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The Multi-Ministry Task Force (MTF) announced during a press conference on Aug. 6 that work from home measures are expected to ease in two weeks.

Workplace restrictions to relax on Aug. 19

Up to 50 per cent of employees who are currently working from home will be allowed to return to the workplace from Aug. 19.

Work-from-home has been the default in Singapore since May 14, following an increase in number of Covid-19 cases in the community.

During the press conference, co-chair of MTF and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong said that this will be part of the "next step" in the further easing of measures for Singapore.

Other potential adjustments from Aug. 19 could include a further increase in event sizes and capacity, such as permitting up to 1,000 fully vaccinated attendees for MICE events and congregational services, if the Covid-19 situation remains under control.

Transition roadmap to "Covid-19 resilient nation"

Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung further elaborated on the various "stages" Singapore is expected to go through in the coming weeks:

"[On Aug. 10,] we will enter a new phase called the preparatory stage. This is when we will make important adjustments to healthcare protocols, rules on social activities, and travel to prepare ourselves for a transition to a Covid resilient nation.

...

The preparatory stage should last for about a month or so, until say, early September.

By then we expect 80 per cent of our population to have received their full vaccination regimen. If our healthcare capacity is not overly stretched, we will be able to move to the next phase, Transition Stage A, where we further open up our economy, social activities and travel... And if the pandemic situation, with all these measures, remains stable at Transition Stage A, we can then consider further opening up to Transition Stage B, and eventually to a new normal as a Covid-19 resilient nation."

Ong added that for Singapore, it would be a step by step approach, rather than "one big bang" where all restrictions are lifted at once, as the government makes judgement calls along the way.

"The transition roadmap will therefore be a very careful balance between lives and livelihoods," Ong said.

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