Kids Under 6 No Need To Wear Face Masks, And Other Rules Relaxed

According to Health Minister Gan Kim Yong, the number of Covid-19 cases in the community has remained low, which means safe distancing rules will be eased and more activities will be allowed to resume in the coming weeks. Education Minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the task force with Mr Gan, added that the Government is already working on a road map for the third and final phase of Singapore's reopening.

So come Sep
28, here are some of the things you can look forward to.

Children below six no longer have to wear
masks from Sep 28

Previously,
only children below the ages of two were exempt from wearing face masks in
public. The Ministry of Health had now amended that rule to the age of six in
order to align its guidelines with those of the World Health Organisation
(WHO). MOH added that current guidelines allow children aged 12 years and below
to use a face shield in place of a mask.

More staff can work at their office from Sep
28

According to The Straits Times, more employees will be allowed to return to the workplace, although safe management measures must be in place and employers are encouraged to implement measures such as flexible working hours and staggered reporting times. But don't be too upset just yet. If you've enjoyed working from home, employers still must ensure that such employees continue to work from home for at least half their working time, and no more than half of such employees are at the workplace at any point in time.

Workplace events will be allowed to resume in
office for up to 50 people

Work-related
events that take place in the office - such as seminars, corporate retreats and
annual general meetings - have been given the green light to go ahead as long
as safe-management measures are in place. However, large-scale social
gatherings, including team bonding and dinner and dance events, remain
prohibited both in and outside the workplace.

To reduce
the risk of exposure to infection, a cap of 50 people will be allowed, although
this number might be lower depending on the venue's capacity and participants
must stay at least 1m apart from each other. Food and drinks should not be
served unless participants are seated individually.

Pilot scheme to allow essential business
travel for senior executives

Essential
business travel will also be permitted for senior executives with extensive
regional or international responsibilities through a new pilot scheme. Under the trial, a limited number
of passes will be given out through Singapore's economic agencies and
those who travel will have to abide by a "strict controlled
itinerary". When they return, the traveller will be given the option of
doing a Covid-19 test instead of serving a stay-home notice, and self-isolate
until test results are out.

Gradual expansion of cinema capacities from
Oct 1

From Oct 1,
large cinema halls with more than 300 seats will be allowed to admit up to 150
patrons in three zones of 50 patrons each. Other, smaller cinema halls will
also be allowed to increase their capacity to 50 per cent of their original
operating capacity or maintain the current limit of up to 50 patrons per hall,
subject to safe management measures.

Up to 100 people will be allowed for worship
services and weddings from Oct 3

From Oct 3,
all religious organisations will be allowed to conduct congressional and other
worship services for up to 100 persons, as long as safe distancing measures are
in place. Up to 100 unique guests, including the wedding couple, but excluding
vendors and service provides, will be allowed at the venue.  They should be split up into groups not larger
than 50, or attend the wedding at separate time slots. There should be at
least 30 minutes between slots for cleaning and disinfection of the event space.

Text: Linette Lai/ The Straits Times
Additional Reporting: Cheryl Chan