8 Must-Know Updates from Today’s COVID-19 Press Conference (15 Nov)

2021-11-15 , 7:48 pm

With the Stabilisation Phase ending next Monday, you’d have expected a press conference somewhere this week.

But it happened earlier than expected: today, the multi-ministry task force wore their lightest clothes to update us about COVID-19 measures again.

Here are the things you should know.

**5 People from the Same Household Should Be Able to Dine In Groups of 5 in Some Hawker Centres from End of November**

The reason why the authorities haven’t allowed household members to dine in groups of five in hawker centres and coffee shops is the difficulty in enforcing the rules.

However, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has been engaging the Hawkers’ Associations and Town Councils, and they expect the first group of hawker centres to put in place access control and checking systems before the end of November.

For these hawker centres, once the systems are up, fully vaccinated individuals from the same household can dine in groups of five, just like other F&B establishments. The remaining hawker centres should then be able to follow soon after.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking: it appears that the unvaccinated probably can’t dine in even after the Stabilisation Phase is over.

More Ways to Check Proof of Residence

Lest you’re not aware, the work passes by foreign workers do not indicate where they stay, and these groups of people can’t dine in groups of five even if they live under the same roof due to the lack of proof of residence.

Therefore, the list of acceptable documents to check for proof of residence has been expanded, from NRIC and SingPass, to the following approved Government digital apps: myICA and SGWorkPass.

VDS + Test System

This might sound chim, but basically, it means you can only join an event if you’ve fully vaccinated and have been tested negative for COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, too.

Last week, the MTF mentioned that they’re going to expand this as a pilot to more events, and now, they’ve listed down a few events:

Milken Institute Asia Summit (15-16 November 2021)
Bloomberg New Economy Forum (16-19 November 2021)
Industrial Transformation Asia Pacific 2021 (22-24 November 2021)
JJ Lin’s Concert (27-28 November 2021)
A ONE Championship martial arts event (date TBC)

The outcomes of these pilots will be assessed before deciding how to expand the protocol to more events and settings.

Ease of Restrictions for Migrant Workers Staying in Dormitories

98% of migrant workers residing in dormitories are fully vaccinated, and COVID-19 infections in the dormitories have stabilised over the last few weeks with an average daily number of 143 migrant workers testing PCR positive in the last week.

Therefore, from 3 December 2021, the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) will further ease restrictions for migrant workers residing in dormitories by expanding the community visit programme from 3,000 migrant workers per week to 3,000 vaccinated migrant workers per day to visit any location within the community, for up to eight hours per visit.

Cheaper Self-Test ART Kits Approved for Use

Last week, HSA had authorised the Flowflex ART kit under the Pandemic Special Access Route (PSAR) for self-test use, bringing the total number of approved ART kits to nine. Additionally, two other ART kits have been approved to undergo PSAR registration.

These kits should be priced significantly below the current prices of ART kits. According to Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, it will be “well below” $10 and might even be below $5.

Changes in Border Control

As with any press conference, you’d hear this: there would be changes in the border control, this time from 18 November 2021. You’re still confused so here’s an updated neat table for you to better understand this:

Still confused over whether your friend can come to Singapore? Head to Safe Travel website instead. Just remember that there are some changes compared to last week’s table.

More Vaccinated Travel Lanes Opening This Month

Singapore will be launching VTLs with India and Indonesia from 29 November 2021 and with Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from 6 December 2021. Vaccinated Travel Pass (VTP) applications for Short-Term Visitors and Long-Term Pass Holders will commence on 22 November 2021 for travellers from Indonesia; and 29 November for travellers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE.

Returning Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents who are fully vaccinated will not need to apply for VTP in order to make use of the VTLs for travel. Travellers intending to travel from Singapore to these VTL countries / regions are advised to check the prevailing entry requirements of the destination.

Which leads to the next question: how about the land VTL with Malaysia?

Land VTL with Malaysia to Open “In a Few Weeks”

Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong has an answer to this: wait for a few more weeks.

He said that bilateral discussions progressing well, and acknowledged the close ties between Singapore and Malaysia, and so hope that “this land-link arrangement will allow many of them to be reunited.”