More to return to office as S'pore eases Covid-19 measures: How will you be affected by the changes?

SINGAPORE - Covid-19 safety measures in Singapore are being relaxed significantly as the country reopens the economy further amid low community case numbers.

Here's a rundown of the changes you can expect.

BACK TO WORK

PHOTO: ST FILE

Working from home remains the default, but from next Monday, more employees who can work from home can opt to return, provided:

  • They continue to work from home for at least half their working time.
  • Fewer than half of a firm's employees who are able to work from home are at the workplace at any point.
  • Workers have flexible working hours to minimise crowding.
  • Reporting times are staggered, with half of all employees starting work at 10am or later.
  • Split team or shift arrangements continue.
  • Work-related events of up to 50 people, depending on venue capacity, are allowed.
  • Larger-scale social gatherings within or outside the workplace remain off the table.

TYING THE KNOT

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
  • Up to 100 people, including the wedding couple, are allowed at wedding receptions from Oct 3, double the current number.
  • Participants must be split into zones of up to 50 people each, or attend at staggered timings, with up to 50 people in each slot.
  • There should be at least 30 minutes between slots for cleaning and disinfection.
  • The cap for solemnisations will also be increased to 100 people, split across zones of up to 50 people each.
  • Weddings at void decks and multi-purpose halls can resume in November, under a pilot which allows receptions organised by registered wedding organisers to take place at HDB common areas.

CATCHING A MOVIE

ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO
  • Large cinema halls with more than 300 seats can seat up to half this number, with up to three zones of 50 people each from next Thursday.
  • Smaller cinema halls can increase their capacity to 50% of the original figure, or maintain the current limit of up to 50 people per hall.

WORSHIP AND PRAYER

ST PHOTO: KELVIN CHNG
  • All religious organisations can conduct services for up to 100 people from Oct 3, with safe distancing and safe management measures in place.

TRAVELLING FOR BUSINESS

ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI
  • Senior executives with extensive regional or international responsibilities will be allowed to go on essential business trips under a new pilot scheme.
  • Limited passes will be given out through Singapore's economic agencies, and those who travel will have to abide by a strict, controlled itinerary.
  • When they return, they will be given the option of doing a Covid-19 test instead of serving a stay-home notice, and self-isolating until test results are out.
  • The number of passes will be strictly limited in the initial phase.

MASKS AND CHILDREN

ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.