Today (24 Feb), the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced that the new changes to the existing COVID-19 safety management measures, which were supposed to come into effect in 25 Feb, will be postponed and revised.
A new date will be announced later.
This announcement hardly comes as a surprise given the surge in the daily COVID-19 cases, wherein there were a total of 26,032 new cases on Tuesday (22 Feb), and how it only dropped marginally to 20,312 new cases yesterday.
Things are a bit iffy right now, to put it lightly.
Therefore, the current rules will remain in place for the time being.
The Previously Announced Streamlined Safety Measures
Back on 16 Feb, MOH had announced the relaxation and simplification of the COVID-19 Safety Management Measures (SMM).
The measures being dialled down was a slow and steady step towards returning back to normalcy, but the Omicron Variant has decided to throw a wrench in things.
The streamlined SMMs originally involved:
- Still having to wear masks outside but safe distancing measures don’t apply when masks are on. When dining at restaurants without masks, the one-metre social distancing rule still applies (has already been applied).
- For social gatherings, the maximum capacity remains at five, though for households, it has changed from only being able to receive five visitors per day to five visitors at any time.
- 50% of the employees are allowed to return to workspaces (has already been applied).
- Sports events can be carried out with up to 30 fully vaccinated individuals at supervised and/or approved facilities.
- Event size limits for weddings, religious services, and business events will be lifted on 4 March.
The main and most important changes involve the allowing social gatherings at workplaces again, and resuming sport events, albeit at a smaller and contained level.
They were all good news, but it has been shelved again until the worst of the Omicron wave passes.
Hang in there, folks.
Join our Telegram channel for more entertaining and informative articles at https://t.me/goodyfeedsg or download the Goody Feed app here: https://goodyfeed.com/app/
Reasons for the Changes
MOH had originally intended to make large amendments to the pre-existing regulations which had accumulated over the two years, since they had become long and overly complex in some respects.
It had also been the Ministry’s intention to introduce the changes in phases, with the dates being one week apart, on 25 Feb and 4 Mar.
Judging from the current circumstances, however, and the additional work necessary to sift through the detailed rules in various settings, the Multi-Ministry Task Force “has decided to consolidate and streamline the SMMs in one go instead”.
That being said, when the new date is eventually announced, we can probably expect more changes to the current COVID-19 SMMs, leaning towards the side of removing or reducing the restrictions.
Read Also:
- Police Investigating Viral Video of 2 Men Fighting in a Store Along Beach Road
- 2nd Infant Formula, Which Hospitals in S’pore Use, Recalled for Possible Bacterial Contamination
- Man Who Killed His Pregnant Wife & Daughter in Woodlands Lost His Appeal & Will Face the Death Sentence
- Manpower Minister Urges Employers & HR Not to Insist on MCs for COVID-19 Infections
Featured Image: Shutterstock / Evgenia Pichkur
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
Read Also:
- Salon Allegedly Charged $880 Treatment Package to Elderly Who Has Hearing Difficulties
- Man Replaces M’sia-Registered Car With a S’pore Plate & Drives It Without a Driving Licence
- Confirmed: Allianz Withdraws Its Offer to Buy Income Insurance
- 10th Floor Resident Leaves Baby Stroller On Air Conditioner Compressor
- $400 Worth of Durians Delivered to Customer; Customer Allegedly Takes Durians Without Making Payment
- Woman Borrows Touch ‘N Go Card From S’pore Driver to Cross JB Checkpoint & Didn’t Return Card
Advertisements
