The National Arts Council (NAC) said that thermal scanners have been put in place at Victoria Theatre and the Drama Centre, and patrons will be asked to provide personal particulars such as name and address for contact-tracing.

Temperature checks will be conducted on 'visitors, hirers, theatre staff, crew and artists' at these venues every day, says the council.

Events at which temperature screening will be conducted include the Soorya Global Festival of Indian Dance and Music on Friday, and the 47th National Bodybuilding Championships on Sunday. Both will be held at Victoria Theatre. Organisers expect to screen more than 500 people at each event.

Screening will also apply to foreign performers at the Singapore Arts Festival, which runs from May 15 to June 14.

They will be asked to declare their health status and travel history prior to arrival in Singapore. They will also be given masks and thermometers, and subjected to daily temperature checks during their stay.

Thermal scanners will be deployed at mass events such as the Festival's opening show at Marina Barrage on May 15.

The NAC advises patrons to arrive early for performances to avoid delays caused by the temperature screening.

Arts groups say these precautionary measures are necessary. They do not think attendance would be affected.

The general manager of the Singapore Lyric Opera, Ms Ng Siew Eng, said: 'I think the thermal screening is very reassuring and in fact will encourage more people to attend events.'

Additional reporting by Tara Tan

Read the full story in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.