COVID-19: Singapore to Enter Phase 2 of Re-opening

Singapore is ready to move to phase two of re-opening after 18 June 2020, at 11.59pm, announced the Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) on 15 June 2020.

Phase two will see the resumption of most activities, but will be subjected to two main safe distancing principles.

First, measures should be put in place to ensure that individuals always maintain a safe distance of at least one metre.

Second, when it is not feasible or practical to apply the one metre safe distance between individuals, the requirement can instead be enforced between groups of no more than five persons. There should be no mixing between groups.

Other than the two main safe distancing principles, other safe management measures should also be in place.

During the announcement, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong cautioned: “On one hand, we want to allow economic community activities to resume, while on the other hand, we must continue to keep infection under control.

“We will need the collective effort of every Singaporean to be socially responsible and to adhere strictly to safe distancing measures.”

Activities to be resumed

At phase two, retail businesses may re-open their physical outlets.

F&B dine-in will also be allowed to resume, subject to liquor sales and consumption to stop at 10.30pm.

Live music and television and video screenings will not be allowed in all F&B outlets at this stage.

Larger public venues with high human traffic, such as malls and large standalone retail outlets, will have a cap on the number of shoppers. Operators will also be required to prevent people from crowding in and around the vicinity of their premises.

The complete list of businesses that can operate can be found on Trade and Industry Ministry’s website.

Businesses are required to submit the number of workers who are working on-site using the GoBusiness portal within two weeks of restarting on-site operations.

In the interest of reducing physical contact between individuals, telecommuting must remain the default for all businesses.

Exceptions

The resumption of a small number of activities, however, will take more time, said the taskforce.

These are activities where large numbers of people are likely to come into close contact, often in enclosed spaces, and for prolonged periods of time.

Such activities will include:

• Religious services and congregations;
• Large cultural venues such as libraries and museums;
• Large-scale events and venues, such as conferences, exhibitions, concerts and trade fairs;
• And entertainment venues such as bars, nightclubs, karaoke outlets, cinemas, theatres, as well as indoor and outdoor attractions.

Government agencies have begun to engage relevant businesses and organisations on possible safe management measures for these activities.

Agencies will advise these organisations on the approval processes and timelines for their resumption later, depending on the ability and readiness of the organisation to implement these measures.

Guidelines for specific activities

Specific rules will apply to the following events and settings:

• For weddings, solemnizations at home and at ROM or ROMM may take place with up to ten persons (excluding the Solemnizer). At other venues, they may take place with up to twenty persons (excluding the Solemnizer), subject to the venue’s capacity limit based on safe management principles.
• For wakes and funerals, up to twenty persons may be present at any one time.
• For workplaces, safe management measures for workplaces will continue to apply.
• For schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), students from all levels will return to school daily from 29 June 2020. The Ministry of Education will share more details later this week.