The multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19 on April 22 announced that most of the 5 parameters in the Safe Management Measures (SMM) framework have been lifted, including caps on group sizes and the need for safe distancing.

This is as the country finally lowers its Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON) level from Orange to Yellow after more than two years.

Singapore’s DORSCON level has been at Orange since Feb 7, 2020, the second-highest level of the colour-coded framework which shows the current disease situation.

However, unvaccinated persons are still not allowed into food & beverage (F&B) establishments. While establishments no longer need to conduct checks on their customers, random spot-checks will be conducted and the onus is on the individuals dining to abide by the rules, said the Health Ministry (MOH).

A Restaurant Association of Singapore spokesperson said F&B outlets "rejoice in being able to optimise the seating capacity in their premises" and that this is a "significant milestone that will contribute to the survival" of the industry.

But Jason Thian, a director at Boon Tong Kee said that while "increasing the number of seats for customers is a good thing", they are limited on the manpower front. Indeed, the manpower crunch has worsened as many Malaysian workers have chosen to go back to visit their ancestral tombs for Qingming, he said, noting that many have not been able to do this for the past 2-3 years.

Other areas where vaccination-differentiation SMMs (VDS) will remain in place are events with more than 500 participants at any one time and nightlife establishments where dancing among patrons is one of the intended activities.

Separately, workforce vaccination measures will be lifted, though employers have the flexibility to continue implementing vaccination-related instructions for workplace health and safety and business continuity reasons, and in accordance with employment law.

The health ministry also said that Singapore residents above the age of 12 who have recovered from Covid-19 must get a booster jab within 9 months of their primary doses from June 1.

Vaccinated seniors aged 60 to 79 can take a second booster about 5 months after their first booster if they wish to do so.

The second booster is already available to those 80 and older. Some 30 per cent of eligible seniors in this group have already received their second booster.

Separately, the taskforce also announced that the use of TraceTogether (TT) and SafeEntry (SE) is being stepped down. Most venues will no longer require check in using the TT application or token, except in situations where VDS checks are still required.

Health Risk Notices will also no longer be issued. Free community ART testing and weekend acute respiratory infection testing at the combined test centres (CTCs) and quick test centres (QTCs) will also cease from Apr 26.