SINGAPORE: There will no longer be limits on group sizes for social gatherings from Apr 26 as Singapore moves to further ease COVID-19 measures.
Safe distancing will no longer be required between individuals or between groups, announced the multi-ministry task force on Friday (Apr 22).
All employees may also return to the workplace from Apr 26, an increase from the current limit of 75 per cent of those who can work from home.
With COVID-19 cases falling and stabilising in Singapore, the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level will be adjusted from Orange to Yellow from Apr 26.
The DORSCON framework, which gives an indication of the current disease situation, was raised to Orange on Feb 7, 2020.
The “time is right” to lower it to Yellow, said co-chair of the task force Gan Kim Yong at a press conference.
“Under DORSCON Yellow, each of us must continue to comply with the safe management measures and exercise social responsibility. This means that if you are unwell, we should really stay home. We must also maintain good personal hygiene and adhere to health advisories,” said Mr Gan, who is the Trade and Industry Minister.
With the easing of restrictions, it will no longer be a requirement to keep to a group size of 10 for mask-off activities from Apr 24.
The cap on the number of unique visitors per household will similarly be lifted, said co-chair of the task force Lawrence Wong. The current limit is also 10 visitors per household at any one time.
The capacity limit of 75 per cent for mask-on events with more than 1,000 people will also be removed, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a separate press release.
Mask-wearing will continue to be required in indoor settings, including on public transport, and optional outdoors, Mr Wong noted.
At the workplace, employees will be allowed to remove their masks when they are not interacting physically with others and when they are not in customer-facing areas, “notwithstanding the mask-on requirement in indoor settings”, said MOH.
“While this concession will provide some flexibility for workers as more return to the workplace, everyone is advised to exercise social responsibility and maintain an appropriate safe distance from others while unmasked,” MOH added.
“Even with these changes, we encourage employers to retain and promote flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting and staggered work hours, as a permanent feature of the workplace. Beyond the workplace benefits of flexible work arrangements, this will also help workers avoid peak period crowds as more of us return to the workplace.”
The Health Ministry said Singapore's transition to DORSCON Yellow is a milestone in its progress towards living with COVID-19.
"However, the situation can change quickly in the face of new variants. Hence, we urge everyone to remain socially responsible and vigilant even as we take strides towards normalcy," it added.
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Safe distancing will no longer be required between individuals or between groups, announced the multi-ministry task force on Friday (Apr 22).
All employees may also return to the workplace from Apr 26, an increase from the current limit of 75 per cent of those who can work from home.
With COVID-19 cases falling and stabilising in Singapore, the Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level will be adjusted from Orange to Yellow from Apr 26.
The DORSCON framework, which gives an indication of the current disease situation, was raised to Orange on Feb 7, 2020.
The “time is right” to lower it to Yellow, said co-chair of the task force Gan Kim Yong at a press conference.
“Under DORSCON Yellow, each of us must continue to comply with the safe management measures and exercise social responsibility. This means that if you are unwell, we should really stay home. We must also maintain good personal hygiene and adhere to health advisories,” said Mr Gan, who is the Trade and Industry Minister.
SAFE MANAGEMENT MEASURES EASED
With the easing of restrictions, it will no longer be a requirement to keep to a group size of 10 for mask-off activities from Apr 24.
The cap on the number of unique visitors per household will similarly be lifted, said co-chair of the task force Lawrence Wong. The current limit is also 10 visitors per household at any one time.
The capacity limit of 75 per cent for mask-on events with more than 1,000 people will also be removed, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a separate press release.
Mask-wearing will continue to be required in indoor settings, including on public transport, and optional outdoors, Mr Wong noted.
At the workplace, employees will be allowed to remove their masks when they are not interacting physically with others and when they are not in customer-facing areas, “notwithstanding the mask-on requirement in indoor settings”, said MOH.
“While this concession will provide some flexibility for workers as more return to the workplace, everyone is advised to exercise social responsibility and maintain an appropriate safe distance from others while unmasked,” MOH added.
“Even with these changes, we encourage employers to retain and promote flexible work arrangements, such as telecommuting and staggered work hours, as a permanent feature of the workplace. Beyond the workplace benefits of flexible work arrangements, this will also help workers avoid peak period crowds as more of us return to the workplace.”
The Health Ministry said Singapore's transition to DORSCON Yellow is a milestone in its progress towards living with COVID-19.
"However, the situation can change quickly in the face of new variants. Hence, we urge everyone to remain socially responsible and vigilant even as we take strides towards normalcy," it added.
Continue reading...