The Ministry of Health (MOH) made a slew of announcements and shared the latest Singapore Covid restrictions updates. The prominent one includes a change of rules for dining at F&B establishments, including cafes, food courts, hawker centres; all of which will be restricted to two persons from July 19 till August 8.
This is a down from the five persons that are currently allowed (dining in for group sizes of up to five persons resumed from July 12.)
The decision was taken amidst concerns of rising KTV cluster. As Minister Gan Kim Yong said, “The coronavirus cluster linked to KTV outlets has increased to 120 people. It posed a major setback to Singapore’s reopening.”
Latest Singapore COVID Restrictions Update
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The group size will be limited to two persons at dining-in establishments.
The Ministry of Health announced that the changes have been made because it would be challenging to check the status of individuals before they get seated at such venues.
These places have a more porous setting and most of the time don’t have mandatory safe entry check-in.
However, there are exceptions:
Vaccinated individuals, unvaccinated individuals, recovered people and kids below the age of 12 may continue to dine-in, in groups of up to five persons.
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Fully vaccinated
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Fully vaccinated people may continue to dine in groups of up to five persons. Also, this is allowed only at establishments that have a system in place to check the status of individuals.
As per MOH, people who are fully vaccinated, and/or have good protection against infection and severe illness are also less likely to infect other people in comparison to unvaccinated people.
Note: You will be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after you have received two doses of either the Pfizer BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine.
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Unvaccinated people will have to get a negative PET result
If you are not vaccinated, you will have to get a valid negative pre-event test (PET) result in the past 24 hours or for the duration of dining in.
Plus, those individuals who have recovered from Covid-19 in the last 270 days can dine-in in groups of five because they are of similarly lower risk, stated MOH.
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Kids below the age of 12
If your child is below the age of 12, then they will not be required to undergo a PET test. MOH says it is challenging to swab young children for PET so they are exempted.
Kids below the age of 12 are also currently ineligible for any COVID-19 vaccine under the country’s vaccination programme.
MOH stated that kids who are not from the same household should not be more than half of the dine-in group. It was further announced that a concession will be made for members of the same household to dine in together.
Couples can dine in it with their unvaccinated children aged 12 years and below, and in groups of up to five persons.
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F&B establishments can take decisions
MOH announced that individual F&B establishments have been given the flexibility to decide whether to introduce the vaccination-differentiated group sizes. They need to make the decision based on their own operating model and clientele, and other factors.
Entertainments such as live performances, tv screenings, recorded music will be provided at these establishments.
People have been asked to follow all the COVID-19 restrictions properly. For instance, keep the masks on all the time, except when eating and drinking.
But remember, the five-persons dine-in exceptions do not apply to hawker centres, food courts, and coffee shops.
Here are some other restrictions that were announced by MOH today (July 16):
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- All night spots that had pivoted to food and beverage establishments will have their operations suspended until July 30. There are over 40 such establishments.
- The staff of these establishments will all be tested during this time frame. Before they resume, other safety management protocols will be thoroughly checked.
- Working from home will remain the default.
- Any form of social gathering at workplaces will not be allowed.
- Outdoor activities and indoor (mask on) activities can continue in groups of 5, in classes that are capped at 50.
- Classes with groups of 5 are allowed for those who are vaccinated, a recovered patient who also has a negative coronavirus test.
Mr Wong further informed that the Government will extend the 10% Jobs Support Scheme funding for affected sectors from July 26 to Aug 8.
While these measures are put in place, be sure to not let your guard down voluntarily as well. Head out only if necessary and wear your mask and sanitise your hands religiously.
News source: Mothership
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