SINGAPORE: Dining-in at F&B outlets will resume from Aug 10, only for fully vaccinated people in up to groups of five as Singapore announced a two-step easing of COVID-19 measures.
The current group size for social gatherings will also be increased from two to five from Aug 10, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a press release on Friday (Aug 6). Households will similarly be able to receive five distinct visitors per day.
However, people who are unvaccinated should remain in groups of no more than two “to reduce the likelihood of transmission and severe infection”, MOH said.
Unvaccinated children aged 12 and below can be included in the group of five as long as all the children are from the same household, the ministry added.
The announcement follows a mid-point review of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures. Restrictions will be eased in two steps - from Aug 10 and from Aug 19 - if the coronavirus situation remains stable, said MOH.
Apart from allowing dining-in for the vaccinated, restrictions will also be eased for this group of people for other higher-risk activities such as high-intensity sports with masks off, personal care services and larger events like marriage solemnisations and worship services.
"Unvaccinated individuals with a valid negative pre-event test result or recovered individuals are of similarly lower risk, and may also join in such groups of up to five," said MOH.
The phase from Aug 10 will be called the preparatory stage, said Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung at a press conference by the multi-ministry task force.
“This is when we will make important adjustments to healthcare protocols, rules on social activities and travel, to prepare ourselves for a transition to a COVID-resilient nation,” he said.
The preparatory stage should last for about a month until early September, said Mr Ong, adding that by then, 80 per cent of the population is expected to be fully vaccinated.
“And by then, we can continue to keep the number of severe cases, illnesses under control, and our healthcare capacity is not overly stretched, we will be able to move to the next stage, called Transition Stage A," he said. “This is when we will further open up our economy, social activities and travel. Then our lives will be more normal, livelihoods will be better protected. But when we do that, we must expect infection numbers to rise.”
F&B outlets may only resume dine-in services if they are able to ensure that customers are fully vaccinated.
“F&B establishments that are not able to ensure this may only operate takeaway and delivery services," said MOH.
Both vaccinated and unvaccinated people can dine in at hawker centres and coffee shops, but in group sizes of up to two.
“Hawker centres and coffee shops provide convenient and affordable food services within the community. As these are open-air and naturally ventilated spaces, we will extend a special concession for both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons to dine in the hawker centres and coffee shops,” said the Health Ministry.
Dining-in remains a high-risk activity because people are unmasked and in close proximity, noted the ministry, adding that entertainment like live performances, recorded music and TV screenings will continue to be prohibited.
Event sizes and capacity limits for large events will be increased from Aug 10. This includes congregational and worship services, cinemas, live performances, as well as marriage solemnisations and wedding receptions.
If all attendees are fully vaccinated, event sizes for congregational and worship services, cinemas, live performances and spectator sports events will be increased to 500 people from Aug 10.
Otherwise, only up to 50 attendees will be allowed without pre-event testing.
Unmasking and singing or playing of wind instruments at live performances may resume for vaccinated performers.
For marriage solemnisations in external venues - defined as those that do not take place at home or at the Registry of Marriages and Registry of Muslim Marriages building - they can accommodate up to 500 people including the wedding couple but excluding solemnisers and vendors if all attendees are fully vaccinated.
Otherwise, only up to 50 attendees will be allowed without pre-event testing.
Wedding receptions will also be allowed from Aug 10, with up to 250 people in groups of five attendees per table if all are fully vaccinated.
If the COVID-19 situation remains under control, these limits will be further increased from Aug 19. Worship services, cinemas, MICE events, live performances, spectator sports and marriage solemnisations may take place with up to 1,000 attendees if all are fully vaccinated.
Work-from-home requirements will also be eased from Aug 19, when up to 50 per cent of employees who can work from home will be allowed to return to the workplace.
The requirement for temperature screening in public premises will also be removed from Aug 19.
"With high levels of vaccine coverage among our population, transmission among vaccinated individuals and disease severity in vaccinated but infected persons are likely to be substantially lower," said MOH, adding that Singapore also has the ability to pick up infections earlier through testing.
These include self-test antigen rapid test (ART) kits and rostered routine testing with fast and easy tests (FETs) in higher-risk settings,” said the ministry.
“With these other targeted public health tools, we will remove the requirement for temperature screening in public premises, together with the other relaxation of measures planned from Aug 19 onwards.”
From Aug 19, the operating capacity of attractions and cruises will be increased from the current capacity of 25 per cent to 50 per cent, said MOH.
Museums and public libraries will also be allowed to increase operating capacity to 50 per cent.
The occupancy limits for shopping malls and showrooms will be increased from the current limit of 16 sqm of gross floor area per person to 10 sqm per person, said MOH.
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The current group size for social gatherings will also be increased from two to five from Aug 10, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a press release on Friday (Aug 6). Households will similarly be able to receive five distinct visitors per day.
However, people who are unvaccinated should remain in groups of no more than two “to reduce the likelihood of transmission and severe infection”, MOH said.
Unvaccinated children aged 12 and below can be included in the group of five as long as all the children are from the same household, the ministry added.
The announcement follows a mid-point review of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) measures. Restrictions will be eased in two steps - from Aug 10 and from Aug 19 - if the coronavirus situation remains stable, said MOH.
Apart from allowing dining-in for the vaccinated, restrictions will also be eased for this group of people for other higher-risk activities such as high-intensity sports with masks off, personal care services and larger events like marriage solemnisations and worship services.
"Unvaccinated individuals with a valid negative pre-event test result or recovered individuals are of similarly lower risk, and may also join in such groups of up to five," said MOH.
The phase from Aug 10 will be called the preparatory stage, said Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung at a press conference by the multi-ministry task force.
“This is when we will make important adjustments to healthcare protocols, rules on social activities and travel, to prepare ourselves for a transition to a COVID-resilient nation,” he said.
The preparatory stage should last for about a month until early September, said Mr Ong, adding that by then, 80 per cent of the population is expected to be fully vaccinated.
“And by then, we can continue to keep the number of severe cases, illnesses under control, and our healthcare capacity is not overly stretched, we will be able to move to the next stage, called Transition Stage A," he said. “This is when we will further open up our economy, social activities and travel. Then our lives will be more normal, livelihoods will be better protected. But when we do that, we must expect infection numbers to rise.”
DINING-IN RESTRICTIONS
F&B outlets may only resume dine-in services if they are able to ensure that customers are fully vaccinated.
“F&B establishments that are not able to ensure this may only operate takeaway and delivery services," said MOH.
Both vaccinated and unvaccinated people can dine in at hawker centres and coffee shops, but in group sizes of up to two.
“Hawker centres and coffee shops provide convenient and affordable food services within the community. As these are open-air and naturally ventilated spaces, we will extend a special concession for both vaccinated and unvaccinated persons to dine in the hawker centres and coffee shops,” said the Health Ministry.
Dining-in remains a high-risk activity because people are unmasked and in close proximity, noted the ministry, adding that entertainment like live performances, recorded music and TV screenings will continue to be prohibited.
LARGE EVENTS
Event sizes and capacity limits for large events will be increased from Aug 10. This includes congregational and worship services, cinemas, live performances, as well as marriage solemnisations and wedding receptions.
If all attendees are fully vaccinated, event sizes for congregational and worship services, cinemas, live performances and spectator sports events will be increased to 500 people from Aug 10.
Otherwise, only up to 50 attendees will be allowed without pre-event testing.
Unmasking and singing or playing of wind instruments at live performances may resume for vaccinated performers.
For marriage solemnisations in external venues - defined as those that do not take place at home or at the Registry of Marriages and Registry of Muslim Marriages building - they can accommodate up to 500 people including the wedding couple but excluding solemnisers and vendors if all attendees are fully vaccinated.
Otherwise, only up to 50 attendees will be allowed without pre-event testing.
Wedding receptions will also be allowed from Aug 10, with up to 250 people in groups of five attendees per table if all are fully vaccinated.
MORE EASING FROM AUG 19
If the COVID-19 situation remains under control, these limits will be further increased from Aug 19. Worship services, cinemas, MICE events, live performances, spectator sports and marriage solemnisations may take place with up to 1,000 attendees if all are fully vaccinated.
Work-from-home requirements will also be eased from Aug 19, when up to 50 per cent of employees who can work from home will be allowed to return to the workplace.
The requirement for temperature screening in public premises will also be removed from Aug 19.
"With high levels of vaccine coverage among our population, transmission among vaccinated individuals and disease severity in vaccinated but infected persons are likely to be substantially lower," said MOH, adding that Singapore also has the ability to pick up infections earlier through testing.
These include self-test antigen rapid test (ART) kits and rostered routine testing with fast and easy tests (FETs) in higher-risk settings,” said the ministry.
“With these other targeted public health tools, we will remove the requirement for temperature screening in public premises, together with the other relaxation of measures planned from Aug 19 onwards.”
From Aug 19, the operating capacity of attractions and cruises will be increased from the current capacity of 25 per cent to 50 per cent, said MOH.
Museums and public libraries will also be allowed to increase operating capacity to 50 per cent.
The occupancy limits for shopping malls and showrooms will be increased from the current limit of 16 sqm of gross floor area per person to 10 sqm per person, said MOH.
Continue reading...