SINGAPORE - From Aug 10, dining in will be allowed at all eateries - with certain conditions - as Singapore loosens its Covid-19 control measures.
Other changes to community measures such as caps on group sizes were also announced on Friday (Aug 6) by the Ministry of Health (MOH), with some taking place only from Aug 19.
With regard to these measures, MOH said that someone is considered "fully vaccinated" two weeks after he has received a full regimen of the Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnatry or Moderna vaccines, or any other vaccines under the World Health Organisation's Emergency Use Listing.
These include the Astrazeneca, Sinopharm and Sinovac-CoronaVac vaccines.
Individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 or have obtained a negative result on a pre-event test taken in the 24 hours before the expected end of a group activity are included in this category.
Here's what you need to know about measures that will take place from Aug 10:
1. Dining in
From Tuesday (Aug 10), groups of up to five people will be allowed to dine at food and beverage (F&B) establishments if all the diners are fully vaccinated.
Exceptions will be made for unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below, who may be included within the group of five as long as all the children are from the same household.
MOH said that F&B establishments that are not able to ensure groups are fully vaccinated may operate only takeaway and delivery services.
People may dine at hawker centres and coffee shops regardless of their vaccination status.
"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 MOH.
However, this will be subject to a smaller group size of up to two people only, regardless of vaccination status.
Entertainment such as live performances, recorded music, and videos or TV screening will continue to be prohibited, said MOH, which emphasised that dining in remains a high-risk activity.
The ministry reminded patrons to follow all safe management measures and to keep their masks on at all times except when eating or drinking.
2. Group sizes
From Tuesday, caps on group sizes for social gatherings will be increased from two people to five.
Households will also be allowed to receive five distinct visitors a day, up from the current two. The cap on visitors does not apply to grandchildren being cared for by their grandparents.
MOH said unvaccinated people are "strongly encouraged" to remain in groups of two or less, to reduce the likelihood of transmission and severe infection.
"We should also continue to limit our social circle to a small group of regular contacts and limit the number of social gatherings to no more than two a day," said the ministry.
3. Congregational and worship services
From Aug 10, up to 500 worshippers may attend services if all are vaccinated. However, this limit is reduced to 50 worshippers if any are unvaccinated.
Exceptions will be made for unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below, who may not make up more than one-fifth of the total congregation size. If congregants gather in groups of up to five, any children in the group must be from the same household.
Singing while unmasked, as well as the playing of instruments that require expulsion of air for live performances, may resume for vaccinated performers, subject to safe management measures.
READ FULL STORY: Places of worship to see relaxed Covid-19 restrictions: MCCY
4. Funerals
From Aug 10, there can be up to 30 attendees at funerals at any point in time on all days. This is an increase from the current cap of 20 attendees.
5. Live performances
Up to 500 people can attend live performances from Tuesday if they are all vaccinated. However, if some attendees are unvaccinated and there is no pre-event testing, the cap is reduced to 50 people.
Exceptions will be made for unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below, who may not make up more than one-fifth of the total event size. If people gather in groups of up to five during the performance, any unvaccinated children in the group aged 12 years and below must be from the same household.
Singing while unmasked and the playing of instruments that require the expulsion of air may resume for performers, subject to safe management measures.
6. Staycations
There can be up to five people a room in a hotel from Aug 10, except where people are all from the same household. This restriction is subject to the room's maximum capacity.
7. In-person tuition and enrichment classes
As many as 50 people will be allowed per class from Tuesday, in groups of up to five people. However, those attending such classes are still strongly encouraged to do so virtually.
8. Massage establishments and hair salons
Services which require masks to be removed such as facials, saunas and make-up services will be allowed to resume from Tuesday if the customer is vaccinated.
9. Sports activities
From Aug 10, indoor mask-off high-intensity activities and classes may resume, but capped at 30 people.
Exercise activities and classes at gyms and fitness studios can resume in groups of up to five, provided everyone in the group is fully vaccinated.
Indoor mask-on and all outdoor mask-on and mask-off activities and classes will have their cap raised to 50 people.
Participants can gather in groups of up to five for mask-on indoor activities and all outdoor activities, regardless of their vaccination status or whether they have taken a pre-event test.
10. Home-based businesses
From Aug 10, these businesses can now receive up to five unique visitors a day.
They were previously required to operate only on a contactless delivery or collection model.
11. Mice events
From Aug 10, up to 500 people may attend meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (Mice) events if they have all been vaccinated. If not, this limit is reduced to 50. They may unmask at these events, subject to safe management measures. Unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below may attend, but may not make up more than 20 per cent of the event size.
If people gather in groups of up to five during the event, any unvaccinated children in the group aged 12 and below must be from the same household.
12. Spectator and participatory sports events
From Aug 10, up to 500 people may attend these events if they have all been vaccinated. If not, this limit is reduced to 50. Unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below may attend, but may not make up more than 20 per cent of the event size.
If people gather in groups of up to five during the event, any unvaccinated children in the group aged 12 and below must be from the same household.
13. Solemnisations and wedding receptions
From Aug 10, up to 500 people may attend wedding solemnisations if they have all been vaccinated. If not, this limit is reduced to 50.
Unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below may attend, but may not make up more than 20 per cent of the event size.
If people gather in groups of up to five during the event, any unvaccinated children in the group aged 12 and below must be from the same household.
Up to 250 people may attend wedding receptions if they are all vaccinated. Only one reception will be allowed.
Group sizes will be capped at five attendees per table.
14. Cinemas
From Aug 10, up to 500 people may be in the audience if they are all vaccinated. If not, this limit is reduced to 50.
Food and drink may be served in groups of up to five if all customers are vaccinated.
Exceptions will be made for unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below, who may be included within the group of five as long as all the children are from the same household. The children also may not make up more than 20 per cent of the audience.
The next set of measures will kick in from Aug 19, provided the Covid-19 situation remains under control:
1. Work from home
From Aug 19, up to 50 per cent of employees who can work from home may return to the workplace. Workplace social gatherings will also be allowed.
READ FULL STORY: Up to half of employees can return to their workplace from Aug 19: MOH
2. No more temperature screening requirement
Temperature screening will no longer be a requirement in public places from Aug 19.
MOH said that this is because of the high levels of vaccine coverage here, as well as the ability to pick up infections earlier through increased surveillance measures, including greater use of self-test antigen rapid test kits, and rostered routine testing.
"Nevertheless, it is important to continue exercising good health-seeking behaviour when one is unwell by seeking care as soon as possible, using a mask and avoiding crowded places," said MOH.
3. Congregational and worship services
From Aug 19, up to 1,000 worshippers may attend these services if all are vaccinated. However, this limit is reduced to 50 worshippers if some are unvaccinated.
The exceptions and restrictions in place from Aug 10 for unvaccinated children aged 12 and below will continue to apply.
Exceptions will be made for unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below, who may not make up more than 20 per cent of the total congregation size.
4. Live performances
From Aug 19, the group size limit for a fully vaccinated audience will be increased from 500 to 1,000 attendees. It will remain at 50 if some attendees are unvaccinated and there is no pre-event testing. The exceptions and restrictions in place from Aug 10 for unvaccinated children aged 12 and below will continue to apply.
5. Museums and public libraries
From Aug 19, the operating capacity of such venues will be increased to 50 per cent, up from 25 per cent currently.
6. Shopping malls and showrooms
From Aug 19, the occupancy limit of such areas will be changed from one person per 16 sq m of gross floor area (GFA) to one person per 10 sq m of GFA.
7. Tour groups
From Aug 19, up to 50 people will be allowed for tours that involve transport, such as Duck Tours. Groups will remain capped at 20 people for non-conveyance tours.
8. Mice events
From Aug 19, up to 1,000 people may attend these events if they have all been vaccinated. If not, this limit is reduced to 50. The exceptions and restrictions in place from Aug 10 for unvaccinated children aged 12 and below will continue to apply.
9. Solemnisations and wedding receptions
From Aug 19, up to 1,000 people may attend wedding solemnisations if they have all been vaccinated. If not, this limit is reduced to 50.
The exceptions and restrictions in place from Aug 10 for unvaccinated children aged 12 and below will continue to apply.
Unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below may attend, but may not make up more than 20 per cent of the event size.
10. Attractions and cruises
From Aug 19, the operating capacity of attractions and cruises will be increased to 50 per cent.
11. Cinemas
From Aug 19, up to 1,000 people may be in the audience if they are all vaccinated. If not, this limit is reduced to 50.
The exceptions and restrictions in place from Aug 10 for unvaccinated children aged 12 and below will continue to apply.
