Only 2 Passengers Allowed on Taxis & Private-Hire Cars from 27 Sep; Carpooling Services Are Suspended

As a Wise Old Man once said: “Here we go again.”

So lest you’re unaware, it was announced on 24 September 2021 that Singapore will be going into a stabilisation phase.

The move was implemented following a rapid spike in cases in recent days, with daily community cases crossing the 1,500 thresholds.

In a serious throwback to older times, people will be barred from going out in groups of more than two from 27 September to 24 October 2021.

The two-person rule will apply to dine-in, socialisations and as we found out earlier today:

The taxi and private-hire industry.

Only 2 Passengers Allowed on Taxis & Private-Hire Cars from 27 Sep; Carpooling Services Are Suspended

From 27 September to 24 October 2021, taxis and private-hire cars will be limited to just two passengers per vehicle.

These include licensed ride-hail platforms such as GrabHitch and RydePool.

As always, masks should also be adopted at all times. Understand the importance of masking up here:

The LTA said: “All passengers are reminded that it continues to be mandatory for everyone to wear masks at all times. Taxi and private-hire car drivers should decline to fetch passengers who do not wear masks.”

It should be noted, however, that the two-passenger limit only applies to passengers from different households.

Those from the same household will be allowed to exceed the two-person limit.

Meanwhile, carpooling services will also, once again, be suspended. Carpooling trips which do not involve monetary value, however, will be allowed to continue. These include family members, friends or colleagues.

The measure was reportedly incorporated to cut down public interaction. It’s intended to reduce the risk of transmission while commuting.

In The Near Future

In a press conference that was held yesterday (24 September 2021), the government announced several aspects that we should take note of.

For starters, we can expect to reach a daily count of 3,200 and beyond within the next 2 weeks. After that, there is a range of possibilities, but we cannot rule out cases doubling further.

To minimise the strain on our overall healthcare capacity, more tightened measures will be implemented before that happens, which will take effect from 27 September 2021 through 24 October 2021.

Because every phase has a name, MOH has aptly called this phase the Stabilisation Phase.

Apart from a compulsory two-person limit for general socialisations, home-based learning has also been extended till 7 October 2021.

Work From Home has also become the default mode of working. Again.

Financial support will also be given to relevant businesses during this time period.

To support taxi and private hire car drivers, MOH will also extend the COVID-19 Driver Relief Fund payout at S$10 and S$5 per vehicle per day in October and November 2021 respectively.

And from 1 October 2021, MOH will continue publishing, on their website, a map of areas frequented recently by a larger number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

From 25 September 2021, MOH will also open eight Regional Screening Centres (RSCs) and three Quick Test Centres (QTCs) on Saturdays and Sundays, so that people with acute respiratory symptoms may get a free confirmatory PCR test.

Also, from 4 October 2021, MOH will progressively invite persons aged 50 to 59 years who have completed their vaccination regimen with two doses at least six months ago to receive their booster dose of a PSAR mRNA vaccine.

An SMS with a personalised booking link will be sent to the mobile number that they had registered with for their first two doses, for them to book a new appointment on www.vaccine.gov.sg.

For more details, you can click here.

Understand the importance of vaccination here:

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