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Cover Photo: Unsplash

Clubbing is back on the agenda as all nightlife businesses reopen from April 19

This story was first published on June 18, 2021, and updated on April 5, 2022. 


As Singapore continues to push towards making Covid-19 endemic, it has announced that more measures will be loosened.

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These new loosened restrictions state that group sizes can go up to 10 people, that masks are no longer mandatory outdoors and that all nightlife businesses can fully reopen from April 19. 

Considering the many changes in our Covid-19 regulations recently and the differences in rules for the vaccinated and the unvaccinated, we’ve made it easy for you to figure out what you can and cannot do. Keep reading for all the other regulations that have come into effect to manage the pandemic. 

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1. Nightlife businesses will be allowed to fully reopen from April 19

Clubbing is finally back on the agenda with the announcement that all nightlife businesses including nightclubs and discotheques will be allowed to fully reopen from April 19, according to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a joint media release on April 4.

That said, all nightlife establishments will be subjected to safe management measures. For example, if guests are entering an establishment with dancing as an activity, they have to get a negative Antigen Rapid Test (ART) that has been supervised by a test provider approved by the Ministry of Health either in-person or remotely.

“The patron must get tested before the start of his/her visit; and at most 24 hours before the end of the attendance at the event or activity,” said MTI and MHA.

Nightlife establishments will also have to ensure that groups remain at 10 people and that mask-wearing indoors is observed. There should also be safe distancing of at least one meter between individuals or groups when masks are off.

2. Group sizes for social gatherings have been increased to 10

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Photo: Unsplash
Above Photo: Unsplash

On March 29, Singapore raised the size of group gatherings from five to 10 people. This means that you can now dine out in groups of 10 and that up to 10 people can visit a household at any one time. 

This also applies to hawker centres and coffee shops where full vaccination-differentiated checks are implemented at their entrances, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH) on March 24.

“To ease the operational burden for F&B operators, we will allow all F&B establishments to seat smaller groups of up to five fully vaccinated persons, without the need for full Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) checks at their entrance,” said MOH in its media release.

“Instead, random spot-checks will be done to ensure that only vaccinated persons are dining-in at these places, and the onus will be on the dining-in individuals to abide by the rules,” it continued.

Additionally, the current restriction on the sale and consumption of alcohol after 10.30 pm at F&B outlets has been lifted and live performances have been allowed to resume at all venues.

“We will also lift the restriction on the screening of live broadcast programmes and recorded entertainment in F&B establishments,” said MOH.

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3. Masks are no longer mandatory outdoors

While many believed that wearing masks will be one of the last Covid-19 rules to be relaxed, masks are no longer mandatory when you are outdoors as of March 29.

However, safe distancing of at least one meter is still required.

4. In-person visits to hospitals and residential care homes are now allowed

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An elderly voter wearing a protective mask. Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images
Above An elderly voter wearing a protective mask. Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

In-person visits to hospitals and residential care homes have finally resumed as of April 4 as the Covid-19 situation in Singapore stabilises. 

That said, safe management measures have to still be followed and only fully vaccinated individuals can visit patients and residents in these places. 

 

5. Workplaces and events will be allowed to have larger capacities

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Photo: Unsplash
Above Photo: Unsplash

Singapore has increased the capacity limit for workplaces and events as of March 29. Up to 75 per cent of employees who can work from home can now return to their workplaces.

Specific larger-scale social events like gala dinners, corporate dinner-and-dance events, birthday celebrations and anniversaries have also been allowed to resume given the stabilising Covid-19 situation and for consistency with other events, according to the Health Ministry.

Capacity limits for larger events and settings with over 1,000 people have also been increased to 75 per cent.

Zoning requirements will also be removed.

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6. Vaccination differentiated safe management measures will continue to be expanded

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SINGAPORE - APRIL 02: Social distancing markers are seen at a food outlet as authorities implement a social distancing measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic on April 2, 2020 in Singapore. The Ministry of Health reported 49 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country's total to 1049.  (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)
Above SINGAPORE - APRIL 02: Social distancing markers are seen at a food outlet as authorities implement a social distancing measures to combat the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic on April 2, 2020 in Singapore. The Ministry of Health reported 49 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the country's total to 1049. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

Vaccination differentiated safe management measures (VDS) for Covid-19 will continue to be expanded and will cover indoor sports facilities, Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs), and leisure guests in hotels, hostels and serviced apartments.

“However, students in institutes of higher learning who are completing their full-time NITEC/Higher NITEC, Diploma or Degree programmes will be exempted from the VDS measures requirement when entering their respective educational institutions,” said MOH.

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7. Health risk notices have replaced health risk warnings

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Above Photo: Unsplash

Since February 18, health risk notices have replaced the warnings for close contacts identified by MOH.

People issued with the notice can continue to obtain their ART test kits through designated vending machines to facilitate their self-testing during the monitoring period.

The self-monitoring period has also been reduced from 10 days to seven. 

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8. Indoor, mask-off sports have resumed

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A woman wearing protective mask jogs at East Coast Park. Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images
Above A woman wearing protective mask jogs at East Coast Park. Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

If you can’t wait to get back into activities at gyms and fitness studios, the good news is that indoor mask-off high-intensity activities will continue to be allowed as long as you are vaccinated.

As of March 15, all sports have been allowed to proceed with up to 30 fully vaccinated persons including players, coaches and umpires at supervised or operated sports facilities such as Activesg facilities and approved private facilities.

Additional testing requirements will no longer be imposed as well though participants are strongly encouraged to self-test. 

Classes will also be capped at 30 people in groups of up to two provided that everyone in the group is fully vaccinated. 

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9. Mandatory Safeentry check-ins will continue to be imposed at markets

Despite the loosened restrictions, Safeentry check-ins will continue to be a requirement at markets to help with contact tracing and to ring-fence cases, according to MOH.

This means that once a market has reached a certain number of people, other customers will not be able to enter it. 

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