Singapore to allow 50% of staff to return to workplaces from August 19

Up to half of employees will be permitted to return to their workplaces starting August 19 as the country prepares to relax its pandemic restrictions.
By: | August 9, 2021
Topics: Employee Experience | Health and Wellness | News | Singapore

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said the easing of the restrictions will only take effect if the pandemic situation continues to be manageable. 

Half the number of staff were allowed to return to their workplaces from May 8. But the surge in the number of new clusters and infections forced the authorities to revert to the default work-from-home rule since May 14 under the country’s phase two (heightened alert). 

“On August 10, we will start a preparatory stage. This is when we will make important adjustments to healthcare protocols, rules on social activities and travel to prepare ourselves for a COVID-19-resilient nation. By August 19, we will make further adjustments if the pandemic situation remains stable,” said health minister Ong Ye Kung, who co-chairs the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19 

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Finance minister Lawrence Wong, who co-chairs the task force, added that the preparatory stage is expected to last about a month. If 80% of Singapore’s population has been vaccinated by then, a further relaxation of COVID-19 safety measures can be expected, he said.