Singapore begins four-step pandemic exit transition
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Fully-vaccinated Singapore residents will begin to enjoy greater social freedom from August 10, as the city-state moves into the first phase of her four-step transition to becoming a Covid-19-resilient nation.
Fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to gather in groups of five, up from the current two. This applies to F&B settings. They can also take part in live performances and events, which will be allowed to host up to 500 fully vaccinated individuals.
Singapore will continue to ease restrictions, with permitted event capacity expanding to 1,000 fully vaccinated individuals come August 19 if conditions remain good.
According to health minister Ong Ye Kung, who is one of the chairs of Singapore’s Covid-19 multi-ministry task force, this initial phase will run from August 10 till early-September, when 80 per cent of the Singapore population is likely to be fully vaccinated. With a higher rate of vaccination, Singapore’s economy will be further opened up, with more social activities allowed and travel made possible, he said.
The task force also announced plans to offer greater quarantine flexibility for fully vaccinated travellers from Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Italy, Norway, South Korea and Switzerland.
From August 20, travellers from these eight countries will be allowed to serve their 14-day stay-home notice (SHN) at their own places of residence instead of a dedicated facility.
To qualify for this scheme, travellers must have remained in the approved countries for the last 21 consecutive days before leaving for Singapore, and must either be staying alone or with other fully vaccinated household members who are under SHN for the same duration and with the same travel history.
All travellers must show proof of approval to serve SHN at their place of residence when they arrive in Singapore. They will be required to wear an electronic monitoring device to ensure compliance, and legal action will be taken against those who breach SHN requirements or make false declarations, said the Ministry.
Travellers who opt for this scheme will have to utilise and pay for specially designated transport services to and from their place of residence.
These latest measures are expanded from an ongoing allowance for travellers from New Zealand, Brunei, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan to serve SHN at their place of residence.
Ong also revealed plans to establish travel lanes with selected countries, where frequent Covid-19 tests will replace quarantines.