Clarification by Senior Minister of State for Health

The following reply was provided by the Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Koh Poh Koon) during Question Time for Question No 1 at the Parliament Sitting of 12 February 2026:

The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Koh Poh Koon) The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Koh Poh Koon): [W]e have enhanced the electronic health declaration card, which is part of the SG Arrival Card. In this format, if the arriving individual, clicks yes on the SG Arrival Card to any of the symptoms, then there will be a prompt to enter the previous travel destination, and that would include the West Bengal region as well. But if the person clicks no to any of the symptoms, then he would not be prompted for any travel destinations that we are monitoring. So, it is to make sure that there are no excessive compliance needs on the individual submitting the information card to make it seamless. At the same time, we do not want to end up having over-declaration for those with no symptoms. [Please refer to "Health Screenings for Those from Countries with High-risk of Nipah Virus, and Healthcare Advisories to Doctors and Public", Official Report, 12 February 2026, Vol 96, Issue 17, Oral Answers to Questions section.]

Written statement by Dr Koh Poh Koon circulated with leave of the Speaker in accordance with Standing Order No 29(5):

I wish to make the following factual correction to my statement made during Question Time for Question No 1 at the Sitting on 12 February 2026. My statement should read as follows:

The Senior Minister of State for Health (Dr Koh Poh Koon) : [W]e have enhanced the electronic health declaration card, which is part of the SG Arrival Card. In this format, if the arriving individual, clicks yes on the SG Arrival Card to any of the symptoms, then there will be a prompt to enter the previous travel destination, and that would include the West Bengal region as well. But if the person clicks no to any of the symptoms, then he would not be prompted for any travel destinations

, except those: that we are

already: monitoring. So, it is to make sure that there are no excessive compliance needs on the individual submitting the information card to make it seamless. At the same time, we do not want to end up having over-declaration for those with no symptoms.