Wearing a mask to be optional from Aug 29, except on public transport and in healthcare facilities

For employees in certain sectors, masks will continue to be required, the Health Ministry said.   For example , food handlers will still have to put on masks in accordance with the Singapore Food Agency’s hygiene requirements.  

“Mask-wearing remains an effective way for all of us to minimise the risk of disease transmission, inch the ministry stated in its press release.  

“Even even though we are currently in a state of the pandemic where mask-wearing in many settings would no longer be mandatory, members of the public must continue to exercise responsibility and caution, for example wearing masks whenever in crowded places, or when going to or interacting with vulnerable persons. ” 

Experts have advised that the elderly and immuno-compromised should keep wear masks within crowded indoor settings to reduce their risk of catching any respiratory infections, MOH added.  

Singapore’s COVID-19 infection figures have steadily dropped across all age groups since late July, and the number of daily hospitalised cases has halved from its recent top last month, the particular ministry said.  

Singapore final significantly eased COVID-19 measures on April 26, when group size limits and safe-distancing requirements were lifted. SafeEntry and TraceTogether requirements were also removed for many settings.

All employees were permitted to return to the office, and the Disease Outbreak Response System Situation (DORSCON) level has been lowered from Orange colored to Yellow after more than two years.  

The DORSCON framework, which gives an indication of the current condition situation, was raised to Orange on Feb 7, 2020, in the beginning of the pandemic.

The requirement to wear face masks outdoors was raised on Mar twenty nine, along with the doubling associated with social gathering group sizes from 5 to 10 people.  

RESTRICTIONS ON HOSPITAL VISITS TO EASE

Procedures for in-person trips to hospitals and residential care houses will also be eased from Sep 1, mentioned the Health Ministry.  

MOH formerly announced the extension associated with safe-management measures just for visitors until Aug 31.  

From Sep 1, each patient plus resident will be allowed two visitors at each time. Hospital site visitors will have to abide by visiting hours while those people at residential houses will have their visits capped at one hour.

Visitors must self-test ART unfavorable on the day of the go to, the ministry said. People should also not visit their loved ones if they happen to be unwell.

“Hospitals and homes possess the discretion to enforce additional visitor limits and/or testing specifications for visitors associated with vulnerable or unvaccinated patients/residents, and postpone visits if they have active COVID-19 cluster(s) to lessen transmission, ” MOH said in its pr release.

“We look for the public’s continuing cooperation to comply with the revised SMMs in hospitals and residential care houses, so that we keep patients and occupants safe. ” 

Vaccination-differentiated measures – such as requiring those dining in on food and beverage outlets to be vaccinated towards COVID-19 – will never change, said Mister Wong.  

Currently, vaccination-differentiated inspections are only required for big events, and only vaccinated individuals are allowed to dine-in at F& W outlets.  

“But businesses no more check because this one is based on the individual, and we do random spot checks. For now, we have been retaining this approach. Therefore for now, there is no change to this because vaccines are still the best way to guard ourselves against severe disease and COVID-19, ” said Mister Wong.  

“We are critiquing our vaccination policy to transit to some system where all of us keep our vaccines up to date. ” 

The Government is learning how to define vaccinations that are up to date, and what the definition should be, he or she added, noting the fact that current policy stipulates that the first booster must be taken no later than 270 days after the primary series of COVID-19 vaccination.  

“As we translate for this new system, we will at that stage also review and update our VDS (vaccinated-differentiated safe-management measures) requirements. ”