EDB & STB Explain Why People Attending Bloomberg Forum in S’pore Can Dine in Groups of 5

If you haven’t noticed from the angry Facebook comments alone, we Singaporeans love dining out.

For the first time in our lives, this simple pleasure was out of our reach thanks to the coronavirus.

Now that we have it back – if fully vaccinated – we’re holding it tightly and really appreciating it.

At the moment, only fully vaccinated people can dine outside at F&B establishments, and in groups of up to two. That’s why netizens were surprised to learn that the attendees of a certain forum will be able to dine in groups of five.

But there’s a reason for this.

EDB & STB Explain Why People Attending Bloomberg Forum in S’pore Can Dine in Groups of 5

The hoo haa started when The Straits Times published an article yesterday revealing that delegates at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum (NEF) will be able to dine in restaurants in groups of five.

The Straits Times had seen a note sent to delegates saying that groups of up to five may dine together at NEF venues and other designated restaurants in the city. Guests can include non-NEF delegates.

Naturally, some netizens weren’t too pleased with what they viewed as “double standards”. Earlier this week, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said that it’d be “too risky” to permit five household members to dine in together.

Explaining the seeming disparity, the Economic Development Board (EDB) and Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said that the protocols for the forum are similar to existing arrangements for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) events and wedding receptions.

In these two activities, attendees are allowed to dine in groups of five, but only within the designated event venue with safe distancing in place.

In fact, while we can only socialize in groups of up to two, attendees of weddings can mingle in groups of five at their designated venue. As long as they’re fully vaccinated, up to 250 people can attend a wedding without pre-event testing.

The same is not true for the NEF delegates, however.

NEF Delegates Need Daily Negative COVID-19 Test Result to Attend Meals & Forum

On arrival in Singapore, foreign delegates must undergo a PCR COVID-19 test and stay in their hotel rooms until they get a negative result. If negative, they are exempted from quarantine.

They must then undergo pre-event testing every day on conference days, meaning they need a daily negative test.

On top of this, they all have to be fully vaccinated in order to attend the meeting.

The meals where they’ll be allowed to dine in groups of five must be held at pre-designated venues or restaurants that are “entirely booked” for the event, STB and EDB said.

Pre-event testing is also required for non-delegates attending these meals and meetings in these pre-designated venues and restaurants.

Residents here who are not delegates can attend the meeting as well, but only if they get a negative test result from a COVID-19 pre-event test.

Over 300 delegates from 51 different countries are expected to attend the event.

Forum Will “Reinforce Singapore’s Position as a Business Hub”

So, why is this forum so important?

Speaking about the event, EDB and STB said it will “reinforce Singapore’s position as a business hub.”

“…the Bloomberg event will involve leading business and political leaders from more than 50 countries, and provide a platform for them to share views and discuss challenges and opportunities,” the authorities said.

So, if you are dying to dine in groups of five, you know what to do.

Reader: Get married?

Exactly.

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