Government Takes Action Following Breach of COVID-19 Safety Measures
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) reported on Friday evening (May 13) that six individuals who were not fully vaccinated were found dining at hawker centres following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions on April 26. Despite the lifting of many restrictions, vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS) remain in place at food and beverage (F&B) outlets, including hawker centres and coffee shops.
As part of VDS, diners at these venues must be fully vaccinated. These individuals have each been fined S$300 for not adhering to the regulations, according to an MSE spokesperson responding to questions from CNA.
The lifting of group size limits on April 26 also saw VDS restrictions relaxed across most settings. However, three high-risk areas remain under VDS: F&B outlets, nightlife venues with dancing, and events exceeding 500 participants.
Authorities previously allowed smaller groups of five fully vaccinated individuals to dine at F&B establishments without the need for entry checks, to reduce operational challenges. Enforcement officers now conduct random spot checks at venues like hawker centres and coffee shops to verify vaccination statuses.
Between April 26 and May 9, over 20,000 random checks were carried out across F&B establishments, with more than 1,500 checks performed daily. Six unvaccinated or partially vaccinated individuals were found at hawker centres, while all individuals at coffee shops had valid vaccination certificates.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) stressed that it is the responsibility of diners to comply with safe management measures.
What If You’ve Deleted Your TraceTogether App?
Diners can show their vaccination status by presenting the “green tick” verification on their TraceTogether app, scanning their TT token, or using the HealthHub app. Alternatively, physical vaccination records may be provided. Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has urged the public to retain their TraceTogether apps and tokens, even though the situation has stabilised, as VDS measures could be reintroduced if necessary.
