All ticketed cultural, sports, and entertainment events with 250 participants or more are to be either deferred or cancelled, announced Minister for Health and co-chair of the multi-ministry task force on Covid-19 Gan Kim Yong on Friday (Mar. 13).

This new measure was announced at a press conference on further precautionary measures Singapore is taking against the escalating Covid-19 situation both in Singapore and abroad.

Large events to be cancelled or deferred

While Gan announced that all ticketed cultural, sports, and entertainment events with 250 participants or more are advised to be cancelled or deferred, a press release from the Ministry of Health (MOH) suggests that this may not be a compulsory order.

When asked about events like the National Day Parade, Gan said no one knows how long the outbreak will last, and cancellations for large events will be the organisers' judgement call.

According to the Ministry's press release, events that have already been "committed", such as those for which tickets have already been sold, organisers will have to demonstrate that "satisfactory precautionary measures" have been taken before the events can proceed.

Other mass gatherings to put in precautionary measures

Organisers of other private mass gatherings, such as religious services and private functions, have been advised to put in additional precautionary measures.

These measures include:

• Reducing the number of participants to below 250 if possible
• Reducing the crowding of participants and improving ventilation. Participants are advised to be seated at least a metre apart, and to reduce physical contact with one another
• Establishing temperature checks and health screenings, and turning away persons who are unwell
• Obtaining participants' details and other measures to facilitate possible contact tracing

Participants should also be told to exercise social responsibility and avoid these and any large gatherings if they feel sick.

Gan said:

"Based on how the local and global situation evolves, we will continue to review these measures accordingly.

Ultimately, all these measures will only work if each of us play our part and exercise social responsibility, monitor our own health, and avoid attending gatherings and events if we are unwell."

His announcement comes after the People's Association suspended all its senior-centric activities at Community Centres/Clubs and Residents' Community Centres on March 10 after a Covid-19 cluster was discovered from a dinner held at SAFRA Jurong.

All mosques in Singapore are also closed until March 18 after a number of devotees who went to a religious event in Selangor, Malaysia tested positive for Covid-19.

Catholic masses will also continue to be indefinitely suspended, as announced by the Archbishop on March 12, despite initial plans last week to resume them this weekend.

"Let's work together to keep each other safe and healthy", said Gan.

Top photo by Lucas Low on Unsplash