3 new COVID vaccination differentiated measures for Singapore coffee shops, canteens
SINGAPORE — Coffee shops and canteens will now have three options to implement vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS), said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor on Sunday (6 March).
From Sunday, such venues can implement VDS in three different ways to accommodate groups of up to five fully vaccinated persons to dine-in at their premises, without compromising the safety of diners, said Dr Khor in a Facebook post.
Area Bound VDS: A specific area, alongside access control and vaccination checks, is cordoned off for five pax dine-in. Beyond this cordoned area, only two pax dine-in is allowed in areas with no vaccination checks by staff.
Time Bound VDS: Five pax dine-in allowed at the entire premises from 5.00pm to 10.30pm daily, alongside access controls and vaccination status checks during this timing. Outside of this time period, only two pax dine-in is allowed.
Area and Time Bound VDS: A specific area is cordoned off alongside access control and vaccination status checks from 5.00pm to 10.30pm daily. Beyond the cordoned area and timing, only two pax dine-in is allowed.
Interested operators must submit a proposal for Singapore Food Agency (SFA)’s endorsement. Upon approval, operators are required to display signages and posters to clearly inform diners of the VDS requirements.
The MOS noted that the move comes after several rounds of "active consultation" with coffee shop operators about manpower constraints and the operational challenges of implementing vaccination checks, given the porous nature and layout of coffee shops.
Under prevailing COVID curbs, only fully vaccinated individuals may dine-in at all F&B outlets, including restaurants, hawker centres and coffee shops. According to Dr. Khor, 162 coffeeshops and canteens have successfully implemented vaccination checks since the rule was implemented last November.
"This flexibility is welcomed by operators who may face difficulties in implementing 5 pax VDS dine-in for the entire coffeeshop," said Dr Khor. For instance, some operators noted that VDS checks are most critical during evening peak hours when more family members may dine-in and are also more likely to patronise stalls such as zi char and mookata.
Last Friday, a planned streamlining of COVID rules by the multi-ministry task force on COVID-19 (MTF) was again postponed, with the Ministry of Health citing high daily local case numbers and the "significant pressure" that remains on healthcare workers.
On Sunday, an additional 13,158 COVID cases were reported alongside five more deaths, taking the coronavirus death toll to 1,078.
In January, Health Minister and MTF co-chair Ong Ye Kung said that Singapore's next steps beyond the current Omicron wave cannot be predicted as it is in the "fog of war".
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