After what felt like several decades, but was actually only eight months, Singapore has finally entered the third phase of its safe recovery amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now, group limits on social gatherings have increased to eight, meaning you no longer have an excuse not to invite Ah Hock to your weekly Poker game.
Eight visitors will also be allowed in households at any one time, so your New Year’s Eve party won’t be as depressing as you anticipated.
Moreover, if you’re planning to eat out with some friends, you’d be happy to know that some restrictions in hawker centres will also be relaxed.
NEA Revised Seat Markings in Hawker Centres
If you’ve fully embraced the life of a lazy bum since the circuit breaker and stayed at home, you might not have noticed that some seats and tables at hawker centres are marked out with red tape.
This was to separate patrons as they had their meals, in accordance with safe distancing guidelines.
But now, to accommodate the increase in dining group size from five to eight people, these markings will be revised, the National Environmental Agency (NEA) said on Monday (28 Dec).
Tables with eight seats or fewer will no longer have any seat markings, for the most part.
As for tables with more than eight seats, some seats will be marked out to ensure that patrons stick to the eight-person limit.
This will also ensure that there’s a one-metre safe distance between groups.
Some seats at adjacent tables (eg back-to-back) which are less than 1m apart will also be marked out to maintain a safe distance between dining groups at different tables.
NEA also reminded residents to dispose of their litter after eating at hawker centres, as it’ll help reduce the risk of disease transmission to other patrons, cleaners, and hawkers.
Restrictions Will Be Removed at 7 Markets from 4 Jan
Since April, access control and interim fencing have been implemented at 40 markets islandwide to reduce crowding.
NEA has since removed interim fencing at 20 markets, and plans to do the same for seven markets from 4 Jan 2021.
These markets are:
- Block 221A/B Boon Lay Place
- Block 448 Clementi Avenue 3
- Block 628 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4
- Block 58 New Upper Changi Road
- Block 4A Eunos Crescent
- Block 216 Bedok North Street 1
- Block 630 Bedok Reservoir Road
The other 13 markets will continue to have access control and interim fencing in place as long queues continue to be observed there.
These markets are:
- Block 105 Hougang Avenue 1
- Block 209 Hougang Street 21
- Block 335 Smith Street
- Block 341 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1
- Block 409 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10
- Block 453A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10
- Block 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10
- Block 665 Buffalo Road
- Block 254 Jurong East Street 2
- Geylang Serai Market
- Block 104/105 Yishun Ring Road (Chong Pang Market)
- Block 20/21 Marsiling Lane
- Block 505 Jurong West Street 523
Other Phase 3 Perks
Meanwhile, capacity limits in public places like malls and attractions, as well as places of worship, will be eased in Phase 3.
Singapore’s Covid-19 vaccination drive will begin on 30 Dec with healthcare workers being the first recipients, followed by those over the age of 70.
It’ll be some time before the rest of the population will get immunised, however, so we shouldn’t let our guard down, especially when we’re doing so well.
Featured Image: Hit1912 / Shutterstock.com (Image is for illustration purpose only)
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