Being in Singapore During the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Outbreak

Well the title describes this post as straightforward as possible. Originally we didn’t expect we would be writing about an infectious disease when we booked our trip to Singapore 10 months ago.  When the media started sharing death statistics of the outbreak of course we had some red flags pop up, especially since our upcoming trip planned was to the part of the world that the virus concerns were highest. Did we ever think about cancelling our trip?  Not necessarily, what we did do was keep up on the news and the updates of the virus and which precautions to take to travel safely. The main thing to remember about worldwide epidemics is to fact check everything you hear/see/read on the news or social media.  There are many myths that are created because of fear. We thankfully bought washable cotton masks before the outbreak because of the common cold and flu had been increasing this season, but Amazon and drugstores actually sold out of disposable masks in the USA, so we knew there’s no way there would be any left once we got to Singapore.  We also stocked up on Clorox wipes and hand sanitizer, the CDC stated the best way to avoid the virus was to practice good hygiene and frequently washing hands. We knew that the masks were not 100% protection from the virus, but it was another precaution to be aware of. The thing is safety within traveling is a major concern for the solo traveler, couples, or families. We can attest to this as we don’t have thousands of followers on social media, but still received comments and DM’s asking how safe and comfortable we felt while in Singapore. 

Our Itinerary:

As mentioned above we booked this trip 10 months or so prior to the departure date and had to book a position flight to fit the cheap ticket itineraries we found. All of this was completed before the outbreak. So we ended up booking a position flight the afternoon of February 10th Denver to San Francisco. We then traveled via Korean Air from San Francisco to Incheon International Airport in South Korea on the Evening of the 10th, arriving in Incheon Feb 12th AM. We enjoyed a layover in Seoul and then flew from Incheon to Singapore the afternoon of the 12th. We then stayed in Singapore for 6 nights followed by an exact reverse itinerary to return home to Denver starting on Feb 18th. 

Upon Arrival to Changi Airport Singapore:

To be honest we were not exactly sure what to expect in Changi regarding the outbreak, but we were pleasantly surprised. There were multiple signs noting that if you are unwell to seek aid from multiple sources either at the airport or via their national health programs. It also seemed that there were additional airport staff cleaning constantly. They were cleaning handrails, seats, and other potential high traffic areas. Upon entering the customs area it even was stated that they would be conducting temperature scans of all passengers arriving to Singapore. Shortly after this signage we among many other travelers walked through the temperature scan stations. A customs agent even was monitoring this area to ensure no one somehow slid by or around the scanners. Overall we were very impressed on how the outbreak was being handled via customs.

Conrad Hotel Arrival:

Being impressed rose to another level once we got to our hotel later in the evening. The jet lag and exhaustion was setting in, but at least we knew the hotel we selected was being precautions for the outbreak. They had signs near the entrances and check in desks to notify that they were aware of the situation again. They also notified us that they would be doing individual temperature checks upon arrival and checking in, which we participated in. All was handled professionally and quickly so we had no issues going along with this. 

Marina Bay Sands Shopping Center:

We sort of stumbled upon the Marina Bay Shopping Center when we were walking to the Gardens by The Bay and decided to go in. Well we did find out again another busy and somewhat tourist location had walk through/by temperature checks similar to Changi Airport. They also shut down some entrances or funneled the entrances to the temperature checks to assure all that would be entering got checked at least upon entering. On top of the temperature checks they also seemed to have an abundant amount of employees putting in some serious effort to assure hand rails, walkways and other high traffic areas to be cleaned efficiently. 

Loof- Rooftop Bar:

The Loof-Rooftop Bar was a quick and spontaneous visit for us, and that is also how their temperature check was. Although it was casual and quick it was still another reassurance that they were aware and being cautious of who was entering their bar. 

Other Restaurants:

We did also encounter another handful of restaurants that all provided large hand sanitizer pumps at the entrance and or bathrooms. Even one restaurant in the Little India Neighborhood personally sprayed all patrons hands prior to entrance as it was a larger open concept restaurant.

Additional Gatherings:

On top of all the above information we also would like to note the following tidbits for you all to consider prior to traveling to Singapore or any other country affected by the current Coronavirus or any other infectious disease.

1. Do your research
   1. Make sure that you are comfortable with your own personal health and concerns
2. Don’t trust all the media outlets
   1. We noticed that stories and headlines varied depending on location and political views. 
   2. This was the case even with reputable sources
3. Do what is best for yourself and or family
   1. Again if you don’t feel comfortable or have current/past health concerns it may be best to reschedule or cancel your trips
      1. Remember that either your travel insurance or travel based credit cards MAY cover the cancellation or change fees related to an outbreak, travel restriction or quarantines (READ THE FINE PRINT OR CALL)