10 Must-Know Updates from the 20 July COVID-19 Press Conference Whereby We’ll Go Back to P2HA from 22 July

2021-07-20 , 4:46 pm

Just four days ago, the multi-ministry task force announced new measures that’ll start from 19 July.

And today (20 July), just a day after the new measures were implemented, those measures are now outdated as we’ll move back to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) come 22 July 2021.

Here’s what you need to know.

Why the Sudden U-Turn

You should know the reasons, but let’s look at some numbers to back up our theory: the number of community linked and unlinked cases has continued to escalate despite our current measures.

Between 12 July 2021 and 18 July 2021, there was an average of 46 community cases per day. This is the highest number of cases we have detected since April 2020.

Now, remember: April 2020 was when Circuit Breaker started.

The porous nature of wet markets and hawker food centres which serve a range of customers including vulnerable seniors, also increases the risk of undetected cryptic transmission.

With the growing number of clusters linked to the Jurong Fishery Port, which now starts at 179, the ongoing measures to break the chains of transmission may not be sufficient.

Which means…

Singapore Moving Back to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert)

Simply put, MOH will therefore be further tightening community safe management measures by going back to Phase 2 (Heightened Alert). The following measures will take effect from 22 July 2021 through 18 August 2021 and will supersede those that were introduced on 19 July 2021.

A review of the measures will be conducted two weeks after implementation, and will adjust further based on the infection situation at that time.

If you’ve forgotten the nightmare of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert), here’s a refresher.

Group Size Reduced to 2 Per Group

Permissible group sizes for social gatherings will be reduced from maximum of 5 persons to maximum of 2 persons, together with a cap of 2 distinct visitors per household per day. Individuals should continue to limit their overall number of social gatherings to not more than 2 per day, whether to another household, or meeting with friends and family members in a public place.

To allow families’ current childcare arrangements to continue, grandchildren being cared for daily by their grandparents will not be counted towards the cap of 2 distinct visitors per household, or to the number of social gatherings per day. Grandparents are strongly encouraged to be vaccinated against COVID-19, to protect both themselves and their grandchildren. To reduce the risk of transmission, grandparents should also minimise intermingling between grandchildren from different households.

Work-from-Home Still Default

Well, at least there’d be some good news for some.

Work-from-home will continue to be the default at workplaces. Employers must ensure that employees who are able to work from home do so. There should continue to be no cross-deployment of workers to multiple worksites. Employers should continue to stagger the start times of employees who need to return to the workplace and implement flexible working hours.

Social gatherings at the workplace will not be allowed.

Dine-in Cancelled Again

It wasn’t too long ago that we thought we could finally have piping hot meals in a hawker centre, and that’s coming to a temporary end—again.

Both indoor and outdoor dine-in F&B establishments (including hawker centres and food courts) will only be able to offer takeaway and delivery options.

Anyone remembers how we used to look forward to dining in groups of 8 by end of July? #noone

Cessation of Mask-Off Activities

Strenuous indoor exercise classes, or strenuous individual and group indoor sports and exercise activities, will also cease. In addition, personalised services which require masks to be removed (e.g. facials, saunas, make-up services), singing, and the playing of instruments that require intentional expulsion of air (e.g. wind or brass instruments) will also not be allowed.

These restrictions will not apply to medical and dental consultations that require patients to have their masks removed. Non-medical facial treatments will not be exempted from these restrictions.

To understand the effectiveness of masks, watch this video to the end:

Mandatory SafeEntry Check-in at Wet Markets and Hawker Centres Island-wide

As announced on 18 July 2021, NEA and the Town Councils will be progressively implementing access control with interim fencing and mandatory SafeEntry (SE) check-in at markets where COVID-19 cases have been detected amongst stallholders or stall assistants.

In the coming weeks, MOH will progressively introduce TraceTogether-only SafeEntry (TT-only SE) and SafeEntry Gateway (SEGW) check-in requirements at all other wet markets and hawker centres island-wide. This means that everyone entering wet markets and hawker centres must check in with their TraceTogether (TT) App or Token using the SEGW, or by scanning the SE QR code with the TT App.

National Day Parade Will Still Proceed

Despite these measures, the NDP will still proceed.

According to Mr Lawrence Wong, “Mindef is reviewing the conduct of the parade, the scale of the parade and all the necessary safe management measures to ensure that any rehearsal or events leading up to the parade itself can be done safely.”

Mindef will provide more information about that in due course.

Fast and Easy Test (FET) regimes Not Required if Businesses are Suspended

Staff who work at settings with unmasked clients/patrons and were placed on mandatory regular Fast and Easy Test (FET) regimes beginning from mid-July, will not be required to conduct FETs during this period if their business operations are suspended.

For businesses that continue to remain open (including F&B outlets that stay open for delivery/ takeaways), their staff must continue with the regular 14-day FET requirement. Such regular FET will continue to be made free of charge during this period.

Reduction of Activity and Event Sizes and Pre-Event Testing Requirements

There will be some changes on event sizes and pre-event testing requirements as follows:

Live performances and MICE.
Up to 100 persons may be allowed with PET, and up to 50 persons may be allowed without PET. Unmasking is not allowed for speakers and performers, and there should be no singing or playing of instruments that require intentional expulsion of air (e.g. wind and brass instruments).

Spectator and participatory sports events.
Up to 100 persons may be allowed for spectator and participatory sports events with PET implemented. PET would not be required if there are 50 persons or less. Further details will be issued by SportSG.

Marriage solemnisations and wedding receptions.
Marriage solemnisations may continue for up to 100 participants with PET, and 50 participants without PET.

Wedding receptions may be allowed to continue with up to 100 persons with PET for all persons, and with a group size of up to 5 persons per table. This will allow couples to continue with their wedding plans, albeit with some adjustments.

All wedding guests must strictly abide by the safe management measures, and in particular maintain social distancing and avoid mingling with others beyond their own table. Given their higher vulnerability, we also strongly discourage unvaccinated individuals from attending such events until they are fully vaccinated.

Attractions and shows.
The operating capacity of attractions that have received MTI’s prior approval will be reduced to 25% from the current permissible capacity of 50%. Indoor and outdoor shows may proceed with up to 100 persons with PET, and up to 50 persons without PET.

Cinemas.
Up to 100 persons may be allowed into cinema halls with PET implemented. Only up to 50 persons may be allowed without PET. The prevailing group size of 2 persons applies, and food and beverages may not be sold or consumed in the cinema.

Congregational and other worship services
Congregational and other worship services may continue with up to 100 persons with PET, and up to 50 persons may be allowed without PET. To further mitigate the risk of spread through aerosol transmissions, religious workers and all other participants must wear their masks at all times. Live singing and playing of wind or brass instruments will also be suspended during this period.

Museums and public libraries.
Museums and public libraries will be allowed to operate at a reduced capacity of 25%.

Shopping malls and showrooms.
The occupancy limits for shopping malls and showrooms will be reduced from the current limit of 10sqm per person of Gross Floor Area, to 16sqm per person.

In the meantime, we can only hope that we can finally treat COVID-19 as an endemic disease sooner than later. Here’s what an endemic disease means: