Pink Dot, Freedom of Love, Singapore. Image via www.facebook.com
Singapore is lifting their longstanding ban on travelers with HIV from entering the country. The Lion City made the decision on April 1, but it was made public on Monday. Persons visiting with HIV, though, will be limited in their stay to three months.
“Given the current context with more than 5,000 Singapore residents living with HIV and the availability of effective treatment for the disease…The policy on the repatriation and permanent blacklisting of HIV positive foreigners was recommended in the late 1980s when the disease was new, fatal and no effective treatment was available,” a health ministry spokesperson said.
The United States ended their ban on HIV positive travelers just in 2010, while 20 others still have a ban.
