COVID-19 rules simplified, safe distancing no longer required in mask-on settings

Singapore will simplify its COVID-19 measures and do without safe distancing in mask-on settings from Feb 25 onwards. 

This is so as to make things easier for people to understand and comply with, announced the Multi-Ministry Task Force at a press conference on Wednesday (Feb 16).

The current cap of five unique household visitors per day will be tweaked to five people at any one time.  However, the maximum group size for social gatherings remains at five people.

At the workplace, employees who have their masks on will not need to maintain 1m safe distancing. Social gatherings at the workplaces will also be allowed to resume with up to five people in a group. 

For events like religious services, wedding receptions, business events, media conferences, funerary memorial events and mask-on classes, specific size limits will be lifted from Mar 4. MOH will set event sizes based on the capacity of the venue, while zoning requirements will also be removed.

All sports will be allowed to proceed with up to 30 fully vaccinated people at supervised or operated sports facilities, without having to self-test themselves at the facility before engaging in their sport.

MOH said in a statement that there has been “no compelling evidence” to show that transient contact while playing sports leads to infections.

“I think all these little things don’t matter, really don’t matter anymore, we can do away with them. Our people know that we are in a crisis and we can start to remove these little daily reminders that are not really material anymore,” said Health Minister and task force co-chair Ong Ye Kung.