On June 26, 2020, Sport Singapore (SportSG) was alerted to a positive Covid-19 case who played badminton at ActiveSG Jurong East Indoor Sport Hall on June 22.

As a precaution, SportSG has closed the ActiveSG Jurong East Indoor Sport Hall from June 27 to 28 for thorough disinfection and cleaning, and a review of the safe management measures (SMM) in place.

To ensure that all users of ActiveSG’s Indoor Sport Halls understand the rules and spirit of the SMMs, all ActiveSG Indoor Sport Halls will also be closed on June 28.

Preliminary investigations found that the positive case and a large badminton social group that he played with had breached the SMM and rules put in place by SportSG.

The badminton social group had between them booked up to six badminton courts from 9am to 12pm.

During the badminton sessions, there was cross-mixing of players across multiple courts, despite the physical partitions and clear rules that badminton is restricted to four players to a court and that mingling with players on other courts is not allowed.

These rules that disallow inter-group mixing are in force for all sport and not just badminton.

SportSG views any violation of SMM very seriously as they compromise the entire national effort to minimise the risk of community transmission.

SportSG is investigating this incident and will take strong action against the individual and the other players who have infringed the regulations, including barring them from the use of ActiveSG facilities henceforth.

In addition, SportSG will implement new measures to reinforce adherence to the rules at all its indoor sport facilities.

Coloured wrist bands will be issued and worn by players to identify different groups for each badminton court and remind players to act responsibly.

SportSG will be scrutinising badminton social groups who plan to gather as a large congregation at any venue.

Individuals involved with such groups, as well as those who play and mix across different courts, will have their bookings cancelled and/ or ejected from the indoor sport hall, as well as barred from the future use of ActiveSG facilities.

To ensure that all users of ActiveSG’s Indoor Sport Halls understand the rules and spirit of the SMMs, SportSG will be implementing a "time-out", and closing all ActiveSG Indoor Sport Halls on June 28, 2020.

We hope that all users of our facilities will take this time to reflect on the importance of exercising individual responsibility for the collective good, so that we can overcome Covid-19, together.

SportSG CEO Lim Teck Yin said:

“It is very disappointing that some members of the public had not adhered to the rules and circumvented the measures that were put in place by SportSG. Such irresponsible behaviour will jeopardise everyone’s efforts to minimise Covid-19 transmission within the community. SportSG will enhance its measures and enforcement to stop such irresponsible behaviour. We hope that this ‘time-out’ helps all of us to reflect on how we should work together. As much as we are excited to catch up with our friends and to keep active, we must do the right thing and abide by the rules and the spirit behind them. This way, we can ensure that our sport facilities can remain open, so that the community can continue to participate in sport and stay healthy.”

In accordance with SportSG’s Advisory issued on 17 June, the use of sport facilities are subject to the following safe management measures:

(1) individuals having to maintain a safe distance while exercising,

(2) a rule of maximum 5 persons in group activities with no mixing between groups,

(3) a minimum safe distance of 3m between groups, as well as

(4) facility capacity limited according to its Gross Floor Area based on 10 Sqm per person or 50 persons, whichever is lower. In the case of ActiveSG Badminton courts, the maximum number of people allowed is capped at four per court. Cross-mixing of groups is not allowed.