Eateries can reopen on Aug 10, ahead of schedule - but only for the vaccinated
SINGAPORE is forging ahead with its "vaccination-differentiated" Covid-19 strategy from Aug 10, when social activities like dining-in will resume for certain groups, according to the latest update from the Ministry of Health (MOH) on Friday.
The date is more than a week ahead of the earlier plan to reopen such services on Aug 19, when the ongoing Phase Two (Heightened Alert) situation ends.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung told a press briefing that Singapore's latest vaccination rate has put it in "a totally different position", compared with when curbs were imposed - which means Singapore will start to reopen after the National Day long weekend.
The so-called "preparatory stage" - the first in a four-step reopening - could last until early September, when 80 per cent of the country will be fully vaccinated, he said: "This is when we will make important adjustments to healthcare protocols, rules on social activities and travel, to prepare ourselves for transition to a Covid-resilient nation."
Upcoming measures impose the strictest limits yet on unvaccinated individuals, who must have recently recovered or tested negative to take part in many public activities.
But the Republic will open these activities to recipients of all vaccines with World Health Organisation emergency approval, such as Sinovac, Sinopharm and AstraZeneca - not just the Pfizer and Moderna brands used in the national rollout.
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Under the latest concessions, vaccinated individuals can gather in groups of up to five people from next Tuesday - compared with a cap of two for the unvaccinated.
Fully vaccinated individuals will also be allowed to take part in higher-risk, unmasked activities in groups of up to five from then on - such as dining at eateries, participating in high-intensity indoor sports, and attending large-scale religious services.
Eateries can resume dine-in services only for such vaccinated individuals, though an exception is made for children under the age of 12 - who are not eligible for vaccination at present - as long as they are from the same household as the other diners.
However, open-air coffeeshops and hawker centres have a carve-out to serve both vaccinated and unvaccinated diners, in smaller groups of no more than two.
Finance Minister Lawrence Wong, a co-chair of the multi-ministry taskforce on Covid-19, added that the restrictions are intended to protect unvaccinated people.
As such, the government will be "quite careful" about extending similar concessions for unvaccinated diners to other food and beverage outlets, although it will consider businesses' appeals on a case-by-case basis, he said.
Meanwhile, large-scale gatherings such as religious services, cinema screenings and live events can host up to 500 attendees from Aug 10, and up to 1,000 attendees from Aug 19 - up from 100 now - as long as all participants are fully vaccinated. Otherwise, attendance will be capped at 50 attendees with mandatory pre-event testing.
Similar guest capacities will be allowed for marriage solemnisations, while couples can hold wedding receptions of up to 250 people from Aug 19 onwards.
Separately, the maximum occupancy for public venues will be raised from Aug 19 as well. The limit will be increased from 25 per cent to 50 per cent for attractions, museums and libraries; and from one person per 16 square metres (sq m) of gross floor area for shopping centres and showrooms, to one person per 10 sq m.
While working from home remains the default, workplaces can bring back up to half of their staff from Aug 19, which is when office social gatherings can resume as well.
Said the MOH: "Fully vaccinated individuals, who have good protection against the risk of infection or severe illnesses, will be able to engage in a wider range of activities.
"Unvaccinated individuals will need to exercise tighter safe management measures to protect themselves and those around them."
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