Singapore will allow social interactions to resume during Phase 2, according to Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong in a Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) press conference on May 28.

Social interactions to resume

In Phase 2, small-group social gatherings of up to five persons will be allowed.

Within the home, households may receive up to five visitors per day.

As Phase 2 progresses, this cap of five people may increase.

Masks will also remain compulsory whenever outside one’s home.

Meanwhile, seniors should continue to exercise extra caution and stay at home as much as possible.

To better support them and their caregivers, more senior services and programmes (e.g. senior care centres) will resume with the appropriate safe management measures in place.

Some face-to-face social services for other vulnerable groups will resume with safe management measures.

Phase 2 may be implemented before end of June

Singapore may enter Phase 2 of re-opening plans before the end of June, according to Wong.

The Circuit Breaker is scheduled to end on June 1.

If community transmissions and infection rates over the first two weeks of June remain low and stable, the MTF will decide by mid-June if Singapore will move from Phase 1 to Phase 2.

This means that Phase 2 of re-opening could possibly happen before the end of June, 2020, Wong said.

Retail shops, consumer services, dine-ins & some public venues to reopen

While Phase 1 will see around 75 per cent of the economy re-opening, the MTF expects "almost the entire economy" to reopen by the start of Phase 2, as well as the resumption of a "wider range of activities".

For example, retail shops and consumer services would resume, as well as dining in at hawker centres and F&B outlets.

However, tables at dining places must be separated, and every table will be subject to a cap of up to five people.

Sports facilities and more public venues, including stadiums and swimming pools, would also re-open.

Activities or venues with higher risks may open at a later date within Phase 2

The MTF will also look more carefully at activities in higher risk settings, such as activities or venues with large gatherings of people, or enclosed spaces where people come into close contact with each other.

Examples of such venues and activities include museums, libraries, cinemas, theatres and religious functions, as well as bars, parks, clubs and discos.

Based on the experience of the MTF, all these venues and settings have been instances where there have been cases of transmissions.

Therefore, a more cautious approach will be taken before activities in these areas can resume.

Discussions with relevant businesses and organisations on the necessary measures to take place

The MTF will begin conversations and discussions with businesses and organisations across these different settings on the safeguards and safe management measures that will be needed.

After these safeguards and safe management measures are put in place, the MTF will then discuss with the entities on the precise timing which they can resume activities within Phase 2.

This means that while not all businesses and organisations will be allowed to resume activities at the start of Phase 2, they may be allowed to do so at a later date within Phase 2, given that they adhere to proper precautions.

Top image via Clean & Green Singapore/FB