Exiting the circuit breaker: What happens in Phase 1, 2 and 3

The circuit breaker will end on Jun 1, but the transition to the new normal will be a gradual one over three phases.

Here is what you can expect in Phase 1, 2 and 3 of Singapore’s exit from circuit breaker:

Phase 1: Safe Re-opening

Starting Jun 2, you will be allowed to visit your parents and grandparents.

However, the visits must be kept very small, and only two members of one household are allowed to visit on one day. In other words, you can go with your sibling (living in the same house as you) to visit your grandparents, but not on the same day that your cousins (or any other relatives) are visiting them.

As social visits are limited to visiting parents and grandparents, you are still NOT ALLOWED to meet your friends yet (sorry LDR couples!).

Primary and secondary schools will resume, with graduating cohorts attending lessons daily, while others will alternate between home-based learning and school lessons.

The risk of a second wave of infections is very real during this phase, so we should still remain home as much as possible. You will still need to wear a mask when going out, and should not talk to people on the train.

This phase will last four weeks or more.

Phase 2: Safe Transition

If the number of new COVID-19 infections remains low and stable, Singapore will transit to Phase 2 where small social gatherings will finally be allowed.

We might be able to start dining in at restaurants, visit retail outlets and head to the gym, if these places have safe management measures put in place. Some outdoor recreational venues will re-open too.

While those who can work from home will continue to do so, all students will likely be returning to school. Institutes of higher learning will also begin letting more students on campus.

Tuition centres will re-open too, if that’s something you’re looking forward to.

Phase 2 will last several months, and the re-opening will be done in gradual steps depending on the situation.

Phase 3: Safe Nation

Phase 3 will be the ‘new normal’ that will continue until a vaccine is found. This is not the same as returning to life before COVID-19, as precautions and limits will still be in place.

While many gatherings are expected to resume in some form by this time, there will still be limits on the number of people at such venues. Activities that involve crowds being in close proximity, especially indoors, will require permission to re-open.

So we probably will not be clubbing for a long time to come.