS climbed as much as 2.3%, even as the benchmark Straits Times Index slipped. The higher inoculation rate will allow authorities to ease measures, including allowing larger gatherings of fully vaccinated people. The country will also be able to start reopening borders and establishing travel corridors with other countries or regions that have infections under control. Wong's comments come as other ministers also reiterated on Monday a pledge to push ahead with reopening despite recent setbacks.