Government has imposed Code Red measures without calling the situation Code Red

[jw5]

from msn.com:

COVID: Singapore to advise use of face masks with good filtration capability​

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) will issue new guidelines on the use of face masks with good filtration capability, such as those having at least 95 per cent bacterial filtration efficiency.

The announcement was made at a virtual media briefing by the multi-ministerial taskforce on COVID-19 on Tuesday (18 May).


"Mask use continues to be one of the key public health strategies in preventing disease by reducing the expulsion and transmission of droplets. The recent clusters suggest a higher level of transmission, likely attributed to new virus variants," the Ministry of Health said in a media release.

Masks with better protection, such as those with better filtration efficiency, will help to mitigate the increased risks of transmission and infection. These would include reusable masks that are made of at least two layers of fabric, and surgical masks.

Single-use masks would typically report their filtration efficiency in their product specifications. Reusable masks such as masks issued by the People’s Association and Temasek Foundation also have good filtration efficiency.

The authorities advised against the use of masks with exhalation vents and they do not accord sufficient protection against the virus.

MOH and the Health Sciences Authority will put up guidelines to help the public in choosing good masks.

Earlier Tuesday, MOH confirmed 38 new COVID-19 cases in Singapore, taking the country's total case count to 61,651.

Of them, 27 are local transmissions in the community, of whom 16 are linked to previous cases. Amongst them, 14 had already been placed on quarantine earlier.

Eleven remaining cases are imported, of whom six are returning Singaporeans or permanent residents.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

Hawker centres, malls and offices go quiet as new Covid-19 restrictions kick in​

As Singapore defaulted to working from home under tightened restrictions on Monday (May 17), many areas in the city-state were bare, with just a few people.

Buses rumbled along almost empty streets and the hawker centres were desolate on Monday morning with people mostly working from home and not allowed to dine out under strict new rules to curb the spike in Covid-19.

The longest queues were of patrons taking away food, especially in basements of malls where most eateries are concentrated.


Compulsory TraceTogether-only SafeEntry check-ins via the mobile app or token also kicked in on Monday. Most people in the malls had no issues checking in.

With Covid-19 numbers still on the rise, as of May 18, the Ministry of Health (MOH) preliminarily confirmed 27 new cases of locally transmitted Covid-19 infection, of whom 16 are linked to previous cases, and 11 currently unlinked. Among them, 14 had already been placed on quarantine earlier. Based on our investigations so far, the cases are in the community, and there are no new cases in the dormitories.

Sunday (May 16) saw the highest number of community cases – 38 – reported since April 14 last year when 40 community infections were reported. Singapore’s circuit breaker started on Apr 7, 2020.

Singapore entered Phase 2, a state of heightened alert, on Sunday to curb Covid-19. Hence the deserted streets and markets. The usually crowded hawker centres were mostly empty, except for people coming in occasionally to take away food.

Since Sunday, social gatherings have been limited to two people, down from five earlier, and all employees who can work from home must do so. The measures, which will be in place until June 13, are similar to those imposed during a partial lockdown last year. During the lockdown, the economy suffered its worst-ever recession.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

Massive turnout for swab tests as Singapore’s outbreaks multiply​

Singaporeans showed up in droves yesterday for free COVID-19 tests after they were prodded by the government to take proactive measures due to a growing number of outbreaks.

Following word that the virus has been spreading at various shopping malls and at least one school campus, seemingly endless queues were seen at a number of designated screening centers, including the former Big Box mall and a vocational institution on Dover Road.


The Ministry of Health called on anyone who has visited the latest hot spots to get checked. They include shopping malls Jem, Westgate, and White Sands, which were listed multiple times by the government in the past week as places visited by infectious people.

“Feel bad for the staff ’cause it was quite stuffy even with the standing fans (no aircon), can’t imagine spending any longer there. Everyone was masked up and most distanced safely, so that’s good,” wrote Redditor Carrionslug, who said people waited up to two hours at Big Box in Jurong. Photos show at least 100 people in snaking queues stretching all the way outside the entrance.

The government is offering free tests to those who have visited Jem and Westgate since May 10 and White Sands mall since May 2. The same goes for anyone who’s been to Changi Airport Terminal 3 since May 1. Four people have been linked to a cluster of infections at the Wok Hey food kiosk in White Sands, while several cases have broken out at Westgate, including one involving a Safe Distancing Ambassador deployed there.

Singapore Polytechnic is also testing more than 6,000 people after detecting three infected people. Those affected will receive a text message from the Health Ministry and can schedule tests at 10 different swabbing centers. Mall staff have been told to get checked at Big Box and Our Tampines Hub, where queues were spotted outside a makeshift testing site yesterday.

Only asymptomatic individuals are allowed to get tested at the screening centers. Those feeling ill are told to immediately seek medical attention.

Long queues were also seen at Singapore Polytechnic, according to photos shared by Redditor Hameggstoast. Students, staff and food vendors who have been on campus since April 29 were told to get swabbed. The school has shifted all lessons online for the rest of May.

Other queues were seen outside clinics inside the Bukit Gombak MRT station.

Singapore yesterday recorded 38 infections, including 34 locally transmitted cases. The Changi Airport outbreak now has accounted for 95 cases. In total, the country has recorded 61,689 cases and 31 deaths since the epidemic began.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

Singapore in more danger of COVID-19 than before, state epidemiologist says in frank warning​

Singapore may be in a more dangerous situation than it was prior to last year’s partial lockdown, according to National Centre for Infectious Diseases academic whose warning has been circulating online in recent days.

Associate Professor David Lye, who heads the center’s infectious disease research and training, confirmed that he was behind the viral message warning of greater public health peril but said it was written in his “personal capacity.” In it, Lye noted the new virus variants threatening the population as well as more cases that could not be traced to their source unlike last year, when most broke out in worker dormitories that could be contained under lock and key.


“Our current status is likely more dangerous than just before circuit breaker last year,” he wrote in the messages. “The many cases with no linkage now suggest the spread to [the] community from the Changi Airport outbreak may be wide and far.”

Lye admonished the public to adhere to strict behavior to remain safe in a message more emotionally charged than that of typically restrained public health missives.

“If you want to keep your family safe, you need to listen […] If a country is overwhelmed like India, many will die including children and young people,” he added. About half of those infected in Singapore have no visible symptoms but were “equally infectious,” he said, and that 10% of people could still get sick enough to require oxygen assistance.

Despite the ongoing vaccination program that has so far inoculated roughly 30% with at least a first dose, Lye said one can still be vulnerable to the imported variants, especially when “not enough vulnerable old people” were being vaccinated.

“Yes we have effective vaccines and treatment, and expanded testing capacity but against us [are] the new mutant strains that infected TTSH and Changi Airport staff despite masks and vaccination,” he wrote. “My colleagues and I do not want to see you in NCID or any of the public hospitals.”

The outbreak at Changi Airport has led to nearly 80 infections while the one at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, or TTSH, has led to 46 cases. Singapore confirmed another outbreak at the Marina Bay Sands Casino yesterday, affecting three people so far.

Lye urged Singaporeans to not only abide by the prevailing COVID-19 rules, but to also act as if they were under a full lockdown by staying at home, avoiding crowds, wearing masks, and socializing within the same “bubble” of people.

The medical expert did not respond to Coconuts’ messages requesting for comment, including questions on why he decided to disseminate information this way.

Singapore reimposed tighter restrictions last week as it reports more cases involving those infected by the B1617 coronavirus variant discovered in India. More than 40 cases reported in the past week were unrelated to known outbreaks.

Today, 27 locally transmitted infections were added to the daily COVID-19 count, including 11 unlinked cases. In total, there have been 61,613 cases and 31 deaths since the outbreak began.

 

[KNNBPCB]

Judy Sim may pay a heavy price for cursing others.

She may become redundant.

 

[jw5]

She may become redundant.

View attachment 111453

She is already redundant and useless.

 

[jw5]

from yahoo.com:

Covid-19: What went wrong in Singapore and Taiwan?​

They've been hailed as virus success stories - places that have seen virtually zero or single-digit Covid cases since the start of the year.

But this month, Singapore and Taiwan have both seen a sudden and aggressive rise in cases - with Singapore logging 248 new cases just last week, and Taiwan 1,200 local infections.

Both places have gone into a heightened state of restrictions, limiting the size of social gatherings and closing schools.

By global standards, these numbers may seem small - but for these places, these figures would have been unthinkable just months ago. So what exactly went wrong?

A tale of complacency: Taiwan​

Taiwan was among the first places to ban foreign visitors almost as soon as China reported the emergence of the virus - and these tough border restrictions still remain in place.

Locally however, the population started to become complacent - as did its government.

Hospitals stopped aggressively testing people for Covid, even those with a fever - a common symptom of the virus, according to Associate Professor Lin Hsien-ho of the National Taiwan University.

According to online publication Our World in Data, Taiwan was administering just 0.57 virus tests per 1,000 people in mid-Feb. This compared to Singapore's rate of 6.21 and the UK's rate of 8.68 at around the same period.

"There was a general assumption even with people showing symptoms that the probability of having Covid-19 was essentially zero," Dr Lin told the BBC, adding that it stemmed from a belief that the virus could not break through Taiwan's strong borders.

"Doctors were not taking it seriously, hospitals were not alert, they were not doing a lot of contact tracing. There was definitely a certain sense of complacency."

This was especially highlighted when Taiwan relaxed its quarantine requirements for non-vaccinated airline pilots from an initial 14-day period, to five days - and then, just three days.

Shortly afterwards, a cluster broke out connected to a handful of China Airlines pilots who had been staying at a Novotel near Taoyuan Airport. Many of those linked to this cluster were later found to have contracted the UK variant, known as B.1.1.7.

The virus then spread through the community, eventually making its way to Taiwan's "tea houses" - adult entertainment venues.

"You had people singing, drinking, coming into frequent contact in an indoor setting. It was not just one teahouse but many on the same street - it was a very large super spreader event," said Dr Lin.

Professor Chen Chien-jen, an epidemiologist and former vice-president of Taiwan, says the fact that many who tested positive were unwilling to declare they had visited such adult entertainment venues made contact tracing even more difficult.

"It just reminds us that even when a very small proportion of the population breaks the rules, it will lead to leakages," said Dr Chen.

He also adds that Taiwan failed to look at Japan's adult entertainment industry - which at one point was also a hotbed of infections - before it was ordered shut.

"We didn't learn the lesson from Japan and reflect that Taiwan might have these same issues," he said.

According to Associate Professor Alex Cook of the National University of Singapore (NUS), Taiwan's situation is a "a reflection of the constant risk of a strategy that puts too much emphasis on border control and not enough on measures to prevent within country spread".

Cracks in the wall: Singapore​

In Singapore however, it was a different story.

Measures here have always been stringent despite low cases - public gatherings were kept to a maximum of eight, clubs have not been allowed to open and there is still a cap on mass gatherings like weddings.

But there were still gaps in its vaccine playbook, and by late May, Singapore's Changi Airport - which also boasts a popular shopping centre - had turned into the country's biggest Covid cluster this year.

Authorities later found out that a number of infected airport staff had been working in a zone that received travellers from high-risk countries, including those in South Asia.

Some of these workers then went on to have their meals in the airport's food courts - which are open to members of the public - further spreading the virus.

Singapore has now closed its passenger terminals to members of the public temporarily as a result.

Many of the infected were later found to have a highly contagious variant that first surfaced in India - known as B.1.617.

Singapore has now also announced that it would segregate flights and passengers from high-risk countries and regions from those arriving from lower-risk places. Staff will also be ring-fenced and segregated by zones.

Some online are asking why such measures were not taken earlier, noting potential loopholes were pointed out up to a month ago.

But one expert said he thinks it was "inevitable" that the new variant would have found its way into Singapore.

"I understand why people are feeling frustrated because the majority of Singaporeans have been extremely compliant," said Prof Teo Yik Ying, dean of the NUS School of Public Health.

"But we are not like China which can keep its borders completely shut. Our reputation as a country, our economy, is linked to our position as a trade hub.

"[Also] if we look at the US last year, its worst virus cases came in not from China, but from travellers that went to Europe. So how many countries can Singapore close its borders to? We have to understand it's never just closing off one country."

But Prof Cook says the country is still in a "very good position" to rein in its outbreak.

"I'm hesitant to say that 'things went wrong', since Singapore is still, despite the stepping up of measures, in a very good position," he said.

"If we compare it to the UK, the typical daily cases is around 10% of the UK's level after adjusting for population size. In other words, Singapore is tightening measures to pre-empt getting to a point where the virus can run amok."

A slow vaccination drive​

There is one problem that's plaguing both Singapore and Taiwan: vaccines.

Many in Taiwan didn't want to take the vaccine when things were going well, with fears around the AstraZeneca vaccine - the main one Taiwan currently stocks - further adding to this hesitancy.

The current rise in cases however, means that people in Taiwan are now flocking to get the vaccine. The only problem is - there isn't enough to go around.

Taiwan has to date received just 300,000 vaccines - for a population of 24 million.

"We have tried our best to purchase vaccines from international companies but we didn't get much. The only way to sustain our supply is to manufacture ourselves, this is very important for Taiwan," said Dr Chen.

Taiwan is currently working on producing two local vaccines, which could be available as quickly as the end of July.

It's a similar tale in Singapore.

Around 30% of people have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to Our World in Data, the highest vaccination rate in South East Asia. But the country is limited by its vaccine supply - though the government expects to vaccinate its entire population by the end of the year.

"Ultimately we are limited by the supply. In countries like the UK, US, China, they have the capabilities to produce their own vaccines," said Prof Teo.

"We anticipate that the need for vaccines is going to be long term, so that's why we are moving towards having our own manufacturing capabilities. Then we will no longer be reliant."

Prof Teo adds that the spike in both places is a lesson for countries that may now be seeing a dip in cases.

"When we see countries in Europe, or the US starting to relax measures, I think they should be very cautious and look around the world to see what is happening," he said.

"What's happened in Taiwan, Singapore - it's a sign that we should not let our guard down."

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

Covid-19: Koi, LiHo temporarily close some outlets until June 13 or “until further notice”​

During last year’s circuit breaker, many F&B businesses were badly impacted.

Besides the ban of dining in, the government also dictated that standalone outlets that sell only beverages, packaged snacks, confectionery or desserts have to also close.

This led to long lines at bubble tea joints during the night of the circuit breaker announcement as Singaporeans clamour to get their last fix.

While Singapore has regressed from Phase 3 of the economy reopening to Phase 2 heightened alert, such standalone outlets are still allowed to operate.

However, popular bubble tea brands Koi and LiHo have separately announced that they will be closing some of their outlets in light of the current Covid-19 situation.

For one, KOI Thé outlets at Lucky Plaza, The Arcade and Tanjong Pagar Plaza is “temporarily closed until further notice” from May 15.

Meanwhile, LiHo announced the temporary closure of eight of its outlets until June 13. In its Facebook post, it also directed its customers to other nearby outlets.

These bubble tea brands are not the only ones that have voluntarily paused operations. Filmgarde Cineplexes also announced yesterday (May 18) that it will be closed until May 31 at the earliest.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

Read before you ride: Public taxi transportation during Phase 2​

Here's what you need to know about the public transportation restrictions during this heightened alert period.

To minimise interaction and the risk of COVID-19 transmission during commuting, the Land Transportation Authority is implementing stricter measures during the Phase 2 period from May 16 to June 13.

Taxis and private hire cars may only carry a maximum of two passengers unless they are from the same household. For example, a parent can travel with their two children if they live together. But three co-workers who go home to different residences can not ride the taxi together.

Commercial car-pooling services are not allowed for the duration of Phase 2, including GrabHitch and RydePool. Non-commercial car-pool is allowed among friends or colleagues for no more than two people.

Drivers and passengers must wear face masks at all times, whehter on trains, buses, taxis, or private-hire cars.

Commuters are advised to travel during off-peak periods or spread themselves out.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

Covid-19: Koi, LiHo temporarily close some outlets until June 13 or “until further notice”​

View attachment 111464

During last year’s circuit breaker, many F&B businesses were badly impacted.

Besides the ban of dining in, the government also dictated that standalone outlets that sell only beverages, packaged snacks, confectionery or desserts have to also close.

This led to long lines at bubble tea joints during the night of the circuit breaker announcement as Singaporeans clamour to get their last fix.

While Singapore has regressed from Phase 3 of the economy reopening to Phase 2 heightened alert, such standalone outlets are still allowed to operate.

However, popular bubble tea brands Koi and LiHo have separately announced that they will be closing some of their outlets in light of the current Covid-19 situation.

For one, KOI Thé outlets at Lucky Plaza, The Arcade and Tanjong Pagar Plaza is “temporarily closed until further notice” from May 15.

Meanwhile, LiHo announced the temporary closure of eight of its outlets until June 13. In its Facebook post, it also directed its customers to other nearby outlets.

These bubble tea brands are not the only ones that have voluntarily paused operations. Filmgarde Cineplexes also announced yesterday (May 18) that it will be closed until May 31 at the earliest.

These bubble tea outlets may have been asked by the govt to close. Their other outlets are still operating.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

Form your own social bubble and stick to it to keep your family safe from Covid-19: NCID director​

SINGAPORE - The nation's Covid-19 situation could be more dangerous than it was just before the circuit breaker last year, and people must go above and beyond what is being asked for to keep safe, said the National Centre for Infectious Diseases' (NCID) Associate Professor David Lye.

In a message that was circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms on Monday (May 17), the director of NCID's Infectious Disease Research and Training Office called on those here to "do much more beyond what government dictates".

The Straits Times verified the text with NCID, which confirmed that Prof Lye had written it.

Apart from exhorting people to stay home, avoid crowded places and big groups, he also called for people to form their own "small social bubble" consisting of those who are committed to socialising only within the bubble.

"For many this is your immediate family," said Prof Lye, who is also a senior consultant at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's (TTSH) Department of Infectious Diseases.

He added that people should ensure they wear a mask over their mouth and nose even when walking in parks, and that more should get vaccinated as the recent outbreak at TTSH showed that not enough vulnerable old people have done so.

Prof Lye noted that the situation in Singapore last year was bad because of the huge outbreak in dormitories among migrant workers. This was contained with lockdowns - although this took a lot of resources.

However, this year, the many cases with no linkage suggest that the spread to the community from the outbreak at Changi Airport may be "wide and far", he said.

He added that 40 per cent to 50 per cent of those infected have no symptoms and can be equally infectious, while another 10 per cent can get sick enough to require oxygen.

"Yes we have effective vaccines and treatment, and expanded testing capacity," he pointed out, but working against these efforts are the new variants which originated from India, which infected TTSH and Changi Airport staff despite masks and vaccinations.

"This is serious."

He concluded: "If you want to keep your family safe, you need to listen and do the above.

"If a country is overwhelmed like India, many will die including children and young people, and sick people cannot get a bed and dead bodies can't get cremated or buried.

"My colleague(s) and I don't want to see you in NCID or any of the hospitals."

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

10 COVID-19 cases from 4 households identified at Hougang HDB block: MOH​

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has identified 10 COVID-19 cases from four households at Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8.

"They are largely Persons Under Quarantine who turned positive for COVID-19. This means that they have been isolated early and ring-fenced, and not likely to be moving around while being infectious," said MOH in a joint news release with the Ministry of National Development (MND) on Sunday (23 May).


One of the cases was detected after mandatory COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was announced for all residents of the block earlier in the week. In total, 407 residents and visitors from the block were tested over Friday and Saturday, with 126 more test results pending.

Those who missed their test can still undergo their mandatory free swab test on Sunday and Monday. (Click here for the list of clinics).

The release noted that all the cases detected at the block were "in the same stack" and that, based on MOH's initial assessment, airborne transmission of the coronavirus is "highly unlikely". "Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to determine linkages and the source of transmission," it added.

Based on the case numbers provided, the COVID-19 infections at the Hougang block are linked to at least two clusters, including the Changi Airport Terminal 3 cluster that currently has 105 cases. One of the cases, a 57-year-old Malaysian woman, had preliminarily tested positive on 16 May for the B1617 COVID-19 variant that originated from India.

Also announced in the release was the mandatory testing for residents of Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51, where four COVID-19 cases have been detected across two households. Residents of the block can visit the Regional Screening Centre located at former Coral Primary School from 9am to 4pm from Sunday to Monday to take their test. They can also contact 1800-333-9999 with any queries.

The ministries also noted that cleaning and disinfection works have been carried out at the public areas of the Hougang block and will also be conducted at the Pasir Ris block.

Residents not under quarantine​

The MOH-MND release noted that the residents of the Hougang and Pasir Ris HDB blocks are not under quarantine and are free to leave their homes as well as to carry on with all activities allowed under the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) regulations.

Deliveries of goods and services, such as cylinder gas, food and repair works, to units at the affected blocks are also still allowed.

"We strongly urge service providers to continue to extend their services to the residents and support our fellow Singaporeans," said the ministries.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

All residents of Pasir Ris HDB block to undergo COVID-19 testing​

SINGAPORE — All 243 residents of a Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51 will be swab tested after four COVID-19 cases were found to be living at the HDB block.

The move is a "precautionary measure" said Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Member of Parliament Desmond Tan in a Facebook post on Sunday (23 May) morning.


On Thursday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) declared that all residents of Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8would have to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing after a "few" COVID-19 cases were found to be living at the block. A joint news release by MOH and the Ministry of National Development (MND) on Sunday said there 10 COVID-19 cases across four households at the block, with one case having been detected through the mandatory testing.

The release also noted that the four cases at the Pasir Ris HDB block were spread across two households.

Tan added that the residents of Block 559 have been informed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to undergo their swab test at the Regional Screening Centre (RSC) located at the former Coral Primary School. The swab tests will be conducted on Sunday and Monday, from 9am to 4pm.

"Residents will also receive SMS notification for their appointment for the swab. Kindly stick to your time slot to avoid overcrowding at the RSC and ensure a smooth and safe swab test," he said.

Residents of the surrounding HDB blocks need not go for testing unless they have visited households at the affected block from 2 May.

Tan said that Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council is also working with the National Environment Agency to conduct at thorough cleaning and disinfection of the common areas at Block 559 and the surrounding blocks.

In a second Facebook post on Sunday, Tan said he had visited Block 559 and found that residents there were "calm and understood the need" for the swab tests. He also shared that the infected residents were being cared for at the hospital or community care facilities and that their close contacts were in quarantine.

"Residents appreciated the effort and assurance to provide this swab test. I thank residents of B559 for their understanding and cooperation," said Tan.

Residents not under quarantine​

The MOH-MND release noted that the residents of the Hougang and Pasir Ris HDB blocks are not under quarantine and are free to leave their homes as well as to carry on with all activities allowed under the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) regulations.

Deliveries of goods and services, such as cylinder gas, food and repair works, to units at the affected blocks are also still allowed.

"We strongly urge service providers to continue to extend their services to the residents and support our fellow Singaporeans," said the ministries.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

All residents of Pasir Ris HDB block to undergo COVID-19 testing​

SINGAPORE — All 243 residents of a Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51 will be swab tested after four COVID-19 cases were found to be living at the HDB block.

View attachment 111651

The move is a "precautionary measure" said Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Member of Parliament Desmond Tan in a Facebook post on Sunday (23 May) morning.


On Thursday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) declared that all residents of Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8would have to undergo mandatory COVID-19 testing after a "few" COVID-19 cases were found to be living at the block. A joint news release by MOH and the Ministry of National Development (MND) on Sunday said there 10 COVID-19 cases across four households at the block, with one case having been detected through the mandatory testing.

The release also noted that the four cases at the Pasir Ris HDB block were spread across two households.

Tan added that the residents of Block 559 have been informed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) to undergo their swab test at the Regional Screening Centre (RSC) located at the former Coral Primary School. The swab tests will be conducted on Sunday and Monday, from 9am to 4pm.

"Residents will also receive SMS notification for their appointment for the swab. Kindly stick to your time slot to avoid overcrowding at the RSC and ensure a smooth and safe swab test," he said.

Residents of the surrounding HDB blocks need not go for testing unless they have visited households at the affected block from 2 May.

Tan said that Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council is also working with the National Environment Agency to conduct at thorough cleaning and disinfection of the common areas at Block 559 and the surrounding blocks.

In a second Facebook post on Sunday, Tan said he had visited Block 559 and found that residents there were "calm and understood the need" for the swab tests. He also shared that the infected residents were being cared for at the hospital or community care facilities and that their close contacts were in quarantine.

"Residents appreciated the effort and assurance to provide this swab test. I thank residents of B559 for their understanding and cooperation," said Tan.

Residents not under quarantine​

The MOH-MND release noted that the residents of the Hougang and Pasir Ris HDB blocks are not under quarantine and are free to leave their homes as well as to carry on with all activities allowed under the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) regulations.

Deliveries of goods and services, such as cylinder gas, food and repair works, to units at the affected blocks are also still allowed.

"We strongly urge service providers to continue to extend their services to the residents and support our fellow Singaporeans," said the ministries.

Could be all 4 cases at the block were infected elsewhere.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

10 COVID-19 cases from 4 households identified at Hougang HDB block: MOH​

SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Health (MOH) has identified 10 COVID-19 cases from four households at Block 506 Hougang Avenue 8.

View attachment 111644

"They are largely Persons Under Quarantine who turned positive for COVID-19. This means that they have been isolated early and ring-fenced, and not likely to be moving around while being infectious," said MOH in a joint news release with the Ministry of National Development (MND) on Sunday (23 May).


One of the cases was detected after mandatory COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was announced for all residents of the block earlier in the week. In total, 407 residents and visitors from the block were tested over Friday and Saturday, with 126 more test results pending.

Those who missed their test can still undergo their mandatory free swab test on Sunday and Monday. (Click here for the list of clinics).

The release noted that all the cases detected at the block were "in the same stack" and that, based on MOH's initial assessment, airborne transmission of the coronavirus is "highly unlikely". "Epidemiological investigations are ongoing to determine linkages and the source of transmission," it added.

Based on the case numbers provided, the COVID-19 infections at the Hougang block are linked to at least two clusters, including the Changi Airport Terminal 3 cluster that currently has 105 cases. One of the cases, a 57-year-old Malaysian woman, had preliminarily tested positive on 16 May for the B1617 COVID-19 variant that originated from India.

Also announced in the release was the mandatory testing for residents of Block 559 Pasir Ris Street 51, where four COVID-19 cases have been detected across two households. Residents of the block can visit the Regional Screening Centre located at former Coral Primary School from 9am to 4pm from Sunday to Monday to take their test. They can also contact 1800-333-9999 with any queries.

The ministries also noted that cleaning and disinfection works have been carried out at the public areas of the Hougang block and will also be conducted at the Pasir Ris block.

Residents not under quarantine​

The MOH-MND release noted that the residents of the Hougang and Pasir Ris HDB blocks are not under quarantine and are free to leave their homes as well as to carry on with all activities allowed under the Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) regulations.

Deliveries of goods and services, such as cylinder gas, food and repair works, to units at the affected blocks are also still allowed.

"We strongly urge service providers to continue to extend their services to the residents and support our fellow Singaporeans," said the ministries.

10 people from 4 households could mean that the household members infected each other and not the people from different households infected each other.

 

[jw5]

Hopefully the number of community cases will decreased and there will be no more mandatory testing of residential flats.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

S'pore's new Covid-19 rules: Can family living together go out in groups of more than 2?​

SINGAPORE - With Singapore set to enter a new wave of restrictions from Sunday (May 16), much confusion surrounds the "rule of two".

The Straits Times answers questions on what you can and cannot do.

Going out and leisure activities​

Q: Can members of the same household go out in groups of more than two people?

A: Yes, family members living together can go out as one group to do essential activities, such as to attend school or for medical appointments.

They can also go out together as a family unit to take care of their elderly relatives, such as their grandparents, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in a Facebook post on Saturday. He added that for grocery shopping, however, they should try to keep this to two family members only, to minimise the family’s exposure to the virus.

The Health Ministry (MOH) said it recognises that there may also be occasions when members of the same household may need to move around in groups larger than two, especially those with young children or elderly parents.

When members of the same household may need to move about in groups larger than two, they should bring along proof of identity such as NRICs to facilitate the checking of particulars by enforcement officers and safe distancing ambassadors, who will be patrolling public spaces.

As such, the ministry is prepared to be flexible in its implementation of the general rule for such bona fide cases. However, households are strongly urged to observe the prevailing group size limits in public settings and venues as far as possible.

Q: Can two people eat outside of home in a public place, such as at the beach, the park or even the void deck? Are picnics allowed? What about people like food delivery personnel who may not have anywhere to eat?

A: While the consumption of food and drinks at public spaces, like parks, is not prohibited, this should be done in instances when it would be inconvenient to return to the home or workplace to eat.

In such cases, members of the public or workers should avoid crowded spaces and minimise social interactions, including maintaining safe distancing at all times.

Q: Can my parents continue to come over to my place to take care of my children, and can I send my children to their place as well?

A: Yes, you can continue to do so, said Mr Ong. He added that families who require childcare support can get the grandparents to go over to help, but they should keep to a cap of two visitors per household per day.

Parents can also send their children to their grandparents’ place, without worrying about the visitor cap, he added.

Individuals should continue to limit their total number of social gatherings to no more than two a day, whether it is to another household, or meeting friends and family members in a public place.

Q: My wedding will be held on Sunday, the first day the new rules kick in. It is too late to make last-minute arrangements. Will it still be allowed to proceed?

A: A special exception will be made for wedding receptions on Sunday to proceed. However, this is subject to the conditions that only up to 100 attendees are allowed and that all unvaccinated attendees must undergo pre-event testing.

Q: Are there any changes to the solemnisation guidelines if it is done at the Registry of Marriages building?

A: A maximum of 10 people, including the bride and groom, are allowed for solemnisations in the Registry of Marriages and Registry of Muslim Marriages buildings.

For solemnisations held in a place of residence, a maximum of 10 people are allowed, including the bride and groom. This number is not inclusive of the solemniser and other vendors.

For solemnisations in other venues, the capacity limit is 100 people, or the safe capacity of the venue, whichever is lower.

This is down from the previous cap of 250 people. If there are between 51 and 100 attendees, pre-event testing is required for all unvaccinated attendees.

Q: Will there be any limit on hair services, such as hair treatments that may take a couple of hours?

A: There is no time limit for hair services, but masks must be worn by customers and staff at all times. Customers can enter the premises only 10 minutes prior to the start of their appointment session and should refrain from mingling with other customers or staff. All safe management measures should be strictly adhered to.

Q: Can I proceed with my booked staycation if it is more than two people? Can a family of three who have booked a staycation before June 13 still be allowed to go ahead?

A: Only two guests are allowed per room, except where individuals are all from the same household. No dining in is allowed at hotel food and beverage (F&B) establishments.

Those with hotel bookings between May 16 and June 13 may change their booking dates or request a refund, subject to terms and conditions.

Those who have used their SingapoRediscovers vouchers for hotel bookings during the period can have the vouchers refunded.

Sports​

Q: Can I go out to cycle, swim or run?

A: Yes, you can swim outdoors alone or in a group of no more than two people, including yourself. The same rule applies for running and cycling.

Q: Can I exercise outdoors with my family if there are more than two of us, like take a walk in the park together?

A: Yes, you can. However you should split into pairs and maintain safe distancing between individuals (2m) and different groups (3m) while exercising.

Q: Will indoor sports halls still be open if it involves games between just two people?

A: Indoor facilities, including gyms, fitness studios, sports halls, indoor swimming pools and squash courts will continue to be closed from May 8 to June 13, unless they offer only low-intensity physical activities where the participants and instructors can be masked at all times.

There will also be no sharing or supplying of common equipment. Some examples of these activities are yoga, pilates, and tai chi.

Q: Will there still be outdoor sports programmes and classes for large groups?

A: Yes. However, the activity must be of low intensity with masks on at all times. Multiple groups of two are allowed to join in, but there is a capacity limit of 30 participants or capacity limit of the venue, whichever is lower. The groups are not to intermingle and must remain 3m apart.

If the activity is of high intensity where masks have to be removed, only two people will be allowed, including the instructor or the coach. Multiple groups of two will not be allowed.

Q: Can I still play sports like badminton, basketball and table tennis?

A: Yes, but only in a group of no more than two people (that is, two individuals playing against each other). Masks must be worn at all times when playing indoors, though they can be taken off during strenuous outdoor activities.

Schools​

Q: Will students be allowed to eat in the canteen, since dining in is not allowed?

A: Yes they can, but the schools will enforce a fixed seating plan with 1m spacing during recess time, with no intermingling.

Others​

Q: Employers must ensure that no more than 50 per cent of employees who can work from home return to the workplaces at any time - does this still hold?

A: No. Safe management measures at the workplaces will be tightened. Employers must ensure that all employees who are able to work from home do so. Previously, up to 50 per cent of employees who are able to work from home could be at the workplaces at any time.

Q: Will photo shoots/productions that involve more than two be allowed?

A: From May 16 to June 13, media content production companies may proceed with the default of up to 15 crew or talents on location, including no more than 10 onscreen talents who may unmask if necessary.

All productions should not have audiences on site and safe distancing of 1m has to be strictly adhered to at all times.

The guidelines are also applicable for photo shoots.


Q: Are home renovation works and construction projects allowed to continue from May 16 to June 13?

A: Yes, they are allowed. However, if there are people residing within the household where the works or services are carried out, there should not be more than two workers allowed per day.

Q: Can more than two people share a taxi or private-hire car if they are from different households?

A: Taxis and private-hire cars can take more than two passengers only if they are all from the same household. Passengers from different households have to keep to the two-passenger limit.

 

[jw5]

from msn.com:

‘Far from out of the woods’: how a Covid-19 variant put Singapore back in defensive mode​

Remain at home and leave the house only if it's essential. Wear a good mask with high filtration capability. Get vaccinated when your turn comes.

These exhortations from Singapore's health authorities underscore how seriously they are treating the current spike in local infections, even though the outbreak is smaller than the one last year involving dormitories housing low-wage migrant workers, and less severe compared to the daily caseload of its Southeast Asian neighbours.


At the heart of their worries is the Covid-19 variant known as B.1.617, which was first identified in India late last year. Unlike the mutations first found in South Africa, Brazil and Britain that were also imported into Singapore by travellers, B.1.617 and its sub-variants have spread faster within the community, causing larger infection clusters.

A statement by the Health Ministry on Friday said the number of new community cases had more than doubled in the past week, while the number of unlinked infections had risen by more than four times. There are now 30 active infection clusters.

Between May 9 and May 20, out of the 250 locally transmitted infections logged in Singapore, at least 38 of them - or about 15 per cent of cases - have tested preliminary positive for B.1.617 and its sub-variants, according to figures made public by the Health Ministry.

Of these, 25 are part of Singapore's 105-patient cluster from its airport terminals, two are associated with other smaller clusters, and 11 of them are unlinked, suggesting that there are hidden chains of transmission yet to be uncovered.

Tens of thousands of residents have been ordered to take Covid-19 tests, including all residents of two public housing blocks after several positive cases were found there.

The city state of 5.7 million, seen as one of the world's best at managing Covid-19, has gone back to lockdown-like restrictions first imposed at the height of the pandemic last year.

Social gatherings are limited to two people, there is no dining in at food places and most people are working from home with youngsters attending classes online. The World Economic Forum's special annual meeting and the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit - scheduled for the coming months - have been canned, while a long-awaited travel bubble with Hong Kong has been suspended for the second time.

Speaking at an event hosted by the US Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, the country's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore was "far from out of the woods, because right now we have a fresh super-spreading cluster".

In a rare public appeal last Sunday, an infectious diseases expert working for the government urged people to do more than authorities had dictated, including forming "your own social bubble" consisting mostly of immediate family members.

"Our current status is likely more dangerous than just before (the) circuit breaker last year," said a Facebook post by Dr David Lye, the director of the National Centre for Infectious Diseases, referring to the city state's partial lockdown from April to June last year.

From a public hospital to the airport​

About 7 per cent of Singapore's more than 61,000 cases since the pandemic began were imported but with most of them identified during the seven to 21-day quarantine period, variant strains did not leak into the community.

This changed when B.1.617 came into the picture.

Figures from the Health Ministry showed that between the start of the pandemic last year and 20 April this year, there were 342 imported cases with various strains, including 46 cases of the B. 1.617 strain, 130 of the one first identified in South Africa and 155 of the one first detected in Britain. But only eight local cases during the same period showed two variants of Covid-19 - the strains first found in South Africa and in Britain.

The first local cases of the B.1.617 variant emerged in late April, with a 46-year-old female nurse at one of the country's largest public hospitals testing positive for Covid-19 on April 27. Authorities did not elaborate on how she was infected but on May 4, as local infections grew, health officials said they had recorded three local cases of the B.1.617.1 sub-variant and seven cases with the B.1.617.2 sub-variant. These included the nurse and four more cases linked to her workplace, Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

Just over a week later on May 13, almost half of the 24 domestic cases reported on the day had tested preliminary positive for the B.1.617 variant.

By then, those found to have the B.1.617 variant included tens of individuals linked to Changi Airport. Among them were airport workers - several of whom were cleaners above the age of 60 with some who were fully vaccinated - their close contacts and members of the public who visited the airport.

Aviation authorities later said preliminary investigations showed initial transmission occurred when a worker assisted a family from South Asia who arrived in Singapore on 29 April and later tested positive for Covid-19.

Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who was in charge of Transport until portfolio changes as part of a cabinet reshuffle took effect on May 15, said initial analysis found that about 20-odd cases from the Changi Airport cluster were of workers staffing an area that received passengers from higher-risk countries, including those in South Asia.

"Workers (went to) have their meals at the Terminal 3 basement 2 commercial areas and the food court. And we suspect from there, (the virus was) transmitted to members of the public that visited the place," he said.


In a separate update, the Health Ministry revealed that there were 409 imported cases from April 16 to May 13, and the majority or 271 of them were from South Asia. Singapore banned all non-residents from India starting April 24 and from May 1 expanded this to include non-residents from Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

On social media, Singapore residents have questioned if safety measures at the airport were inadequate or if the government should have moved faster to limit entry into the country, as soon as they identified a clear rise in imported cases from South Asia. There has also been an uptick in racist comments against South Asians, according to members of the community.

Ong said airport workers had donned full-protective gear, observed safety precautions, and had been regularly tested but "this mutant virus (is) very virulent (and) broke through the layers of defence". The airport has now been segregated into different zones of different risk levels, with workers in higher-risk zones now wearing full PPE and kept apart from others when having meals.

All airport terminals including the 10-storey Jewel Changi Airport have been shut to the public till June 13.

Insights into B.1.617​

India's government has blamed the B.1.617 variant for the country's devastating surge in Covid-19, where it added 5 million new cases in the past two weeks. Britain, which has reported several thousand cases with the B.1.617 variant, may delay plans to fully lift its lockdown by June 21 if infections continue to rise.

Singapore's tracking of infections and genome sequencing of the virus has offered initial insights into the variant strain.

Genome sequencing allows scientists to characterise the exact strain of the virus present in a sample, identify novel mutations, and through comparison, estimate the most likely origin of the virus, said October Sessions, an assistant professor at the National University of Singapore's Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health.

Through genome sequencing, the Health Ministry has in recent days associated cases that were initially thought to be untraceable to its growing airport cluster.

Teo Yik Ying, dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, said sequencing allowed health authorities to document which infections were caused by variants. This information could then be used to decide whether current public health measures were sufficient or needed to be ramped up.

For instance, the Singapore government on Tuesday updated its guidance for compulsory mask-wearing outdoors, urging residents to use masks with better filtration capability as recent community infections suggested a "higher level of transmission, likely attributed to new virus variants".

International studies, including those by WHO, have also drawn similar conclusions and highlighted how a lower viral load of the B.1.617 strain can result in infections compared to the original virus (also known as the wildtype), said infectious diseases doctor Hsu Li Yang.

In numerical terms, B.1.617.2 sub-variant appears to be 50 per cent more transmissible than B.1.1.7 that was first identified in Britain, according to the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies - meaning that it is 225 per cent more contagious that the original strain.

"Because it is more efficient at spreading, prior measures that worked against the wildtype virus appear to be somewhat less effective at preventing infection by this variant," said Hsu.

Singapore has also recorded an increasing number of infections involving children, resulting in the authorities shutting schools and moving lessons online. While experts said there was no evidence to suggest children were more prone to being infected by the variant compared to the original virus strain, given that the variant was more transmissible, the risk of them being affected was higher.

Post Singapore has shut schools over concerns the B.1.617 strain affects children more. Photo: Xinhua
In Malaysia, which has seen a record daily spike in infections this week, Health Minister Adham Baba said more young people were being infected, compared to the earlier waves of infections, where seniors made up the main bulk of cases.

The infections linked to Tan Tock Seng Hospital - Singapore's first hospital cluster - have also spurred health authorities to tighten rules for frontline health care workers who now have to wear N95 masks.

This comes as more experts believe that the coronavirus, previously believed to spread largely through respiratory droplets and contaminated surfaces, is also spreading through airborne transmission.

Still, other experts say the insights gleaned from Singapore's experience with the B.1.617 variant are not exhaustive because its case numbers are too small.

Ashley St John, an associate professor at Duke-NUS Medical School, said most information about how the variants spread would come from large populations where there are multiple clusters of infection with different variants that can be compared.

She added: "Here, we only have this one ongoing community cluster, so it is unlikely we can fully understand it by considering the information from Singapore alone."

Alex Cook, the vice-dean of research at the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, suggested there were some limiting factors to genome sequencing too. For other diseases, sequencing done on a massive scale could provide information such as who infected whom in a cluster, by calculating a phylogenetic tree, which is the family tree of the virus.

"But for Covid-19, we often can't tell this directly because the virus does not mutate fast enough to be able to work out which case came first. But it can still be useful in linking together clusters and identifying where the cluster originated, if the primary case were imported," he added.

What's next​

As authorities try to figure out how to update their virus management playbook with the spread of the variant, health care experts are united in calling for as many people as possible to be vaccinated.

The WHO has said that currently-available vaccines seem able to protect people against the new variants in circulation.

Hsu, the infectious disease expert, stressed that vaccination would reduce the chances of severe disease and death caused by Covid-19 and reduce transmissibility of the virus.

Authorities had earlier pointed to how those from the hospital cluster who were fully vaccinated were either asymptomatic or exhibited mild symptoms, and none had required oxygen support. A handful of those who were not inoculated had either required oxygen support or were in intensive care.

Singapore aims to inoculate all adults - an estimated 4.3 million people - by early August with at least one dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines.

As of May 17, more than one-third of people in Singapore had received at least one vaccine dose, while 25.3 per cent had been fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, government leaders have warned that stricter restrictions could be imposed if needed, fuelling rumours of another lockdown.

Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious disease expert, said much would depend on whether the number of unlinked cases continued to rise. But he said he was confident Singapore was more prepared now to control the spread of Covid-19, as it had much faster contact-tracing capabilities.

A lockdown would likely be the last straw but would be an effective move to weed out the hidden virus cases in the community.

"After infecting an individual, the virus has 14 days to transmit to someone. If it fails, the virus dies in the host. A second circuit breaker breaks the spine of the virus," he said.

"Honestly, if all Singaporeans huddle in fear in their homes and do not go out for three to four weeks, the outbreak will be over in a month."

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

S'pore's new Covid-19 rules: Can family living together go out in groups of more than 2?​

View attachment 111722

SINGAPORE - With Singapore set to enter a new wave of restrictions from Sunday (May 16), much confusion surrounds the "rule of two".

The Straits Times answers questions on what you can and cannot do.

Going out and leisure activities​

Q: Can members of the same household go out in groups of more than two people?

A: Yes, family members living together can go out as one group to do essential activities, such as to attend school or for medical appointments.

They can also go out together as a family unit to take care of their elderly relatives, such as their grandparents, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in a Facebook post on Saturday. He added that for grocery shopping, however, they should try to keep this to two family members only, to minimise the family’s exposure to the virus.

The Health Ministry (MOH) said it recognises that there may also be occasions when members of the same household may need to move around in groups larger than two, especially those with young children or elderly parents.

When members of the same household may need to move about in groups larger than two, they should bring along proof of identity such as NRICs to facilitate the checking of particulars by enforcement officers and safe distancing ambassadors, who will be patrolling public spaces.

As such, the ministry is prepared to be flexible in its implementation of the general rule for such bona fide cases. However, households are strongly urged to observe the prevailing group size limits in public settings and venues as far as possible.

Q: Can two people eat outside of home in a public place, such as at the beach, the park or even the void deck? Are picnics allowed? What about people like food delivery personnel who may not have anywhere to eat?

A: While the consumption of food and drinks at public spaces, like parks, is not prohibited, this should be done in instances when it would be inconvenient to return to the home or workplace to eat.

In such cases, members of the public or workers should avoid crowded spaces and minimise social interactions, including maintaining safe distancing at all times.

Q: Can my parents continue to come over to my place to take care of my children, and can I send my children to their place as well?

A: Yes, you can continue to do so, said Mr Ong. He added that families who require childcare support can get the grandparents to go over to help, but they should keep to a cap of two visitors per household per day.

Parents can also send their children to their grandparents’ place, without worrying about the visitor cap, he added.

Individuals should continue to limit their total number of social gatherings to no more than two a day, whether it is to another household, or meeting friends and family members in a public place.

Q: My wedding will be held on Sunday, the first day the new rules kick in. It is too late to make last-minute arrangements. Will it still be allowed to proceed?

A: A special exception will be made for wedding receptions on Sunday to proceed. However, this is subject to the conditions that only up to 100 attendees are allowed and that all unvaccinated attendees must undergo pre-event testing.

Q: Are there any changes to the solemnisation guidelines if it is done at the Registry of Marriages building?

A: A maximum of 10 people, including the bride and groom, are allowed for solemnisations in the Registry of Marriages and Registry of Muslim Marriages buildings.

For solemnisations held in a place of residence, a maximum of 10 people are allowed, including the bride and groom. This number is not inclusive of the solemniser and other vendors.

For solemnisations in other venues, the capacity limit is 100 people, or the safe capacity of the venue, whichever is lower.

This is down from the previous cap of 250 people. If there are between 51 and 100 attendees, pre-event testing is required for all unvaccinated attendees.

Q: Will there be any limit on hair services, such as hair treatments that may take a couple of hours?

A: There is no time limit for hair services, but masks must be worn by customers and staff at all times. Customers can enter the premises only 10 minutes prior to the start of their appointment session and should refrain from mingling with other customers or staff. All safe management measures should be strictly adhered to.

View attachment 111723

Q: Can I proceed with my booked staycation if it is more than two people? Can a family of three who have booked a staycation before June 13 still be allowed to go ahead?

A: Only two guests are allowed per room, except where individuals are all from the same household. No dining in is allowed at hotel food and beverage (F&B) establishments.

Those with hotel bookings between May 16 and June 13 may change their booking dates or request a refund, subject to terms and conditions.

Those who have used their SingapoRediscovers vouchers for hotel bookings during the period can have the vouchers refunded.

Sports​

Q: Can I go out to cycle, swim or run?

A: Yes, you can swim outdoors alone or in a group of no more than two people, including yourself. The same rule applies for running and cycling.

Q: Can I exercise outdoors with my family if there are more than two of us, like take a walk in the park together?

A: Yes, you can. However you should split into pairs and maintain safe distancing between individuals (2m) and different groups (3m) while exercising.

Q: Will indoor sports halls still be open if it involves games between just two people?

A: Indoor facilities, including gyms, fitness studios, sports halls, indoor swimming pools and squash courts will continue to be closed from May 8 to June 13, unless they offer only low-intensity physical activities where the participants and instructors can be masked at all times.

There will also be no sharing or supplying of common equipment. Some examples of these activities are yoga, pilates, and tai chi.

Q: Will there still be outdoor sports programmes and classes for large groups?

A: Yes. However, the activity must be of low intensity with masks on at all times. Multiple groups of two are allowed to join in, but there is a capacity limit of 30 participants or capacity limit of the venue, whichever is lower. The groups are not to intermingle and must remain 3m apart.

If the activity is of high intensity where masks have to be removed, only two people will be allowed, including the instructor or the coach. Multiple groups of two will not be allowed.

Q: Can I still play sports like badminton, basketball and table tennis?

A: Yes, but only in a group of no more than two people (that is, two individuals playing against each other). Masks must be worn at all times when playing indoors, though they can be taken off during strenuous outdoor activities.

Schools​

Q: Will students be allowed to eat in the canteen, since dining in is not allowed?

A: Yes they can, but the schools will enforce a fixed seating plan with 1m spacing during recess time, with no intermingling.

Others​

Q: Employers must ensure that no more than 50 per cent of employees who can work from home return to the workplaces at any time - does this still hold?

A: No. Safe management measures at the workplaces will be tightened. Employers must ensure that all employees who are able to work from home do so. Previously, up to 50 per cent of employees who are able to work from home could be at the workplaces at any time.

Q: Will photo shoots/productions that involve more than two be allowed?

A: From May 16 to June 13, media content production companies may proceed with the default of up to 15 crew or talents on location, including no more than 10 onscreen talents who may unmask if necessary.

All productions should not have audiences on site and safe distancing of 1m has to be strictly adhered to at all times.

The guidelines are also applicable for photo shoots.


Q: Are home renovation works and construction projects allowed to continue from May 16 to June 13?

A: Yes, they are allowed. However, if there are people residing within the household where the works or services are carried out, there should not be more than two workers allowed per day.

Q: Can more than two people share a taxi or private-hire car if they are from different households?

A: Taxis and private-hire cars can take more than two passengers only if they are all from the same household. Passengers from different households have to keep to the two-passenger limit.

You can still go out as a family for medical appointments or other essential services.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

S'pore's new Covid-19 rules: Can family living together go out in groups of more than 2?​

View attachment 111722

SINGAPORE - With Singapore set to enter a new wave of restrictions from Sunday (May 16), much confusion surrounds the "rule of two".

The Straits Times answers questions on what you can and cannot do.

Going out and leisure activities​

Q: Can members of the same household go out in groups of more than two people?

A: Yes, family members living together can go out as one group to do essential activities, such as to attend school or for medical appointments.

They can also go out together as a family unit to take care of their elderly relatives, such as their grandparents, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung in a Facebook post on Saturday. He added that for grocery shopping, however, they should try to keep this to two family members only, to minimise the family’s exposure to the virus.

The Health Ministry (MOH) said it recognises that there may also be occasions when members of the same household may need to move around in groups larger than two, especially those with young children or elderly parents.

When members of the same household may need to move about in groups larger than two, they should bring along proof of identity such as NRICs to facilitate the checking of particulars by enforcement officers and safe distancing ambassadors, who will be patrolling public spaces.

As such, the ministry is prepared to be flexible in its implementation of the general rule for such bona fide cases. However, households are strongly urged to observe the prevailing group size limits in public settings and venues as far as possible.

Q: Can two people eat outside of home in a public place, such as at the beach, the park or even the void deck? Are picnics allowed? What about people like food delivery personnel who may not have anywhere to eat?

A: While the consumption of food and drinks at public spaces, like parks, is not prohibited, this should be done in instances when it would be inconvenient to return to the home or workplace to eat.

In such cases, members of the public or workers should avoid crowded spaces and minimise social interactions, including maintaining safe distancing at all times.

Q: Can my parents continue to come over to my place to take care of my children, and can I send my children to their place as well?

A: Yes, you can continue to do so, said Mr Ong. He added that families who require childcare support can get the grandparents to go over to help, but they should keep to a cap of two visitors per household per day.

Parents can also send their children to their grandparents’ place, without worrying about the visitor cap, he added.

Individuals should continue to limit their total number of social gatherings to no more than two a day, whether it is to another household, or meeting friends and family members in a public place.

Q: My wedding will be held on Sunday, the first day the new rules kick in. It is too late to make last-minute arrangements. Will it still be allowed to proceed?

A: A special exception will be made for wedding receptions on Sunday to proceed. However, this is subject to the conditions that only up to 100 attendees are allowed and that all unvaccinated attendees must undergo pre-event testing.

Q: Are there any changes to the solemnisation guidelines if it is done at the Registry of Marriages building?

A: A maximum of 10 people, including the bride and groom, are allowed for solemnisations in the Registry of Marriages and Registry of Muslim Marriages buildings.

For solemnisations held in a place of residence, a maximum of 10 people are allowed, including the bride and groom. This number is not inclusive of the solemniser and other vendors.

For solemnisations in other venues, the capacity limit is 100 people, or the safe capacity of the venue, whichever is lower.

This is down from the previous cap of 250 people. If there are between 51 and 100 attendees, pre-event testing is required for all unvaccinated attendees.

Q: Will there be any limit on hair services, such as hair treatments that may take a couple of hours?

A: There is no time limit for hair services, but masks must be worn by customers and staff at all times. Customers can enter the premises only 10 minutes prior to the start of their appointment session and should refrain from mingling with other customers or staff. All safe management measures should be strictly adhered to.

View attachment 111723

Q: Can I proceed with my booked staycation if it is more than two people? Can a family of three who have booked a staycation before June 13 still be allowed to go ahead?

A: Only two guests are allowed per room, except where individuals are all from the same household. No dining in is allowed at hotel food and beverage (F&B) establishments.

Those with hotel bookings between May 16 and June 13 may change their booking dates or request a refund, subject to terms and conditions.

Those who have used their SingapoRediscovers vouchers for hotel bookings during the period can have the vouchers refunded.

Sports​

Q: Can I go out to cycle, swim or run?

A: Yes, you can swim outdoors alone or in a group of no more than two people, including yourself. The same rule applies for running and cycling.

Q: Can I exercise outdoors with my family if there are more than two of us, like take a walk in the park together?

A: Yes, you can. However you should split into pairs and maintain safe distancing between individuals (2m) and different groups (3m) while exercising.

Q: Will indoor sports halls still be open if it involves games between just two people?

A: Indoor facilities, including gyms, fitness studios, sports halls, indoor swimming pools and squash courts will continue to be closed from May 8 to June 13, unless they offer only low-intensity physical activities where the participants and instructors can be masked at all times.

There will also be no sharing or supplying of common equipment. Some examples of these activities are yoga, pilates, and tai chi.

Q: Will there still be outdoor sports programmes and classes for large groups?

A: Yes. However, the activity must be of low intensity with masks on at all times. Multiple groups of two are allowed to join in, but there is a capacity limit of 30 participants or capacity limit of the venue, whichever is lower. The groups are not to intermingle and must remain 3m apart.

If the activity is of high intensity where masks have to be removed, only two people will be allowed, including the instructor or the coach. Multiple groups of two will not be allowed.

Q: Can I still play sports like badminton, basketball and table tennis?

A: Yes, but only in a group of no more than two people (that is, two individuals playing against each other). Masks must be worn at all times when playing indoors, though they can be taken off during strenuous outdoor activities.

Schools​

Q: Will students be allowed to eat in the canteen, since dining in is not allowed?

A: Yes they can, but the schools will enforce a fixed seating plan with 1m spacing during recess time, with no intermingling.

Others​

Q: Employers must ensure that no more than 50 per cent of employees who can work from home return to the workplaces at any time - does this still hold?

A: No. Safe management measures at the workplaces will be tightened. Employers must ensure that all employees who are able to work from home do so. Previously, up to 50 per cent of employees who are able to work from home could be at the workplaces at any time.

Q: Will photo shoots/productions that involve more than two be allowed?

A: From May 16 to June 13, media content production companies may proceed with the default of up to 15 crew or talents on location, including no more than 10 onscreen talents who may unmask if necessary.

All productions should not have audiences on site and safe distancing of 1m has to be strictly adhered to at all times.

The guidelines are also applicable for photo shoots.


Q: Are home renovation works and construction projects allowed to continue from May 16 to June 13?

A: Yes, they are allowed. However, if there are people residing within the household where the works or services are carried out, there should not be more than two workers allowed per day.

Q: Can more than two people share a taxi or private-hire car if they are from different households?

A: Taxis and private-hire cars can take more than two passengers only if they are all from the same household. Passengers from different households have to keep to the two-passenger limit.

Work From Home is the default. Not even 59% of employees allowed now.