While unvaccinated parents are allowed to accompany their children to preschools, the same is no longer applicable for those attending classes in malls. As per the new rules for vaccinated vs unvaccinated individuals in Singapore, unvaxxed caregivers will not be allowed to enter malls to take kids to tuition and enrichment classes.
These new guidelines are in line with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) previous statement on October 9 involving the newly expanded vaccination-differentiated safe management measures.
Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated: Unvaccinated Caregivers Not Allowed To Enter Malls
Image source: iStock
Starting from October 20, unvaccinated people will be barred from entering malls and large standalone stores. This is with the exemption of large standalone supermarkets.
To ensure the safety of the public, additional guidelines have been put in place for unvaccinated individuals. These include the following:
- Unvaccinated parents or caretakers can make alternative arrangements for taking their children to enrichment classes in malls. For instance, they can seek help from a vaccinated adult to take their child to class instead.
- Those unvaccinated can also choose to obtain a valid negative pre-event test (PET) result to enter the shopping centre.
Exceptions Made For Unvaccinated Caregivers
With the new safety measures for vaccinated vs unvaccinated individuals, expectations have been made for unvaccinated parents to accompany their kids attending childcare centres and preschools
“Childcare centres or pre-schools are key services typically required by parents who need to return to work,” said an Enterprise Singapore (ESG) spokesman on Thursday (14 October) as per The Straits Times.
There are also exceptions for those who need access to childcare or medical services within malls. This is applicable if they can provide proof such as an appointment card or a letter of support.
Entry will also be permitted for the duration of the activity or service for the following individuals:
- Children up to 12 years of age
- Unvaccinated people who have recovered from COVID-19
- People with negative PET results
Image source: iStock
Vaccinated vs Unvaccinated: Updates On Vaccination In Singapore
As of Saturday (16 October), Singapore’s National Vaccination Programme has already recorded a total of 9,626,233 doses administered.
But while 84% of the population have completed the full regimen for the COVID-19 vaccine, half a million children under 12 years of age remain unvaccinated.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung had previously stated that vaccines for this age group are expected to start early next year. This is applicable after all the trials are completed and the regulatory approvals are met.
Meanwhile, kids aged 12 to 15 years old can currently receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as Singapore has approved earlier in May this year. If your child belongs within this age group, it is best to ensure they get vaccinated as soon as possible to protect themselves from the virus.
Source: The Straits Times
With reports from Sarmistha Neogy.
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