SINGAPORE: Vaccination-differentiated safe-management measures (VDS) will be removed from all settings except at F&B outlets, some nightlife establishments as well as events with more than 500 people from Apr 26, announced Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung on Friday (Apr 22).
These are settings which are assessed to pose higher risks of transmission due to factors such as large crowds and unmasked activities, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a separate press release.
“The key consideration is still this, that individuals who are not fully vaccinated account for a disproportionate number of patients who fall severely ill or die. When our hospitals were still under a lot of pressure, VDS was critical in ensuring that we do not assert too much burden on our healthcare system,” said the Health Minister, speaking at a multi-ministry task force press conference.
“However now that the hospitals’ workload has eased considerably, there is less need now to retain VDS in its current form.”
Singapore’s vaccination coverage is at 96 per cent of its eligible population, MOH noted, adding that it is “among the highest in the world”.
From Apr 26, vaccination-differentiated safe-management measures will be stepped down, by reducing the settings in which they are needed, said Mr Ong.
“In particular, settings such as places of worship, malls, retail shops, supermarkets et cetera, will no longer need to maintain VDS,” he added.
“It also means that the onus now falls on the individuals who are not fully vaccinated to take the necessary precautions to avoid crowded places, so that you minimise your chance of being infected and falling severely ill."
While vaccination-differentiated safe-management measures will still be required at F&B establishments, these establishments will no longer need to conduct vaccination checks on their customers, said MOH.
Individuals dining in will be expected to abide by the rules, and random spot-checks will continue to be conducted to ensure that only fully vaccinated people are dining in, it added.
This is currently already the case for hawker centres and coffee shops.
Workplace vaccination measures implemented by the Ministry of Manpower will also be lifted, announced Mr Ong.
The Manpower Ministry “has been discussing” with tripartite partners, who agree that given the significant pandemic risks that still exist in the coming months, businesses should still be given the flexibility to impose vaccination-related instructions for employees, for “business continuity” and health and safety reasons, he added.
MOM will provide further details later, said Mr Ong.
MOH will also stop issuing health risk notices to close contacts from Apr 26, and individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer need to submit the details of their household contacts online, said the ministry in the press release.
People should continue to exercise social responsibility, the Health Ministry said in the press release. For example, people who test positive should still inform close contacts so that they can in turn take the necessary precautions by testing themselves before leaving the house.
Settings with vulnerable people like hospitals, nursing homes and elderly homes should request proof of a negative antigen rapid test result for people will recent exposure before they are allowed to enter, said MOH.
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These are settings which are assessed to pose higher risks of transmission due to factors such as large crowds and unmasked activities, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a separate press release.
“The key consideration is still this, that individuals who are not fully vaccinated account for a disproportionate number of patients who fall severely ill or die. When our hospitals were still under a lot of pressure, VDS was critical in ensuring that we do not assert too much burden on our healthcare system,” said the Health Minister, speaking at a multi-ministry task force press conference.
“However now that the hospitals’ workload has eased considerably, there is less need now to retain VDS in its current form.”
Singapore’s vaccination coverage is at 96 per cent of its eligible population, MOH noted, adding that it is “among the highest in the world”.
From Apr 26, vaccination-differentiated safe-management measures will be stepped down, by reducing the settings in which they are needed, said Mr Ong.
“In particular, settings such as places of worship, malls, retail shops, supermarkets et cetera, will no longer need to maintain VDS,” he added.
“It also means that the onus now falls on the individuals who are not fully vaccinated to take the necessary precautions to avoid crowded places, so that you minimise your chance of being infected and falling severely ill."
While vaccination-differentiated safe-management measures will still be required at F&B establishments, these establishments will no longer need to conduct vaccination checks on their customers, said MOH.
Individuals dining in will be expected to abide by the rules, and random spot-checks will continue to be conducted to ensure that only fully vaccinated people are dining in, it added.
This is currently already the case for hawker centres and coffee shops.
Workplace vaccination measures implemented by the Ministry of Manpower will also be lifted, announced Mr Ong.
The Manpower Ministry “has been discussing” with tripartite partners, who agree that given the significant pandemic risks that still exist in the coming months, businesses should still be given the flexibility to impose vaccination-related instructions for employees, for “business continuity” and health and safety reasons, he added.
MOM will provide further details later, said Mr Ong.
MOH will also stop issuing health risk notices to close contacts from Apr 26, and individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer need to submit the details of their household contacts online, said the ministry in the press release.
People should continue to exercise social responsibility, the Health Ministry said in the press release. For example, people who test positive should still inform close contacts so that they can in turn take the necessary precautions by testing themselves before leaving the house.
Settings with vulnerable people like hospitals, nursing homes and elderly homes should request proof of a negative antigen rapid test result for people will recent exposure before they are allowed to enter, said MOH.
Continue reading...