The Singapore Covid-19 task force recently announced that it plans to ease Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) restrictions from August 10, 2021. This means that dine-in options at food and beverage establishments will now be open to a maximum of five people together including children.
All the patrons need to be vaccinated under the new rule in order to ensure utmost safety when stepping out. While the norms are necessary in the wake of the pandemic, it also brings more checkpoints to the whole process of stepping out.
The onus is also on the F&B establishments to ensure that they only admit people who've been fully vaccinated (barring children in the group) to minimise any kind of risk.
Now, this could be a chaotic situation outside a restaurant. Manually checking a person for their vaccination credentials is time-consuming as well as requires people to physically interact with each other.
You also need to exchange either a phone to show your vaccination status via the TraceTogether or HealthHub app. Meanwhile, a printed document can do the same trick as well.
To be fair, the pandemic has brought out the need for certain automated systems and this is one of them. And the authorities do acknowledge this requirement.
Now in a bid to minimise one-on-one interactions with people, the government is encouraging using SafeEntry System across Singapore that helps with contact tracing.
So, why is SafeEntry Singapore's new favourite app for stepping out of your homes? We answer your concerns below.
What Is SafeEntry System?
It's a national digital check-in system that logs the NRIC/FINs and mobile numbers of individuals visiting hotspots, workplaces of permitted companies and select public venues.
The main aim of SafeEntry is to ensure easy contact tracing and thereby preventing and controlling the transmission of COVID-19.
The SafeEntry system in Singapore allows you to just scan and go wherever you want.
The SafeEntry system is for Singapore residents and offers a feature for businesses to verify if a visitor is fully vaccinated or not. Business owners need to enable the feature by clicking on a check box.
The system works in tandem with the TraceTogether token. So, for senior citizens who may not be carrying a smartphone but have taken their two jabs, the TraceTogether token will be there to offer the vaccination details to the SafeEntry system.
The SafeEntry system for Singapore has been designed to check if an individual has received a negative Covid-19 test result.
This is particularly necessary for those who are yet to get the vaccine but have tested negative 24 hours prior to entering a venue.
New Regulations Applicable From August 10, 2021
Singapore has vaccinated nearly 70 per cent of its population vaccinated with both doses by August 9, 2021, which coinciding with the country's 56th National Day. This makes Singapore one of the highest vaccinated countries in the world.
With the high number of vaccinations, the government is easing restrictions to resume more business and social activities.
The government will ease restrictions in two steps: from August 10, and then from August 19, 2021.
For those who've received both jabs of the vaccine, here's what you can do beginning August 10.
1. Dine-in as groups of 5
Fully vaccinated people can dine in as groups of up to five. This includes children who haven't been vaccinated but are from the same home. They can also receive five distinct visitors at home every day.
2. Hawkers and cafes allowed to have groups of 2
Hawkers and cafes can now have people in groups of two, irrespective of their vaccination status.
3. Mask-off services allowed for full vaccinated people
Only vaccinated people can conduct activities that require removing the mask such as facials, saunas, and make-up. The government will also allow indoor sports and exercise at gyms and fitness studios with the masks off. For such activities, a maximum of 30 people can participate with groups of five.
4. For weddings
Those planning a wedding reception need to ensure that all attendees have been vaccinated, while the overall cap on the number of attendees is 250. However, only five people can occupy a table.
5. For larger events
The government is allowing groups of up to 500 vaccinated people for grand events. This includes a live performance, MICE events, sports, marriage solemnisation, movie theatres and worship services.
This number will increase to 1,000 from August 19 onward.
Easing Restrictions In Schools
- Indoor and outdoor mask-on activities will continue in groups of five from August 10, irrespective of the vaccination status.
- Children in secondary schools, junior colleges, Millennia Institute and special education schools with senior or secondary sections, will resume in-person co-curricular activities.
- In primary schools, students can resume outdoor play with the face mask on with their own class.
- In universities and colleges, the government is allowing groups of five to resume mask-on indoor and outdoor activities.
- However, indoor mask-off activities will only resume once all five people have been vaccinated.
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