Health Ministry watchful as economy reopens

Phase 2 reopening kicks off from today, with restaurants and retail outlets open again.

Health officials are set to closely monitor the impact of the Phase 2 recovery, which is being implemented from today. Lawrence Wong, Minister for National Development, and co-chair of the Multi-Ministry Taskforce on COVID-19 says the Ministry has carefully assessed the situation, and the infection rate is now under control.

In a statement, the Ministry of Health (MOH) noted that community infection rates had remained generally stable despite the increase in workplace activity during the first recovery phase from June 1.

The incidence of cases in migrant worker dormitories has also declined, and there are no new large clusters emerging, according to the ministry.

Under Phase 2, most economic and social activities are now able to resume, with the goal of restarting the wider economy without substantially raising the risk of new infection clusters. Some activities, such as religious congregations and large gatherings, remain prohibited.

In line with the reopening, MOH reminded businesses and organisations to continue to play their part in keeping Singapore safe, and warned that businesses and organisations found to be flouting safe management principles may be required to close.

On 15 June, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) ordered seven workplaces to cease operations due to lapses under the Safe Management Measures (SMM). Six were found out to have too many employees at the workplace despite the ability to perform their work at home, whilst one had multiple lapses in implementing the SMMs.

All seven have since been allowed to resume operations after correcting their practices, whilst the ministry also handed out 52 composition fines of $1,000 to employers found to have smaller infractions of the SMM.

Businesses and public spaces to reopen
Retail businesses and shopping malls may already reopen their physical outlets, subject to capacity limits. Food and beverage (F&B) dine-in will also be allowed to resume, but subject to liquor sales and consumption ceasing at 10:30 pm.

F&B dine-in is only permitted in groups of five, Wong noted. Live music and television as well as video screenings in outlets will still not be allowed.

Financial institutions are permitted to have more staff return to their work premises. They will also be allowed to resume in-person meetings with their customers on an appointment basis. Branches and customer service locations which remained closed in Phase 1 will also progressively re-open.

Also read: Financial institutions may reopen branches, resume in-person meetings: MAS

Personal health and wellness as well as home-based services will also resume. Registered clubs and societies can operate at their registered premises. Tuition and private enrichment classes are also allowed, with the exception of singing or voice training classes as these are deemed as higher risk activities.

All other healthcare services, including eldercare services in the community, individual health screening, and aesthetic services, will also be allowed to operate along with face-to-face visitations at residential facilities for the elderly, which will have precautionary measures in place.

Sports, parks, and public facilities will also be open, including playgrounds, beaches, lawns and fields, swimming complexes, sports halls, gyms, fitness studios and function rooms. This will apply not only to public facilities, but also similar facilities in private settings such as condominiums and country clubs.

Outdoor activities, such as having picnics and recreational games, will be permitted, in addition to physical exercise, such as walking, running, static exercises, taichi and cycling. Visitors engaging in sports and physical exercises should observe the safe management measures as stipulated in the Sport Singapore guidelines. For preschools, groups of up to 10 students with two staff will be permitted in gardens and parks.

Individuals are also required to maintain a safe distance of one metre, and a group of people must not be more than five persons.

Students from all levels will also return to school daily from 29 June. Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) which have been conducting most lessons online, will gradually increase the number of students back on campus for face-to-face learning.

However, there will still be some restrictions, particularly in activities involving large numbers of people that are likely to come into close contact, often in enclosed spaces of a prolonged period of time.

These include religious congregations; large venues like libraries and museums; large-scale events including conferences, exhibitions, concerts, trade fairs; as well as entertainment venues like bars, nightclubs, karaoke outlets, cinemas, theatres and indoor and outdoor attractions.

Camping sites, barbeque pits, galleries and attractions, such as the National Orchid Garden, will continue to remain closed as these tend to involve large numbers of people.

Wedding solemnisation at home or at the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM) or the Registry of Marriages (ROM) can take place with up to 10 persons, excluding the solemniser. It may take place with up to 20 persons if it is at another venue.

Meanwhile, only 20 persons are allowed to be present at any one time for wakes and funerals.

Easing travel restrictions
Aside from reopening of public facilities, Wong has highlighted that Singapore is also taking steps to reopen travel, which comes after the establishment of green lanes with several countries.

Travellers entering Singapore, specifically from Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mainland China, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam will be allowed to serve their stay-home notice (SHN) requirement at their place of residence instead of a dedicated facility.

The government will also subject all new incoming travellers from 17 June, 11:59 pm to tests on top of the SHNs that are already in place.

All inbound and outbound travellers who enter Singapore from 17 June 11:59 pm, and leave Singapore from that same time, will also be required to pay for an individual COVID-19 test. In addition, non-Singaporeans or non-permanent residents who have to serve their SHN in a dedicated facility will have to pay for the facility’s full cost.

Role of the public
Meanwhile, Wong has appealed to citizens and residents to be responsible when undertaking the activities that are permitted under Phase 2, as a surge in cases remains a possibility.

MOH also warned that an increase in new community cases should be expected with the resumption of social activities.

To keep the number of new cases under control, MOH advised residents to adhere to safe management principles, and avoid businesses or activities that fail to comply.

Safety measures, such as upholding good personal hygiene, safe distancing measures, wearing masks, usage of TraceTogether apps and SafeEntry, are also urged.