The government recently announced the easing of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) restrictions, as of Aug. 10.
This includes allowing people to dine in once again, go out in groups of five, as well as allowing the resumption of gyms and other exercise classes, all subject to vaccination-differentiated measures.
It seems however, that the varying measures for vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals might have sparked some confusion among the masses.
Notice at a food court
A photo of a notice at a Kopitiam or Foodfare food court was posted to Facebook by a puzzled diner.
The notice, apparently put up before Aug. 10, stated that dining in will only be allowed for vaccinated diners in groups of two.
Diners who fail to comply with the measures will be turned away, and a longer wait time to enter the food court can also be expected.
Food courts = coffee shops?
The post triggered a discussion in the comments section as to whether food courts allow vaccinated diners to dine in groups of up to two or five.
Some equated Kopitiam food courts to coffee shops, which only allow diners to dine in groups of two, vaccinated or unvaccinated.
However, the rationale given by MOH and the Multi-Ministry Task Force was that coffeeshops are open-air and therefore better-ventilated, which does not seem to apply to air-conditioned Kopitiam food courts.
Others reiterated that food courts are not considered F&B establishments like restaurants.
Up to five pax vaccinated allowed at food courts
In response to Mothership's queries, a Kopitiam spokesperson shared that all Kopitiam and Foodfare food courts are adhering to the authority's guidelines of allowing groups of up to five vaccinated people to dine in.
The notice that was shared on Facebook was a "miscommunication", and these notices were placed at Kopitiam food courts at four locations:
- Yew Tee Square
- Rivervale Plaza
- GreenRidge
- Vista Point
The incorrect notices have since been replaced with ones displaying the correct information.
Up to two pax at coffee shops and hawker centres
However, allowing vaccinated diners to only dine in groups of two at restaurants or food courts is actually still within the stipulated guidelines of having up to five in a group.
To reiterate for clarity, these are the new dining in measures as of today onwards:
- Groups of up to five people will be allowed to dine in at F&B establishments. All five diners have to be fully vaccinated.
- Groups of up to two people will be allowed to dine in at coffee shops and hawker centres. Diners can be vaccinated or unvaccinated, as these places are open-air and well-ventilated.
Also to avoid any confusion, "fully vaccinated" does not mean just taking two doses of a vaccine. It means taking two doses and also waiting two weeks.
Only then is one considered "fully vaccinated."
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Top photo from Janice Ong / FB and TB Foo / FB