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By Ian Tan Hanhonn
To control the rising number of local COVID-19 cases and minimise the strain on Singapore’s healthcare capacity, the Government will be re-introducing a series of measures from 27 September 2021 to 24 October 2021.
The Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) announced the measures on 24 September 2021.
Singapore currently sees approximately 1,600 new cases daily. If the infection continues at its current trajectory, the Government expects the daily count to reach about 3,200 two weeks.
MTF Co-Chair Gan Kim Yong said that the rise in cases is concerning, especially the number of patients requiring supplementary oxygen.
“The rapidly increasing number of new cases is also of concern, as it is putting a serious strain on our hospital resources, despite the shift to community and home care to ensure our healthcare system can continue to cope with these cases. We will need to take action to slow the rise in cases to protect our hospital system,” said Mr Gan, who is also the trade and industry minister.
Permissable Group Sizes
Group sizes for social gatherings will be reduced to a maximum of two persons, down from a maximum of five.
The maximum number of unique visitors per household will also be reduced to two per day.
Everyone should continue to limit their overall number of social gatherings to not more than one per day. This includes visits to another household, or meeting with friends and family members in a public place.
F&B Dining
Groups of up to two persons will be allowed to dine-in at regular F&B establishments, provided they are fully vaccinated.
This is a reduction from the current limit of five persons
F&B establishments unable to ensure that all dine-in patrons meet the criteria for full vaccination can only operate take-away and delivery services.
Dining at hawker centres and coffee shops offer essential food services will remain at two persons, regardless of vaccination status.
Protecting Vulnerable Groups
The Government strongly encourages all individuals to reduce their social activities, and to wear their masks diligently.
Elderly and persons with comorbidities who are more vulnerable to severe illnesses, should stay home as much as possible, unless for essential activities.
Previously, the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that Home-Based Learning (HBL) will be implemented for all primary and special education schools from 27 September to 6 October 2021.
As an added precaution, the HBL period will now be extended till 7 October 2021, so that students can continue to stay home for the rest of the week and return to school only on 11 October 2021.
Minimising Workplace Interactions
Work-from-home will be the default for employees who are able to work from home for this period.
Also, the 10-day snap Work from Home regime will be suspended during this period. There should also be no cross-deployment of workers to multiple worksites.
Social gatherings at the workplaces remains prohibited, and employers should continue to implement flexible working hours, staggering the start times of employees who need to return to the workplace.
Workers who are unable to work from home are strongly encouraged to self-test weekly via an Antigen Rapid Test (ART).
For workers in essential services or higher-risk settings, a Mandatory Rostered Routine Testing (RRT) must be in place.
Higher-risk settings include border workers, those in construction, marine shipyard and process (CMP) sectors, as well as workers in healthcare sectors.
They also include those who are living or working in high density environments, such as dormitories. Workers with frequent community interactions, such as retail mall workers, last mile delivery personnel, public and private transport workers are also considered.
These workers need to be tested at least once a fortnight, using either Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, or an Antigen Rapid Test (ART).
For unvaccinated workers in the public sector, they would need to be tested using the ART twice a week from 1 October 2021.
Companies are encouraged to initiate weekly testing apply for ART kits for staff who need to be onsite via the GoBusiness platform.
For people who have been identified as a close contact or as someone with possible exposure to the COVID-19 virus, they will receive an SMS with either a Health Risk Alert (HRA) or Health Risk Warning (HRW).
Individuals who receive a HRA should minimise their interactions with others, monitor their own health for the next 10 days, and self-administer an ART as and when advised via SMS.
For those who receive a HRW, they need to have a PCR taken immediately and self-isolate themselves. The PCR tests can either be taken at designated Regional Screening Centres, private practitioners, or Swab-And-Send-Home (SASH) clinics.
They should also collect ART kits from vending machines and self-administer the test as and when advised via SMS.
At the end of the HRW, individuals will need to take another PCR test and minimise any social interaction till they receive a negative PCR result.