Covid-19: Wedding receptions no longer allowed from May 16; occupancy limits for shopping malls, showrooms to be further reduced

SINGAPORE — To minimise the formation of new clusters in the community, activities and events will be required to scale down and have tighter capacity limits from May 16 to June 13, with pre-event testing as an essential measure, the authorities announced on Friday (May 14).

Wedding receptions will no longer be allowed. However, solemnisations may continue for up to 100 participants with pre-event testing, and 50 without pre-event testing.

Mr Lawrence Wong, co-chair of the government task force tackling the pandemic, said that since the rules will kick in on Sunday (May 16) and will thus affect wedding couples, the Government is prepared to consider “a special arrangement” just for May 16 since this is a once-in-a-lifetime event for them.

“We are prepared to consider grandfathering arrangements for the wedding couples who have already made plans for Sunday. They can proceed, but we will require them to put in place pre-event testing for all their guests,” Mr Wong said.

The Minstry of Health (MOH) issued a statement at the end of the day to say that the Government will make a special allowance for couples getting married on May 16 to hold wedding receptions. This is subject to the conditions that only up to 100 attendees are allowed and that all unvaccinated attendees must undergo pre-event testing. 

It said that the task force is making this exception because "it may be very hard for couples holding their weddings this Sunday... to make changes to their plans."

Likewise, congregational and other worship services will also continue to be capped at 50 attendees at any one time without testing, or 100 with testing. However, live singing and playing of wind instruments will be suspended during this period. 

All participants, as well as religious workers, will have to wear masks “at all times” in order to further mitigate the risk of spread through aerosol transmissions, said the Health Ministry in a statement.

For shopping malls and showrooms, the occupancy limits will be further tightened from the current limit of 10 sqm per person of gross floor area (GFA) to 16 sqm per person. Odd and even date entry restrictions on Sundays for popular malls, such as at Lucky Plaza and Peninsula Plaza, will continue.

For attractions and shows, the operating capacity of attractions that have received prior approval will be reduced to 25 per cent from the current permissible capacity of 50 per cent, with similar pre-event testing rules and capacity caps of up to 100 persons with testing and 50 without.

This cap and testing requirement will also apply to cinemas. The sale of food and beverages will not be allowed, and group sizes are capped at two.

For meetings, incentives, conferences and other events, as well as live performances, unmasking is not allowed for speakers and performers, and there should be no singing or playing of instruments that require intentional expulsion of air, such as wind and brass instruments.

Museums and public libraries will be allowed to operate at a reduced capacity of 25 per cent, down from 50 per cent currently.

For funerals, attendees will be reduced from 30 to 20 people on all days of the funeral, including the burial or cremation. 

“Attendees are reminded to maintain safe distancing and keep masks on at all times to reduce the risk of transmission,” MOH said.