Another key change is that the mandate for wearing masks outdoors will be lifted for the first time since it was imposed in April 2020 when Singapore entered into the two-month-long “circuit breaker”. The move comes as the risk of outdoor transmission of the coronavirus is significantly lower, noted Lee. He adds that mask-wearing will still be mandatory indoors while the one-metre safe distancing requirement between groups be maintained in mask-off settings to minimise the transmission of the coronavirus.
Singapore is set to further ease restrictions from March 29, in line with its move to treating Covid-19 as endemic, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on March 24. The move will allow more businesses and social activities to resume as the Omicron wave has crested and is now subsiding. “With many of us already exposed to the virus and recovered, our population has stronger immunity. Crucially, our healthcare system — while under considerable stress — remains resilient,” adds Lee.
Come midnight on March 29, people will be allowed to gather socially in groups of up to 10 persons, double the five-person cap that is currently in place. Offices can have up to 75% of their employees back at the workplace, up from the current 50%. Meanwhile, the capacity limit for larger events and settings, which has over 1,000 attendees, will be increased to 75%.
