What’s changed and what hasn’t as Singapore reverts to stricter Phase Three (HA) measures from 19 July

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Starting Monday, the new rules affect social gatherings at the workplace, dining-in at F&B establishments, mask-off physical activities, and more.

After detecting a number of clusters in multiple KTV lounges, nightclubs, as well as Jurong Fishery Port, Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that starting 19 July 2021 (Monday), the nation will revert to stricter Phase Three (HA) measures. This move will last until 8 August 2021.

“The new infection clusters that emerged in this past week have been a setback to the efforts of our people in the battle against COVID-19,” the Ministry said.

“We have to act quickly now to contain the spread of the virus in our community, but recognising that a good proportion of our population are now fully vaccinated.

“While this setback will delay our re-opening plans, the significant and continuing progress made in our vaccination efforts will put us in a strong position to safely re-open our economy and society once the latest situation is contained.”

Continue below to learn more details about Phase Three (HA).

Social gatherings at the workplace – CHANGED

In the Ministry’s previous announcement, social and recreational gatherings at the workplace were allowed effective 12 July, but had to be limited to a total size of no more than five persons.

Starting today (19 July), social gatherings at the workplace, regardless of number of persons, will be disallowed.

Work-from-home will continue to remain the default arrangement so as to reduce overall interaction within workplaces and on public transport, the Ministry reminded employers.

“Employers are reminded to adhere to the practice. Employees who need to come to the workplace must continue to stagger their start times, and observe flexible working hours.”

Targeted Support Measures - CHANGED

The government’s Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) was to provide financial support (up to 10%) to affected sectors until 25 July 2021 (Sunday). However, due to these tightened Phase Three (HA) measures, the government will extend the 10% for the affected sectors from 26 July 2021 to 8 August 2021.

“This will provide support to licensed F&B businesses, gyms, fitness studios, performing arts organisations, and arts education centres,” the Ministry shared.

Find the full JSS details here.

In addition to JSS, the government will also extend rental waivers and subsidies for fees for table-cleaning and centralised dishwashing services by one month for stallholders in centres managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) or NEA-appointed operators.

Dining-in at F&B establishments - CHANGED

“Dining-in at F&B establishments will be dialled back to groups of up to two persons,” the Ministry announced. This is a decrease from the previously approved groups of no more than five persons, a safety management measure which began on 12 July (Monday) last week.

This restriction is, however, only applicable for those who are not fully-vaccinated.

“An individual is considered fully-vaccinated two weeks after he or she has received two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech, Comirnaty, or Moderna vaccines,” the Ministry of Health explained.

Fully-vaccinated individuals can continue to dine-in in groups of up to five persons, at participating F&B establishments. In the group, however, there mustn’t be any individual who is not vaccinated.

Should any not vaccinated individual be present in groups of up to five persons, they must have “a valid negative pre-event test (PET) result”, according to the Ministry.

Dining-in at hawker centres, food courts, and coffee shops - CHANGED

Group sizes will be limited to two persons for hawker centres, food courts, and coffee shops as a default. Likewise, this is a decrease from the previously approved groups of no more than five persons.

“As hawker centres, food courts, and coffee shops have a more porous setting and generally do not impose mandatory Safe-Entry (SE) check-in, it would be very challenging to check the status of individuals before they seat themselves at a table,” the Ministry explained.

Indoor mask-off sports/exercise activities – CHANGED

According to Sport Singapore, the group size for indoor unmasked sport and physical exercise and activity will be reduced to two persons (including instructor), in classes of up to 30 persons including the instructor, without the need for testing or vaccination.

That said, up to five persons (including instructor) may be allowed in a group, in classes of up to 30 persons including the instructor, if all five individuals:

Are fully-vaccinated;
Have recovered from COVID-19 (within the past 270 days), or
Have obtained a negative result on a Pre-Event Test (PET) taken in the past 24 hours before the expected end of the class or programme.

“Where there are groups larger than two persons, there can be no participants who are not eligible (according to the aforementioned) in the same class or programme,” Sport Singapore shared.

Cinemas – CHANGED

While the premises continue to open up to 250 persons with PET, up to 50 persons without PET, the serving of food and beverage is restricted, the Ministry reminded.

F&B may be served if all customers are:

In groups of no more than two persons, if any individual in the group is not fully-vaccinated; or
In groups of no more than five persons, if all individuals are fully-vaccinated.

Should there be no F&B involved, customers may be in groups of up to five persons.

Fresh fish and seafood stallholders at markets - CHANGED

Further to its latest Phase Three (HA) measures, the Ministry announced that fresh fish and seafood stallholders at markets managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) or NEA-appointed operators are disallowed from operating, starting 17 July (Saturday).

This is after the Ministry of Health uncovered several COVID-19 clusters involving fishmongers who visited the Jurong Fishery Port to collect their stock and sell at the markets.

MOH said: “Stalls not selling fresh fish or seafood can remain in operation.”

In addition to having operating measures updated, the Ministry, in collaboration with NEA and the Town Councils, will be progressively implementing access control with interim fencing and mandatory SE check-in at markets where COVID-19 cases have been detected amongst stallholders or stall assistants.

With access control, patrons are not allowed to enter once the number of patrons in each market reaches the stipulated allowable capacity, the Ministry clarified.

The markets placed with access control are:

Hong Lim Market & Food Centre;
Chong Boon Market & Food Centre;
Amoy Street Food Centre;
Chong Pang Market & Food Centre;
Whampoa Wet Market;
Telok Blangah Crescent Block 11;
Taman Jurong Market;
Redhill Market;
Geylang Serai Malay Market;
Geylang Bahru Market;
527 Ang Mo Kio Market;
726 West Coast Wet Market, and
Bukit Timah Wet Market

Outdoor activities (mask-on and mask-off) and indoor mask-on activities - UNCHANGED

For such activities, the Ministry of Health shared that these can continue in groups of no more than five persons, in classes of up to 50 persons including the instructor, subject to the venue’s capacity limit, whichever is lower.

MOH said: “This is irrespective of vaccination or test status.”

Solemnisations and weddings - UNCHANGED

Wedding receptions will continue at the current group size of up to five persons per table, without the requirement for all individuals in the group to be fully vaccinated. There will be no change to the PET requirement which is at: up to 250 persons with PET, and 50 persons with PET only for the wedding party.

For marriage solemnisations:

Up to 250 persons with PET required for all attendees;
Up to 50 persons without PET;
Couple allowed to unmask for key moments; and
Attendees allowed to unmask momentarily for photo taking

“We acknowledge that wedding couples have faced significant uncertainties over the past few months.

“Hence, we will allow this key life event to continue at current numbers and PET provisions, so that couples do not need to revise their wedding plans again,” the Ministry shared.