SINGAPORE: Groups of 10 vaccinated people will be allowed to dine in at food and beverage outlets from Mar 29, in line with Singapore's move to increase the size limit for social gatherings.
This also applies to hawker centres and coffee shops where full checks on vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS) are implemented at their entrances, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (Mar 24).
"To ease the operational burden for F&B operators, we will allow all F&B establishments to seat smaller groups of up to five fully vaccinated persons, without the need for full VDS checks at their entrance," said MOH in a media release.
"Instead, random spot-checks will be done to ensure that only vaccinated persons are dining in at these places, and the onus will be on the dining-in individuals to abide by the rules."
The current restriction on the sale and consumption of alcohol after 10.30pm at F&B outlets will be lifted.
In addition, live performances will be allowed to resume at all venues. Those involved in the performances will have to comply with the prevailing safe management measures such as keeping to the group size of 10.
"We will also lift the restriction on the screening of live broadcast programmes and recorded entertainment in F&B establishments," said MOH.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced during his address to the nation on Thursday that group sizes will be raised to 10 and wearing masks outdoors will be optional with a safe distancing of 1m, as part of Singapore's “decisive step forward” towards living with COVID-19.
In a press conference after his address, co-chair of the multi-ministry task force Gan Kim Yong noted that the number of daily COVID-19 cases in Singapore has steadily declined, with the week-on-week infection growth rate at about 0.7 to 0.8.
The number of severe cases has also fallen, he added.
“All these indicate that the Omicron wave has peaked and is declining. And with that we can progress further in our journey towards COVID resilience,” said Mr Gan.
Authorities are also easing restrictions on congregational singing and other similar activities.
“We had previously taken a strong position against group vocalisation activities because of the higher risk of transmission. But we are now in a different situation and can start easing this restriction,” said MOH.
With masks worn throughout the “vocalisation activity”, congregational singing and chanting, cheering by audiences at events, as well as singing in general settings like schools will now be allowed.
The Government is separately looking into the safe resumption of nightlife businesses like bars, pubs, karaoke establishments, discotheques and nightclubs, said the Health Ministry.
“These are activities with much higher risks of transmission and where there are generally more difficulties complying with the prevailing safe-management measures 1 to 5,” it added.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Home Affairs will provide an update on the reopening of the sector in the coming weeks.
Specific larger-scale social events like gala dinners, corporate dinner-and-dance events, birthday celebrations and anniversaries will also be allowed to resume given the stabilising COVID-19 situation and for consistency with other events, said the Health Ministry.
These should be held with group sizes of no more than 10 people and a safe distancing of 1m between tables.
“Participants should also continue to exercise prudence and restraint, and limit their interactions to the same group they are seated with,” said MOH.
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Continue reading...
This also applies to hawker centres and coffee shops where full checks on vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS) are implemented at their entrances, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Thursday (Mar 24).
"To ease the operational burden for F&B operators, we will allow all F&B establishments to seat smaller groups of up to five fully vaccinated persons, without the need for full VDS checks at their entrance," said MOH in a media release.
"Instead, random spot-checks will be done to ensure that only vaccinated persons are dining in at these places, and the onus will be on the dining-in individuals to abide by the rules."
The current restriction on the sale and consumption of alcohol after 10.30pm at F&B outlets will be lifted.
In addition, live performances will be allowed to resume at all venues. Those involved in the performances will have to comply with the prevailing safe management measures such as keeping to the group size of 10.
"We will also lift the restriction on the screening of live broadcast programmes and recorded entertainment in F&B establishments," said MOH.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced during his address to the nation on Thursday that group sizes will be raised to 10 and wearing masks outdoors will be optional with a safe distancing of 1m, as part of Singapore's “decisive step forward” towards living with COVID-19.
In a press conference after his address, co-chair of the multi-ministry task force Gan Kim Yong noted that the number of daily COVID-19 cases in Singapore has steadily declined, with the week-on-week infection growth rate at about 0.7 to 0.8.
The number of severe cases has also fallen, he added.
“All these indicate that the Omicron wave has peaked and is declining. And with that we can progress further in our journey towards COVID resilience,” said Mr Gan.
Related:
Authorities are also easing restrictions on congregational singing and other similar activities.
“We had previously taken a strong position against group vocalisation activities because of the higher risk of transmission. But we are now in a different situation and can start easing this restriction,” said MOH.
With masks worn throughout the “vocalisation activity”, congregational singing and chanting, cheering by audiences at events, as well as singing in general settings like schools will now be allowed.
The Government is separately looking into the safe resumption of nightlife businesses like bars, pubs, karaoke establishments, discotheques and nightclubs, said the Health Ministry.
“These are activities with much higher risks of transmission and where there are generally more difficulties complying with the prevailing safe-management measures 1 to 5,” it added.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Home Affairs will provide an update on the reopening of the sector in the coming weeks.
Specific larger-scale social events like gala dinners, corporate dinner-and-dance events, birthday celebrations and anniversaries will also be allowed to resume given the stabilising COVID-19 situation and for consistency with other events, said the Health Ministry.
These should be held with group sizes of no more than 10 people and a safe distancing of 1m between tables.
“Participants should also continue to exercise prudence and restraint, and limit their interactions to the same group they are seated with,” said MOH.
BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Continue reading...