COVID-19 Phase Advisory

14 Oct 2022

Transition Phase to COVID-19 Resilience

Even as we resume our transition towards living with COVID-19, we need to do so in a careful and controlled manner. We seek everyone’s cooperation to: 

  • Exercise social responsibility and cooperate with the SMMs
  • Follow the appropriate health protocols should we test positive for COVID-19, including by resting at home or visiting your primary care physicians if you need any medical attention
  • Refrain from going to the Emergency Departments unless there are any medical emergencies, to ensure that we preserve the hospital resources for those require acute care
  • Get vaccinated and boosted when eligible

These will ensure the current situation continues to remain stable, and allow us to progressively resume our social and economic activities.

The MTF will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and ease measures to allow more activities to resume.

Here are the measures from 10 October 2022:

gather 

SOCIAL GATHERINGS
• No group size limit.

visiting 

HOUSEHOLD VISITS
• No limit on the number of visitors per household.
• Unvaccinated should exercise caution, reduce movement, stay at home as much as possible.

mask 

MASK WEARING
• Optional in all settings except for healthcare facilities*, residential care homes (including welfare and sheltered homes for the aged, as well as adult disability homes) and ambulances, and public transport. Click here for more details.
• Even as mask-wearing is removed in most settings, individuals are encouraged to wear masks when in crowded places, or when visiting or interacting with vulnerable persons.
*refer here for the listing of hospitals and national specialty centres. Mask-wearing is required in all indoor premises of these facilities including at retail or F&B establishments located within the building.

safe-distancing-01 

SAFE DISTANCING
• Not required between individuals or between groups.

workplace 

WORKPLACES
• All employees may return to the workplace.
• For healthcare facilities, residential care homes (including welfare and sheltered homes for the aged, as well as adult disability homes) and ambulances, and public transport, where mask-wearing is still required, unmasking is allowed at these workplace if one is not interacting physically with others and when not in customer-facing areas. 
• Workforce Vaccination Measures lifted. See MOM’s advisory.

FAQ: All Safe Management Measures

Updated 10 Oct 2022

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General Safe Management Measures

Why is mask-wearing required for healthcare facilities, residential care homes and public transport?

Mask wearing is an effective way of minimizing the risk of disease transmission. Healthcare, residential care, medical and public transport are essential services frequently used by vulnerable persons, and there is need for us to take extra precaution in these areas to ensure vulnerable persons remain protected.

How will the Government check and enforce the community safe management measures? What are the penalties for individuals who flout the rules? Who can serve these enforcement penalties?

These measures have been provided with the force of law and are enforceable across sectors and against individuals and businesses. This will be enforced strictly, for the protection of everyone.

Enforcement officers will be on the ground, and egregious breaking of these rules will lead to enforcement action under the Infectious Disease Act, the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act or other relevant laws. For instance, under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act, the penalties for breaches are imprisonment for up to a term not exceeding 6 months or a fine not exceeding $10,000 or both, and for a second offence up to a term not exceeding 12 months or a fine not exceeding $20,000 or both.

There have been cases where frauds were acting as Safe Distancing Ambassadors. How do I verify if the enforcement officer is indeed appointed by the Government? Will I be expected to make payment for any penalties upfront?

Safe-Distancing Ambassadors are deployed by various government agencies to help and guide businesses and individuals to comply with the safe distancing measures. They do not impose fines.

Enforcement Officers will not collect fines on the spot, from individuals and businesses who have contravened these rules. The penalties for breaches will be issued to individuals or businesses in the form of composition letters which will state the relevant follow-up actions required.

Personal Well-being

I am experiencing high levels of stress during this period. Where can I seek  help if needed ?

Those with general anxiety or stress may call the National CARE Hotline (Tel: 6202-6868) for support.

Those experiencing marital or parenting stress may wish to contact CPH Online Counselling at www.cphonlinecounselling.sg

Live chat: Mon-Fri 9am-9pm

Email: Anytime, counsellor will respond within 3 working days

Business and Commercial Entities

What are the Safe Management requirements for my company?

Details on the Safe Management measures for workplaces can be found at https://www.mom.gov.sg/covid-19/requirements-for-safe-management-measures and https://www.mom.gov.sg/covid-19/advisory-on-covid-19-vaccination-in-employment-settings

Sector-specific advisories can also be found at https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/safemanagement/sector/

Others

When will Singapore lift all the remaining SMMs?

MOH will continue to review the measures and adjust based on the evolving community situation.

While we have eased most SMMs at this juncture, we must continue to remain vigilant and be ready to respond to any dangerous new variants. Should the situation worsen, we may need to put in place the necessary measures at short notice, so as to protect the public, safeguard our healthcare workers and conserve hospital capacity. This may include standing up an appropriate level of VDS, as was necessary during the height of the pandemic.

Travel Advisory

Updated 18 Aug 2022

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Latest Travel Advisory (as of 18 Aug 2022)

All travellers are advised to check the entry requirements imposed by the countries/regions they intend to travel to. When overseas, all travellers should take all necessary precautions, observe good personal hygiene, monitor local developments, and heed the advice of local authorities.

Those who are recently diagnosed or suspected to be infected with COVID-19 should follow Protocol 2 by deferring their travels and self-isolating in the first 72 hours after diagnosis. After which, they may exit self-isolation once tested negative, or on Day 7 (for vaccinated persons and children below 12 years old) or Day 14 (for non-fully vaccinated persons aged 12 years and above).

All travellers should ensure that they are up to date with their vaccinations and boosters. Please refer to the MOH website for the vaccinations and boosters that they are recommended to receive and how they can arrange to do so. While travelling, they should take additional precautions based on their personal circumstances, even if not required by local regulations (e.g. avoiding crowded locations and wearing a mask).

All travellers will be subject to the prevailing border measures upon entry to Singapore, and are responsible for all associated costs where applicable. As our border measures will evolve as the global situation changes, we encourage everyone to check the ICA website for the latest updates.

The following groups of Singapore Citizens (SCs), Permanent Residents (PRs), and Long-Term Pass Holders (LTPHs) are required to pay for their medical bills should they require admission to a hospital and/or dedicated COVID-19 treatment and recovery facilities:

a) SCs/PRs/LTPHs who are not fully vaccinated; and

b) SCs/PRs/LTPHs who are subject to Restricted Category border measures, if they develop onset of symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 within 7 days of their return to Singapore, regardless of their vaccination status. (There are currently no countries/regions in the Restricted Category.)

They may tap on regular healthcare financing arrangements to help them pay for their COVID-19 treatment— SCs and PRs may access Government subsidies, and MediShield Life (MSHL) / Integrated Shield Plan (IP) coverage where applicable; LTPHs may tap on their usual financing arrangements, such as private insurance, if applicable.

Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPC)

The Ministry of Health (MOH) has re-activated the Public Health Preparedness Clinics (PHPCs) to focus our primary care efforts to better detect and manage COVID-19 infections. Please click here for more information from the press release.


From 18 February 2020, the PHPCs, as well as polyclinics, will provide special subsidies for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents diagnosed with respiratory illnesses (e.g. common cold). Please click here to find a PHPC located near you.


You may also refer to this link for the FAQs on the PHPC Scheme.