Covid-19: Streamlined safe management measures to be implemented from March 15

SINGAPORE — Starting next Tuesday (March 15), the Government will implement the streamlined safe management measures that it had first announced last month, since the Covid-19 situation here has stabilised.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Friday (March 11) that the streamlined, or simplified, measures will be based on: Group sizes, mask wearing, workplace requirements, safe distancing and capacity limits.

The measures were originally planned to take effect in phases from Feb 25, but were postponed after a high number of Covid-19 cases here were reported at the time.

The changes to the latest measures and regulations will come into force at once, instead of in phases, from next Tuesday.

1. Group sizes

The permissible group size for social gatherings remains at five people, because group size directly affects the number of close contacts in society, MOH said in its press release on Friday.

The maximum number of unique visitors for each household will be relaxed from five people daily, to five at any one time. 

2. Safe distancing

Safe distancing will continue to be required for all mask-off settings, and it is encouraged but not required for mask-on settings.

Where safe distancing is required, the distance must be kept to one metre for all settings.

3. Workplace requirements

There will be no change to the current status, which allows up to half of employees who can work from home to return to the office.

However, as part of the streamlining of rules, the Government will align the regulations such that social gatherings for workplaces will be the same as those for social settings in the wider community, so long as people adhere to the general group size and masking rules.

As economic activities pick up, the Government will also remove the specific restriction on cross-deployment of employees across workplaces, although employers may continue to be cross-deployed for business continuity reasons.

4. Capacity limits

Event sizes will be set based on the capacity of the venue. The Government will lift specific size limits for events such as religious services, business events, media conferences, funerary memorial events, solemnisations, wedding receptions and mask-on classes.

Zoning requirements at events will also be removed.

For large events involving more than 1,000 people, there will be a 50 per cent capacity limit.

Such events or settings include attractions, cruises, large work-related events, as well as meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice).

Large performing arts venues and sports stadiums will also be included.

For other settings such as malls and large standalone stores, the current density limit of 10sqm per person roughly translates to 50 per cent of the venue's capacity.

People attending large events that do not require them to wear their masks, but involve more than 1,000 people, must comply with the 1m safe distancing.

Events with fewer than 1,000 people are not subject to any capacity limit.

5. Mask-wearing

Everyone must continue to wear their masks outside their homes.

RESUMPTION OF SPORTS

From next Tuesday, team sports for up to 30 fully vaccinated people, including players, coaches and umpires, will be allowed at selected supervised or operated sports facilities such as People's Association facilities or private facilities approved by Sport Singapore, the national sports agency.

Team sports were originally scheduled to resume on Feb 25 but the resumption was postponed along with the streamlining of regulations due to the high number of infection cases in the community.

No extra testing requirement will be imposed as long as all participants are fully vaccinated, but participants are strongly encouraged to self-test before arriving for the sports activity, and to stay home if they test positive or develop symptoms, MOH said.

Participants will be required to complete a health declaration form before the sports activity.