Singapore has introduced 100% temperature checks for all passengers departing from and arriving at its sea entry points with effect from 1900hrs today. Minister for Transport, Mr Yeo Cheow Tong, announced this when he toured the Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC) and the Regional Ferry Terminal (RFT) this evening. The temperature checks aim to prevent the export of SARS spreading through the sea entry points to other countries.

The temperature checks will be implemented at the following seven sea entry points:

• Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC);
• Regional Ferry Terminal (located within SCC);
• Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT);
• Changi Ferry Terminal (CFT);
• Changi Immigration Checkpoint (CIC);
• West Coast Pier (WCP); and
• Clifford Pier (CP).

Both thermal scanners and ear thermometers will be used to conduct the temperature checks, depending on the passenger volume.

"As fever is a key symptom presented by persons suffering from SARS, the introduction of temperature checks at the sea entry points essentially means that we now have in place a mechanism to screen all passengers for SARS symptoms whether they are departing Singapore by air, by sea or on bus. This will give passengers the confidence they are well enough to travel, and the confidence that there is little chance that they will pass the SARS virus to fellow passengers and to people overseas," said Mr Yeo Cheow Tong, when he visited the SCC today.

At all seven sea entry points, any passenger picked up by the thermal scanners or thermometers for fever will be directed to a designated area for medical assessment. Passengers with a temperature will be required to get a doctor's certification before they are allowed to leave on the cruise ships or regional ferries. If necessary, they will be sent to TTSH for further medical examination.

Minister Yeo also announced tighter screening procedures for passenger vessels (inclusive of cruise ships) today. The "Special Declaration for Cargo Vessels and Passenger Vessels arriving in Singapore", was implemented today. Under this Special Declaration, the shipmaster, owner or agent of all cargo and passenger vessels are required to furnish the Port Health Office with their health declarations four hours before the vessel's arrival in Singapore. Previously, only cargo vessels were required to make this declaration and to do so 12 hours before arrival. In the declaration, the shipmaster, owner or agent of all cargo and passenger vessels is required to state if any of their crew or passenger who had disembarked from the vessel suffered from any SARS symptoms such as fever (more than 38°C) and cough or breathing with difficulty, within the last 14 days. These enhanced measures will enable us to capture any possible SARS cases onboard the ship within the last fortnight and to take the necessary precautions when the ship comes into Singapore.

Since April 2003, Singapore has implemented a range of measures to contain the spread of SARS. Some of these measures are over and above the recommendations of the World Health Organisation (WHO). These include the submission of the Health Declaration Cards for all persons onboard vessels arriving in Singapore. The temperature checks are an additional feature aimed at stepping up measures to contain SARS at our sea entry points.

End of Release.