Have Covid-19 Safety Measures and Guidelines in Singapore Changed Since Vaccination Began?

Looking forward to the easing of Covid-19 restrictions? It won’t happen yet—not until the majority of us get vaccinated. In the meantime, here are the guidelines you should still be following to keep yourself and your loved ones safe

As of the beginning of March 2021, the Ministry of Health has already administered more than 596,000 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to those in Singapore who are in the priority queue for it.

But while we know that the vaccination programme will help keep us safe from the coronavirus, and eventually allow us to further ease social distancing measures, as well as boost economic recovery, it’ll take some time before we can attain comprehensive vaccination coverage across the nation.

This means that Phase 3 will continue to be in effect until further notice, along with all the safety measures that go with it. Whether or not some of them may change in the near future remains to be seen, as the government monitors the progress of vaccinations and changing Covid-19 situation here.

Travel for leisure also remains unlikely, for this year at least, even though there is talk of Singapore discussing the possibility of an air travel bubble with Australia recently. In the meantime, it’s wise to keep safe and plan your staycays for the rest of 2021, even if you’ve already been vaccinated or are still awaiting your turn. Along with that, here is an update of the measures that you should be adhering to at this point in time.

Masks remain indefinitely mandatory

While the vaccination programme is currently being rolled out as speedily as possible, it will take some time to get the majority of the population vaccinated because of the uncertainty in vaccine supplies.

In the meantime, as many in Singapore remain unprotected against the Covid-19 virus, masks will still have to be worn as a safeguard measure as long as you leave your residence—regardless if you have been vaccinated or not.

Continue hygiene practices

Hand hygiene has become an important part of our daily lives, and it should forever remain so. If there’s one good thing that Covid-19 has brought along, it’s the heightened awareness of how good hygiene habits can prevent the spread of contagious diseases.

Equally crucial is the practice of not sharing food, while serving utensils should always be used for communal dishes.

Group gatherings are still limited

The maximum size of social gatherings allowed remains at eight people, while there’s no change, as yet, to the rule that households can only receive a maximum of eight visitors per day.

Global travel won’t go back to pre-Covid-19 levels as yet

Even with vaccination taking place in Singapore and around the world, it’s not likely for global travel to quickly go back to what it was like before the pandemic hit. It is, however, possible for it to slowly and progressively resume, via bilateral arrangements with other countries that have Covid-19 under control.

To facilitate short-term essential business and official travel, Singapore currently has Reciprocal Green Lane arrangements with a few countries. However, it’s important to note that conditions under this scheme are constantly changing with the evolving Covid-19 situation around the world. Updated border measures are available on the SafeTravel website.

Topics

covid-19 covid-19 vaccine social distancing coronavirus pandemic vaccine safety measures

Tatler Asia

Have Covid-19 Safety Measures and Guidelines in Singapore Changed Since Vaccination Began?

Masks remain indefinitely mandatory

Continue hygiene practices

Group gatherings are still limited

Global travel won’t go back to pre-Covid-19 levels as yet