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Indoor mask-off activities at gyms and fitness studios can resume with up to 30 persons from Aug. 10.

This was announced in a press conference by the Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) on Aug. 6. 

The relaxed restrictions are due to the higher vaccination rates, which is currently at 67 per cent as of Aug. 5, according to the Ministry of Health.

Indoor mask-on and outdoor activities expanded

Currently, indoor mask-off activities and classes are suspended.

Mask-off activities are only allowed outdoors with a class size limit of two people.

Mask-on classes, for both indoors and outdoors, are capped at 30 people in groups of up to two people, subject to venue's limit and safe distancing requirements.

However, from Aug. 10, this will be expanded.

Indoor mask-off, high-intensity activities and classes in gyms and fitness studios can resume, with some caveats.

These classes are capped at 30 people, in groups of up to five people, if all individuals are "fully vaccinated".

For the purposes of this activity, MOH considers an individual "fully vaccinated" two weeks after receiving the full regimen of Pfizer-BioNTech/Comirnatry or Moderna vaccines, or a vaccine on the WHO Emergency Use Listing.

They are also eligible if they have recovered from Covid-19, or have obtained a negative result on a pre-event test.

50 people

For indoor mask-on and all outdoor activities, the limit will be raised to 50 persons, in groups of up to five.

This can be done regardless of vaccination or test status.

Workers in selected sectors to be tested twice a week if unvaccinated

Workers in selected sectors, usually those with regular exposure to the public, will either have to be vaccinated, or tested with an Antigen Rapid Test (ART) kit twice a week if they are unvaccinated.

This is part of the “Vaccinate or Regular Test” Regime, where regular testing will be mandated if the individual is unvaccinated.

Regular testing will help pick up possible infections early as well as to mitigate risk of transmission to their colleagues and the public.

These sectors include those in the frontlines, in certain sectors with regular exposure to the public, the healthcare and eldercare sectors, as well as those working in settings with with children 12 years and below.

This protects vulnerable segments of the population such as the elderly, children, and sick.

The public service will also be introducing this requirement for public officers, including the uniformed services.

This requirement will only take effect from Oct. 1 2021, to give individuals more time to get vaccinated.

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