Dining-in banned, gatherings capped at 2 pax as Singapore returns to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) from July 22 to Aug 18
DINING-IN at food and beverage (F&B) outlets will once again be banned for four weeks - from July 22 to Aug 18 - as Singapore moves to reintroduce tighter restrictions amid several growing clusters, the government's multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19 said on Tuesday.
Social gatherings will also be limited to no more than two persons, down from five currently, with Singapore reverting to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert).
People should continue to limit their overall number of social gatherings to not more than two per day. Each household can also receive only two distinct visitors per day. This does not apply to grandchildren who are being cared for daily by their grandparents.
Work-from-home will remain the default at workplaces, and social gatherings at the workplace will not be allowed, said the Ministry of Health in a press release. Employers should continue to stagger the start times of employees who need to return to the workplace and implement flexible working hours.
Both indoor and outdoor dine-in F&B establishments, including hawker centres and food courts, will only be able to offer takeaway and delivery options during this period.
Strenuous indoor exercise classes are also not allowed. Other activities that require masks to be off - including personalised services such as facials, saunas and make-up services, singing, and the playing of wind and brass instruments - are also banned.
These restrictions will not apply to medical and dental consultations, MOH said, but non-medical facial treatments will not be exempted from these restrictions.
For businesses that remain open during this period, their staff must continue with the regular 14-day fast and easy test requirement, the Ministry of Health said in a statement.
Speaking at a virtual press conference, Finance Minister and task force co-chair Lawrence Wong said the tighter restrictions will be reviewed in two weeks, and the task force will decide whether to update the measures based on the Covid-19 situation at that point time.
Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong said the authorities have decided not to differentiate their measures for vaccinated people, given the "heightened alert".
"We will consider doing so once we have hit higher vaccination rates, or when the situation has stabilised," he said.
"I know today's announcement feels like a huge setback to many who have been observing the rules and doing whatever it takes to keep themselves and the larger population safe. We appreciate your efforts," Mr Gan said.
"Once we have slowed down the new clusters and hit higher vaccination rates, we will be able to continue with our reopening," he said.
As of July 19, 50 per cent of Singapore's population have completed their full vaccination regime, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. However, there remains 200,000 unvaccinated seniors over 60 years old, and they have a likelihood of falling critically ill once infected, he said.
Singapore was on the verge of relaxing its Covid-19 restrictions, when a large cluster involving several KTV lounges emerged last week. The cases have since spread to Jurong Fishery Port, Singapore's main fishery port, as well as an increasing number of markets and food centres islandwide.
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