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TraceTogether use to be mandatory at workplaces, schools, malls and others by December

TraceTogether tokens. (Photo: Facebook page of Vivian Balakrishnan)
TraceTogether tokens. (Photo: Facebook page of Vivian Balakrishnan)

SINGAPORE — Singapore will make the deployment and use of the TraceTogether (TT) app or token mandatory by December across a wide range of venues from workplaces, schools, healthcare facilities, retail shops to malls.

In a media release on Tuesday (20 October), the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (Prime Minister’s Office) said TT will be progressively expanded to more venues in order to enable the resumption of larger-scale activities.

Speaking at the multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) on COVID-19 media conference, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said the higher take-up rate and wide deployment of TT is key to the implementation of Phase 3 reopening, which he revealed could begin before the year-end.

While some 2.5 million people, or about 45 per cent of the population, have already signed up to TT, authorities are aiming for 70 per cent. “We also want to deploy more TT-only safe entry checks…we started with cinemas, we will do restaurants, shopping malls, all of these sort of popular venues, we aim to have them as TT-only safe entry.”

He added, “So when we do have a higher take up rate of TraceTogether and wider deployment of TT-only safe entry, I think those conditions will help in allowing us to enter Phase 3.”

With the mandatory introduction of TT in various venues, the scanning of on-site QR codes with a phone camera, using SingPass mobile for Safe Entry (SE) check-in, and scanning of personal IDs will be disabled at the affected venues.

The existing Safe Entry method is allowed only if a person uses the TT app to scan the on-site QR code, or let the on-site entry staff scan the QR code on their TT token.

Since August, TT has been trialled at selected venues where people are likely to be in close contact for long periods, or where human traffic is high.

From now till mid-November, TT will be implemented in venues with activities that involve larger groups of people. These include live performances, business events, places of worship conducting congregational and other worship services with more than 100 people and cinemas.

For those who cannot or prefer not to download the TT app, TT tokens are now available for collection at 38 community centres/clubs (CCs) around Singapore. By end November, TT tokens will be made available at all 108 CCs islandwide.

More information can be found at the TokenGoWhere website, https://token.gowhere.gov.sg

Venues where TraceTogether will be mandatory

1. Workplaces e.g. offices, factories

2. Schools and educational institutions

3. Preschools and student care centres

4. Healthcare facilities e.g. hospitals, clinics, TCM clinics, complementary healthcare

facilities

5. Residential and community-based care facilities e.g. nursing homes, Senior Activity

Centres, Senior Care Centres, Day Activity Centres for Persons with Disabilities

6. Places of worship

7. Funeral parlours

8. Hotels

9. Banks and financial institutions

10. Retail, personal and food & beverage (F&B) services

a. Malls and supermarkets

b. Selected popular wet markets

c. F&B outlets for dine-in customers

d. Large retail outlets (> 930 sqm or 10,000 sqft)

e. Personal care services e.g. hairdressers, barbers, spas, beauty and wellness

f. Facilities providing pet services

11. Tuition and enrichment, training centres, and other training/ class venues

12. Sports and recreation

a. Sports and fitness centres, including gyms, studios

b. Country and recreation clubs

13. Cultural and entertainment venues

a. Libraries

b. Museums, exhibitions, and showrooms

c. Cinemas, attractions, and other entertainment venues

14. Home-based businesses that involve customers entering one’s home for a prolonged

period, e.g. private dining, hairdressing services

15. Event venues e.g. function halls/ rooms, event lawn

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