When PM Lee announced that he’d be addressing the nation, many’ve guessed what he’d be saying: either he’s going to update us about Phase 3 or he would be talking about vaccines.
It turns out that he spoke about both issues. You can read more about it here.
While it’ll take some time for us to be vaccinated, Phase 3 is going to happen two weeks from now.
So, what’s Phase 3 and what can we expect?
But first…
I Thought Need 70% TraceTogether Usage Before Phase 3?
Yes, and it turns out that while we’re not at 70% now, we’re projected to be there.
As of yesterday (13 December 2020), around 65% of Singapore residents are on the TraceTogether Programme, and we are on track to reaching the target of around 70% by the end of the year.
Other Pre-Conditions Have Been Met
There are two more pre-conditions before we can move to Phase 3: adherence to safe management measures and sufficient testing capabilities for early detection and public health action.
If you’ve been reading the news, you’d know we’re there: Most businesses and members of the public have been cooperating with safe management measures, and these efforts have helped keep community transmission low.
As for testing, MOH has ramped up Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test capacity significantly to be able to run over 50,000 tests a day.
Increase in Social Gathering Limit
Yes, this is something that we’ve been looking forward to.
During Phase 3, social gatherings will be allowed to comprise up to 8 persons, an increase from 5 persons today.
Households may also receive up to 8 visitors at any point in time.
Nevertheless, to reduce the likelihood of spread, we should continue to limit our social circle to a small group of regular contacts.
Increase the Capacity Limits of Premises
Phase 3 would also mean that places would get a tad more crowded.
For malls and large standalone stores, the capacity limit will be increased from 10 square metres per person to 8 square metres per person; attractions may also start applying to the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) to increase their operating capacity from 50% to up to 65%. Measures must continue to be put in place to prevent crowding in popular areas.
Increase Limits in ALL Congregational and Other Worship Services
Religious Organisations (ROs) have been piloting increases in congregational and other worship services to up to 250 persons and allowance of live music for congregational and other worship services since 3 October 2020. The pilot has shown that the ROs were able to enforce safe management measures such as ensuring clear segregation between zones and minimising intermingling between groups of up to five persons.
Hence, all ROs can increase their capacity for congregational and other worship services to up to 250 persons (in zones of up to 50 persons each for congregational services). Congregational and other worship services as well as religious rites/ prayers conducted at places of worship may involve live performance elements (e.g. with a limited number of singers, wind and other instruments) with the necessary safe management measures in place.
Saying “I Do” in Phase 3
For marriage solemnisations held in the home, currently, a total of 10 persons (including members of the hosting household, excluding the solemniser and vendors) are allowed. In Phase Three, the hosting household will be able to invite up to 8 visitors (excluding members of the hosting household, the solemniser and vendors), even if this exceeds the existing cap of 10 persons.
Live Instrumental Music Allowed in Indoor Venues Like Marriage Solemnisations
In Phase 3, marriage solemnisations (in indoor venues only), funerals and funerary-related activities will also be allowed to have live instrumental music (except for wind instruments) with the necessary safe management measures in place.
Live Performances Allowed to Resume
Live performances in the Arts and Culture sector have been allowed to resume since 1 November 2020. Some venues have been piloting larger-scale performances of up to 250 persons and outdoor performances of up to 100 persons. Indoor live performances will be allowed to have up to 250 persons in zones of up to 50 persons each. Outdoor live performance pilots to 250 persons in zones of up to 50 persons each will be expanded, to ensure that venues are still able to safely manage larger outdoor performances and mitigate the gathering of peripheral crowds.
These Are Just the Start
Just like Phase 2, these measures are just the start of Phase 3. Restrictions might be eased or even tightened depending on how the situation evolves, so yes: we might be able to dine in with more than 7 family members during CNY, or we might not be able to have our reunion dinner at all.
TraceTogether-Only SafeEntry Will be Implemented in Early 2021 Instead
TraceTogether-only SafeEntry, where the TraceTogether App or Token is required for SafeEntry check-ins, will only be implemented early next year, after everyone who wants a Token has had a chance to collect one at a Community Club or Centre in their constituency.
Until this is implemented, visitors can still perform SafeEntry check-in via the TraceTogether App, SingPass Mobile, or QR reader apps, or use their identity cards with barcodes such as NRIC, Pioneer or Merdeka Generation cards, and so on.
Featured Image: kandl stock / Shutterstock.com (Image is for illustration purpose only)
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