10 Facts About the Roadmap to Phase 3 That’s Announced by MOH Simplified for You

Back in April, when your room was a like a dungeon where no sunlight nor joy could enter, the future seemed bleak. 

Happiness, just like bubble tea, was out of reach.

But now, just six months later, Singapore is so close to normalcy that residents can almost smell it (it smells like Changi Airport).

Yesterday (20 Oct), it was announced that the country could shift to phase three of its safe reopening before the end of the year, and Singaporeans went berserk.

But what does this mean? Will we once again be able to hang out with as many people as we want and lick strangers on the street?

Not really. 

See, while some things will change, Phase 3 might not look very different to Phase 2.

Here are 10 facts about Phase 3 simplified for you:

1. It’s Not A Return to Pre-covid Life

It’s nice to think that once we enter Phase 3, we can burn all our face masks, organise large parties, and travel to any country we want.

Sadly, this is but a fantasy we dreamt up in our heads.

As the Ministry of Health (MOH) noted, other countries who have opened up without prudence have seen a resurgence of infections soon after.

This is why we can’t return to normalcy just yet.

Instead, we will have to adapt to new ways of working and living until the world has the virus under tight control.

2. Not Much Will Change in Terms of Safety

This means that you’ll still be required to cover the lower half of your face when you step out of the house, and practise safe distancing at public venues and eateries.

Group sizes for social gatherings will still be kept small in order to slow down the rate of transmission and reduce the risk of superspreader events.

There will also be no intermingling between individuals and groups in public venues.

However…

3. Group Size For Gatherings Will Increase to 8

As you know, social gatherings are allowed at the moment, but limited to five people per group.

This is why you’ve stopped calling Ah Hock to hang out with you and your friends.

Ah Hock: I never knew being a 6th wheel was a thing

Fortunately for you (and Ah Hock), the group size for social gatherings will increase in Phase 3 from 5 to 8, meaning, for instance, that two families of four from different households can meet up for a meal or picnic at the beach.

The number of visitors allowed to homes would similarly increase to 8.

4. Capacity Limits May Increase

One of the few advantages of the pandemic is that it allowed you to have a wedding without having to invite 1,200 of your annoying relatives.

At the moment, some public venues and events are subject to a capacity limit, meaning they can only admit a certain number of people.

For weddings, only 100 attendees are permitted in two zones of 50.

This, however, may increase in Phase 3, where the authorities may even allow events with multiple zones of 50 people.

But…

5. Some Events May Require Mass Testing Beforehand

Weddings are a good example of an event that could easily become a superspreader, because a large group of people are gathered for a meal without their masks on, which is a dream for the coronavirus.

This is why the government is exploring pre-event testing, where participants of an event or activity are tested shortly before the event, either at the event venue itself or at a separate testing facility.

Only participants who test negative for the virus will be allowed to participate in the event, of course.

6. Some Entertainment Venues to Remain Closed (Yes, That Includes KTV Outlets)

So, this is the part where I’ll have to break your heart.

Even though this is the third phase of our safe reopening, venues like bars, pubs, clubs, and KTV outlets will likely remain closed because they are deemed to be high-risk settings.

However, MOH said it’s considering carrying out trials in these settings, where patrons are subject to a more stringent set of measures, including pre-entry testing.

7. Allowing More Travel to Resume

As MOH said, Singapore is unlike larger countries in that being open to the world is crucial for its economic survival.

“It is therefore not possible for Singapore to keep our borders closed indefinitely. We will have to gradually allow more travel to resume in a safe manner,” MOH said.

In Phase 3, more travellers from low-risk countries will be allowed into the country without the need to serve a Stay-Home Notice (SHN), as long as they take a Covid-19 test.

Travellers from high-risk countries and regions, though, will still be required to serve SHNs at home or dedicated facilities.

The authorities are also exploring ways to enable more travellers to enter Singapore without a need to serve SHN, while minimising the risk of transmission to the community.

8. Singaporeans Will Be Able to Tap on Government Subsidies & Insurance Coverage After Travelling Abroad

Now, for some good news.

As you know, Singaporeans Citizens (SC), Permanent Residents (PR), and Long-Term Pass Holders (LTPH) who travelled out of Singapore after 27 March 2020 are responsible for their own inpatient medical bills if they developed symptoms for Covid-19 within 14 days of their return.

Now, however, these residents will be able to access government subsidies and insurance coverage for their Covid-19 medical bills after travelling overseas, as part of the move to reopen our borders.

Those who departed Singapore before 27 March 2020 will still have their inpatient medical bills paid for, with no change.

9. We Need More TraceTogether Users Before Phase 3 Can Start

For those of you who have installed the TraceTogether app but not turned it on, you can either choose to activate it, or stay in Phase 2 for the rest of your life.

The health ministry said that in order for the country to shift to Phase 3, they need a higher take-up rate for TraceTogether. The goal? 70%. Currently, it’s at 45%.

This will allow the authorities to carry out contact tracing more efficiently and ringfence any infections.

More public venues and even workplaces and schools will also implement TraceTogether-only SafeEntry, meaning that visitors will need the TraceTogether app to enter.

This measure will first be rolled out at all cinemas from 26 Oct. 

You can watch this video to the end to know more about TraceTogether (and also subscribe to our YouTube channel for more informative videos!):

10. There is Room For Change

Now, just because KTV outlets and bars are closed for Phase 3, it doesn’t mean that we’ll have to wait until Phase 4 for them to open, mostly because Phase 4 doesn’t exist.

As MOH said, Phase 3 is not static.

“If we can put in place more enablers, there is scope for further reopening and scaling up of activities even within Phase Three.”

This means that if the authorities can ramp up testing and implement even more safety measures, they may ease even more restrictions.

For now, though, let’s just be thankful that infections are down, and that life is inching slowly towards normalcy.