Dining In & Indoor Fitness Classes: What To Know About Singapore's 2-step Easing Of Covid-19 Rules
From dining in to indoor mask-off fitness classes, staycations and weddings, here's everything to know about the easing of Covid-19 rules
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 they have 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 the measures which take place from Aug 10:
1. Dining In
From Tuesday (Aug 10), groups of up to five people will be allowed to dine in at 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 only operate take-away and delivery services.
Meanwhile, people may dine in 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 persons 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.
From Tuesday, group sizes for social gatherings will be increased from two people to five people.
Households will also be allowed to receive five distinct visitors per 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, so as to 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.
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.
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.
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, up from 30.
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.
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.
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.