May 02, 2020, 12:05 PM
Selected activities will be allowed to resume from May 12 amid the current circuit breaker mode in Singapore, Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong announced in a virtual press conference on Saturday, May 2.
Food retail outlets open for takeaway only
These activities include home-based food businesses, food manufacturers and selected food retail outlets, laundry services, barbers, and pet supplies.
Here are the details of premises and businesses that will be allowed to resume:
- Manufacturing and onsite preparation of all food, including cakes and confectionery, ice cream, cocoa, chocolate and chocolate products, and other snacks;
- Retail outlets of food, including cakes and confectionery, packaged snacks and desserts, may be open for takeaway and delivery only;
- Home-based food businesses may operate, but only for delivery or collection. Delivery and collection of food orders should be done in a safe and contactless manner, by appointment so that it can be spaced out, and there is no bunching of people.
- Retail laundry services;
- Barbers and hairdressers, for basic haircut services; and
- Retail of pet supplies.
Last week (Apr 21), the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said in a statement that hairdressers and barbers will have to close their outlets, as Singapore’s circuit breaker has been extended by a month until June 1.
Graduating cohort to be brought back to school for face to face lessons
And from May 19, students will be brought back to school in small groups for face to face lessons, with priority given to the graduating cohort who are taking national exams.
Wong, co-chair of a multi-ministry task force, said: "priority will be given to those who require school facilities for their coursework and practical sessions, and those who need additional support during the school vacation period."
He added that the institutes of higher learning, particularly ITEs (Institute of Technical Education), will also bring back more groups of students on campus for critical consultations, projects, or practicums.
Work places to gradually reopen while adhering to strict guidelines
Wong also announced that workplaces will gradually reopen.
Nevertheless, he emphasised the need for key requirements to be put in place.
He said workplace safety and health must take into consideration "safe distancing and a whole range of safe management practices that are critical to prevent the spread of the virus within the work premises".
For example, workplaces have to make sure that staff at work are "physically spaced out when they are working, that there's no mixing of staff across different teams when they are deployed at different sites".
Additionally, workplaces have to ensure that there is no gathering of staff, be it at the pantries or during lunch breaks.
He added that the government is working out the specific measures, and that they will engage the industry associations and business chambers, so that these measures can put in place and strictly enforced.
Top image via Pet Lovers Centre/Facebook & Dilyara Garifullina/Unsplash
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