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Singapore Eases Some Virus Curbs as Music Returns to Restaurants

Singapore Partly Rolls Back Dining Curbs as Virus Outbreak Eases

Singapore is easing some tough Covid restrictions put in place more than a month ago to tackle a surge in infections, with five people from the same residence allowed to dine at restaurants starting from Wednesday. 

The changes mark some relaxation of restrictive curbs that were reimposed in late September on one of the most vaccinated countries in the world amid a jump in infections that have tested its health-care system. 

“We are easing off slightly on the bicycle brakes, but we must not let our guard down and lose control as we go down slow,” finance minister Lawrence Wong, who also co-chairs the business hub’s virus task force, said in a briefing on Monday.

Previously, Singapore had allowed eight people from different households to dine together in restaurants around the start of the year, but as infections emerged in different parts of the country, the government has restricted this social activity for fears of virus transmission. 

Singapore Eases Some Virus Curbs as Music Returns to Restaurants

Amid increasing signs of fatigue among Singapore residents toward calls from the authorities to stay at home, the government said it is now looking to pilot the resumption of sports and professional events for those who are fully vaccinated while more school activities will be allowed to resume. 

Among the more relaxed measures, restaurants and bars will be allowed to play soft recorded music although live music and entertainment remains banned. The city-state had earlier banned music inside food and beverage outlets to prevent patrons from having to raise their voices and potentially spreading the virus.  

Medical Bills 

In a sign that Singapore is looking to push more people to get vaccinated, those who chose not to get the jabs will now have to pay for their own medical bills if they get Covid. To date, 85% of the population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19, and 18% have received boosters.

“Progress in vaccination and boosters has contributed immensely to the tempering of Covid-19 cases,” the ministry said. “However, those who are not fully vaccinated continue to disproportionately make up the bulk of severe and ICU cases, and impose a strain on our healthcare system.”

Singapore’s health-care system remains heavily utilized, with slightly less than 70% of intensive care beds in public hospitals occupied, according to Health Ministry data.

However, there are encouraging signs with the weekly infection growth rate -- a ratio that compares the number of community cases in the past week to the one before -- trending below 1 for the last five days. This is a key milestone that health officials in the Asian financial hub have pointed to as one of the prerequisites for any reopening.

Singapore Eases Some Virus Curbs as Music Returns to Restaurants

With the Pfizer vaccine already approved for use in children between the ages 5 and 11 years in the U.S., Singapore is assessing whether to do the same with a recommendation likely to come later this month, said health minister Ong Ye Kung at the briefing. The government is embarking on a study with a few hundred children in the age group who will receive a smaller vaccination dose.

Other new measures include: 

  • Letting travelers from certain low-risk countries placed in travel categories two and three chose to either take a polymerase chain reaction test or professionally administered antigen-rapid test from Nov. 12.
  • Singapore and Malaysia will launch a vaccinated travel lane between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport from Nov. 29.
  • Also expanding vaccinated travel lanes to Finland and Sweden from Nov. 29.
  • Billing Covid patients who choose not to get jabs from Dec. 8
  • Increasing zone capacity for congressional worship, meetings, conferences, live performances, spectator sports and weddings from 50 people to 100.
  • Allowing unmasking for up to 10 people engaged in public speaking at any time.

©2021 Bloomberg L.P.