Singapore returns to tighter Covid-19 curbs on gatherings, workplaces, gyms

SINGAPORE is tightening Covid-19 community measures from May 8 till May 30, such as by reducing group sizes back to five from eight currently, lowering the cap for employees returning to the workplace, tightening event size rules, and closing high-risk settings such as indoor gyms.

The implementation of TraceTogether-only SafeEntry will also be brought forward to May 17, from the earlier planned start date of June 1.

These moves were announced by the multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19 on Tuesday, alongside further tightening of border and quarantine measures.

Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the taskforce, said: "Effectively, when you look at the range of measures... (they) will bring us back to Phase Two for a few weeks. This is not a circuit breaker. We certainly hope not to have to invoke another circuit breaker."

He urged the public to scale back their activities immediately, although the start date of curbs has been set at May 8 to give organisations time to adjust.

The taskforce noted that 60 new cases have been identified in the community in the past week, including numerous cases of the more transmissible variants of the virus.

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The Ministry of Health (MOH) said: "Given the possible increased transmissibility of the new virus variants, it is necessary to take tighter measures reflective of the heightened alert to mitigate the risk of further transmission in Singapore."

The following changes will be in effect from May 8 till 30 inclusive:

Currently, social gatherings of up to eight persons are allowed, and households are allowed to receive eight distinct visitors a day. Both these caps will be lowered to a maximum of five persons. As of April 30, individuals had also been advised to keep to no more than two social gatherings per day.

At the workplace, up to 75 per cent of employees able to work from home have been allowed to return. This will be lowered back to 50 per cent.

There will be tighter rules for event sizes and pre-event testing. The MOH noted that vaccinated individuals will not have to undergo pre-event testing if they present documentation, though they still count towards the maximum number of attendees.

Attendance at congregational and worship services will be limited to 250. Pre-event testing will be needed if there are more than 100 attendees at any one time. Congregation singing will be suspended.

For weddings, the wedding couple will have to undergo pre-event testing for solemnisations with more than 50 attendees. Wedding receptions pose a higher risk, with people unmasked while eating. For wedding receptions with more than 50 attendees, all attendees - including the couple - must undergo pre-event testing.

For funerals, the limit for attendees on the day of burial or cremation will be lowered to 30 persons, down from 50 currently.

All mass-participation sports events will be suspended and no spectators will be allowed. At live performances at designated venues and pilot business-to-business events, the maximum number of attendees allowed will be reduced from 750 to 250. Pre-event testing will be required for all attendees of events with more than 100 attendees.

Cinema attendance will be reduced to 100 attendees. If pre-event testing is made a requirement, cinemas may have up to 250 attendees.

The operating capacity of museums and public libraries will be lowered to 50 per cent from 65 per cent now, and the maximum tour size offered by tour operators and tourist guides will be reduced to 20 attendees, from 50 now.

Indoor gymnasiums and indoor fitness or health studios will be closed. The MOH said it would monitor other higher-risk settings such as indoor sports halls, and personalised services such as massages, spas, and facials, with the possibility of further action being taken if the Covid-19 situation does not improve.

With the start date of TraceTogether-only SafeEntry being brought forward, entry by scanning SafeEntry QR codes with a phone camera or by the Singpass app will be discontinued from May 17. ID check-ins will be retained until May 31.

SafeEntry Gateway devices for venues with high visitorship - such as malls and cinemas - will be required to be deployed at more venues from June 15, and be extended to more venues such as hotels, dine-in food and beverage outlets, and sports and fitness centres.