From today (March 15) onwards, Singapore will transition to simplified Covid-19 rules. Announced on Friday (March 11) by the multi-ministry task force in charge of handling the pandemic, the safe management measures (SMMs) are meant to make existing rules easier to understand and implement.
They target five key areas: group sizes, mask-wearing, workplace requirements, safe distancing and capacity limits.
The streamlining is much welcome, but falls short of some of the changes that we want to see. Those hoping for larger group sizes for social gatherings, the return of nightlife, and for the sale and consumption of alcohol at restaurants and bars after 10.30pm to resume, will have to wait.
Nevertheless, here's all you need to know about the new and streamlined Covid-19 rules.
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No change to see here – group sizes for social gatherings are still limited to a maximum of five.
One difference? Houses can now receive five visitors at any one time, compared to just five visitors in a day previously. Brilliant news for those who love to play host.
Keep your masks on, folks. This one is not going away for a while.
Up to 50 percent of those who can work from home may return to the office – that's not new.
But to keep things simple, SMMs will now be consistent across the workplace and community.
That means that workers with masks on no longer have to observe one-metre safe distancing. You're also free to gather with your colleagues in groups of up to five, so let the workplace bonding begin.
And in a further return to normalcy, cross deployments across workplaces are allowed again.
From March 15 onwards, safe distancing is encouraged but not necessary between groups and individuals in mask-on settings.
If the masks are off though, then keep your distance – at least one metre apart, please.
Singapore will now set event sizes based on the capacity of the venue, rather than setting limits for various event types. This applies to events held outside the home, like religious services, business events, solemnisations, funerals and mask-on classes.
If your event has 1,000 or fewer attendees, then there are no capacity limits and no zoning requirements. Guests only have to be masked and vaccinated.
Events that have more than 1,000 attendees must be held in a venue that can accommodate twice that crowd. So, a performing arts event with 1,500 guests must be held in a theatre that can hold 3,000 guests. Otherwise, the event size must be capped at 1,000.
In large events where masks are off, social distancing of at least one metre applies.
Bonus
Team sports are back! Up to 30 fully vaccinated people including players, coaches and umpires can now gather for activities at selected venues. This refers to ActiveSG and People’s Association facilities and SportSG-approved private facilities.
Everyone must be fully vaccinated of course, and complete a health declaration prior to the activity. All must also follow prevailing SMMs before and after the sport activity and during rest breaks.
Have your fun, but you're also encouraged to self-test before joining in – you don't want to be the one spreading Covid to your fellow athletes after all.
Bonus
Perhaps the best bit of news – once the clock strikes 11.59pm on March 14, travellers to Singapore from low-risk and VTL countries no longer need to do a supervised self-swab antigen rapid test (ART) at testing centres here.
Yes, you can now breeze through immigration and take an unsupervised self-swab ART within 24 hours of arrival. Do report your result at this website before carrying on in Singapore.
Examples of low-risk and VTL countries are Germany, UK, South Korea and Thailand.
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