Updated Approach to Gradual Reopening to Phase 3 (Heightened Alert)

Source: moh.gov.sg

From 21 June 2021, higher-risk activities such as dining-in at F&B establishments and indoor mask-off sports/exercise will only be allowed to resume in group sizes of up to 2 persons, instead of up to 5 persons as previously announced. Concurrently, the MOH will onboard staff in these settings as quickly as possible onto regular Fast and Easy Tests (FET), starting with using antigen rapid tests (ART). In the coming weeks, they will build up the capacity for FET, and expect a regular FET regime to be in place for those working in these settings by around mid-July. Barring another superspreader event or big cluster, group activities will be allowed to increase to sizes of up to 5 persons from mid-July 2021 (date to be announced later).  

Resumption of Dining-In at F&B establishments

F&B establishments will be able to resume dining-in from 21 June 2021 in group sizes of up to 2 persons. This means that a group of more than 2 persons who are not from the same household is not allowed to dine-in together at F&B establishments, even if they are split across multiple tables. To further mitigate the risk of transmission from patrons talking loudly, recorded music will not be allowed in F&B establishments. This is in addition to the current restrictions on videos/TV screening and live entertainment at F&B establishments. F&B establishments are also reminded to strictly observe safe distancing of at least 1 metre between groups of diners, of no more than two persons per group, to lower the risk of transmission. Enforcement will be stepped up and we will take firmer enforcement action for any breaches of safe management measures. Patrons must keep their masks on at all times, except when eating or drinking.

Indoor mask-off sports/ exercise activities 

Gyms and fitness studios may resume indoor mask-off sports/ exercise activities in group sizes of up to 2 persons, and in classes of up to 30 persons including the instructor, with safe distancing of at least 2m between individuals and 3m between groups. For mask-on activities and outdoor mask-off activities, these can continue in groups of no more than 5 persons, in classes of up to 30 persons including the instructor. SportSG will release more details on this.

Work-from-home Remains the Default

Employers are reminded to ensure the practice continues, and for employees that need to come to the workplace, to stagger their start times and implement flexible working hours. There should continue to be no cross-deployment of workers to multiple worksites. For workplaces, social gatherings continue to be disallowed, and work-related events (e.g. product launches, townhalls) should continue to disallow F&B.

Targeted Support Measures

• The Government will extend the current enhancements to the Jobs Support Scheme for affected sectors by 3 weeks before tapering it down to 10% for another 2 weeks (please refer to Annex B for details).
• To provide targeted support to hawkers who are self-employed, the Government will extend the subsidies for fees for table-cleaning and centralised dishwashing services, and provide rental waivers, till mid-July 2021 for stallholders in centres managed by NEA or NEA-appointed operators.\
• To help other workers who remain affected by the extended tightened safe management measures, the Government will also extend the COVID-19 Recovery Grant (Temporary) [CRG-T] until 31 July 2021. Existing CRG-T recipients who continue to require assistance can also apply for a second tranche of CRG-T support in July. The Ministry of Social and Family Development will share more details.

Update on Phased Roll Out of Regular Fast and Easy Tests (FET) for Staff Involved in Higher-Risk Activities

All staff who work at settings with unmasked clients/patrons, or where there is prolonged contact between individuals, to be placed on a regular FET regime, using tests such as ART.

These include staff of:

1. Dine-in F&B establishments;
2. Personal care services (e.g. facial and nail services, spas/ saunas, massage establishments, hairdressing, and make-up services); and
3. Gyms and fitness studios where clients are unmasked.

The regular 14-day FET requirement for staff at these settings will be made mandatory from around mid-July 2021. We expect that most of the FET can be done through a system of self-swabs supervised by the employer. To support establishments in their efforts to get started on FET, we have set up training programmes that companies can leverage to train supervisors in their establishments to supervise ART self-swabs for their staff. These supervisor training programmes will be provided at no cost to these establishments for the next 3 months. ART kits will also be made available to establishments for these employer supervised self-swabs.  Some F&B establishments have already sent their employees for training and are ready to implement regular testing progressively from 21 June 2021.

There may be small businesses who are unable to organise the supervised self-swabs on their own. Hence we will also set up Quick Test Centres (QTCs) to support those who need to be tested.  We will start with one each at Tekka and Yishun which will be operational from 21 June 2021. More QTCs will be progressively set up. To further minimise the risks of transmission in these settings, the Government will also facilitate earlier vaccination of individuals who work in these settings.

Strengthening Ringfencing Around Cases

Given the increased transmissibility of viral strains, MOH will use TT and SE data to strengthen ringfencing around cases to prevent large clusters from arising. As part of this measure, MOH will be sending ‘Health Alerts’ via SMS to individuals, who have visited hotspots on the same days as the infected persons, and may have been exposed to the virus. These individuals will be required to undergo mandatory testing at designated testing centres and stay isolated until they receive their results. While the risk of infection is lower if they were to test negative, they should continue to limit their interactions with others as an added precaution and restrict their activities to only those which are essential. In particular those who need to go to work (i.e. cannot work from home) will be allowed to do so. However, they must comply strictly with all the safe management measures at the workplace. Furthermore, at the testing centres, we will give them DIY test kits, which they will need to self-administer at home over the subsequent days to confirm that they are not infected. We will need all Singaporeans to play their part.  Further details will be announced when ready.