'Streamlining' of Covid-19 measures from Mar 15 as Omicron wave peaks

PLANS to "streamline" Singapore's safe management measures, including removing safe distancing rules for mask-on settings, will go ahead from Mar 15 as the Omicron Covid-19 wave has peaked here.

The changes were first announced on Feb 16 to distill safe management measures into 5 key parameters: group sizes, mask-wearing, workplace requirements, safe distancing and capacity limits. But they were delayed in view of the rising Omicron numbers.

On Friday (Mar 11), the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 announced that these planned changes will kick in from Mar 15.

"(The streamlining) also prepares us for further easing of measures and the safe resumption of normal activities, when conditions are right and the healthcare workload has eased, which we expect in the coming weeks," said the Ministry of Health (MOH) in a statement.

The MOH noted that the 7-day moving average of Covid-19 cases has come down since the 18,280 peak on Feb 26 to 16,392 in the past week.

Singapore can now proceed with the earlier-announced moves "because these are largely streamlining in nature", said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who co-chairs the task force, at Friday's press conference.

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But as the workload remains heavy in the healthcare sector, he noted that "it is not time to ease our safe management measures".

As previously announced on Feb 16, safe distancing rules will no longer be required for mask-on activities, but will still be required for mask-off settings.

Group sizes for social gatherings will still be capped at 5, but the maximum number of unique visitors per household will be adjusted from 5 per day to 5 persons at any one time.

Mask-wearing will continue to be required as a default, as it "continues to confer significant protection against infection", said MOH.

Safe management measures at the workplace will be aligned with those in the community "so long as general group size and masking rules are adhered to", meaning that social gatherings of up to 5 will be allowed.

Capacity limits will be based on the capacity of the venues. Specific event size limits will be lifted for events such as religious services; business events; media conferences; funerary memorial events; solemnisations; wedding receptions; and mask-on classes. Zoning requirements will also be removed.

There will still be a capacity limit of 50 per cent for large events and settings with more than 1,000 people, as these pose greater infection risks. These include attractions, cruises, MICE and large work-related events, as well as large performing arts venues and sports stadiums.

Smaller settings and events with fewer than 1,000 people can proceed without any capacity limit.

There will also be changes to vaccine-differentiated measures. From Mar 15, unvaccinated children 12 years and below do not need to be from the same household to be part of a group that is entering premises or participating in activities with vaccine-differentiated measures.

Team sports of up to 30 fully vaccinated persons can also proceed at selected supervised or operated sports facilities.

Safe management measures for migrant workers living in dormitories will also be streamlined to align with the community measures.

For example, migrant workers will be able to resume all sports activities involving up to 30 fully vaccinated persons at supervised sports facilities within dormitories and recreation centres.

Additionally, up to 15,000 vaccinated migrant workers will be allowed to visit the community on weekdays, and up to 30,000 on weekends and public holidays, for up to 8 hours per visit.

This is an increase from the current quotas of 3,000 on weekdays and 6,000 on weekends and public holidays. To manage crowding at popular locations, workers will have to apply to visit their selected locations.