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Singapore will gradually allow travellers to transit through Changi Airport from Jun 2, as it prepares to ease some COVID-19 restrictions and reopen its borders.

"Stringent measures" will be put in place to ensure that the passengers remain in designated facilities in the transit area and do not mix with other passengers at the airport, said the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) on Wednesday (May 20).

Airport staff will also be required to wear personal protective equipment when interacting with passengers.

Existing precautionary measures, such as safe distancing, temperature taking for passengers and staff, will continue to be enforced, said the authority.

Currently, foreign passengers are only allowed to transit through Singapore if they are on repatriation flights arranged by their governments.

The Ministry of Health had said on Tuesday that Singapore will gradually reopen its borders with safeguards in place, to allow Singaporeans to conduct essential activities abroad and for foreigners to enter and transit through the country.

Airlines should submit their proposals for transfer lanes through Changi Airport, said CAAS.

It added that the proposals will be evaluated taking into account aviation safety, public health considerations, as well as the health of passengers and air crew.

"This is part of Singapore’s strategy to gradually reopen air transport to meet the needs of our economy and our people, whilst ensuring sufficient safeguards for safe travel," said the aviation authority.

Covid-19 cases in Riau Islands still growing. Significant case developments still occur in Batam City. Two cities in the Riau Islands namely Batam and Tanjung Pinang are still in red status. This makes the implementation of congregational prayers until the Eid al-Fitr 1441 Hijri prayers abolished in mosques and the field.

Statistically, the number of Covid-19 cases in Riau Islands as of May 20, 2020 is 140 cases. Of that number 83 recovered, 46 were treated and 12 died.

The following are statistics on the progress of the Covid-19 case in the Riau Islands and every District / City released by the Riau Islands