COVID-19 Latest Updates (June 2020)
by Circle News, on Jun 24, 2020 10:43:00 AM
We’re doing our best to keep this page up-to-date in the days and weeks to come, so do check back for the latest information. Alternatively, you may check in with our friendly sport champions at our sport centres for more information.
Stay updated with the latest happenings via ActiveSG on Telegram here.
Infographic – Safe Return To Sport And Physical Activity & Exercise For Phase Two
Sport Singapore’s Advisory For Resumption Of Sport And Physical Exercise & Activity For Phase Two (“Safe Transition”) has important measures to look after your health and wellbeing. For any queries, please read our frequently asked questions (updated as of 24 June). You are welcome to share your opinion with us at SPORT_QSM@sport.gov.sg
- This advisory provides members of the public and sport and physical exercise & activity organisers and operators with information on the resumption of sport and physical exercise under Phase Two (“Safe Transition”), as well as the safe management measures to be implemented.
- As announced by the Multi-Ministry Taskforce, Phase Two will commence on 19 June 2020. Measures mandated in this advisory have to be in effect before the sport and physical exercise & activity are permitted to resume.
GENERAL POSTURE FOR SPORT AND PHYSICAL EXERCISE & ACTIVITY
In Phase Two, all sport and physical exercise & activity may resume under the following conditions:- Sport and recreational facilities may open. Facilities can only admit a maximum number of persons according to its Gross Floor Area based on 10 Sqm per person. [1] No facility, regardless of size, shall admit more than 50 persons without specific approval by Sport Singapore.
- Physical distancing of 2 metres (2 arms-length) between individuals should be maintained in general while exercising and playing sport. A physical distancing of 3 metres (3 arms-length) between individuals should be observed for indoors high intensity or high movement exercise classes.
- Group activities are limited to no more than 5 participants. If there is more than one group sharing a space, the groups must not interact and must maintain a distance of 3 metres apart from one another at all times. For organised programmes and classes, an additional service provider (such as an instructor or a coach) from a permitted enterprise may guide the group.
- Contact sports are permitted, notwithstanding point 3b above, with modification to avoid extensive body contact.
- Mask should be worn as a default.Masks can be taken off when performing strenuous activities, although it is still recommended as good practice even under such circumstances.
- Sharing of common equipment should be avoided.Personal equipment should not be shared. If this cannot be done, then equipment should be wiped down / sanitised frequently. This includes gym equipment such as weights, and sport equipment such as basketballs.
- Owners or Operators of facilities are responsible for ensuring safe management measures are implemented, and that their patrons/users comply.
- The above conditions are elaborated in paras 5-7, and additional conditions for specific settings are set out in Table 1
RE-OPENING OF SPORT & RECREATIONAL FACILITIES
- Facility Capacity. The maximum number of persons allowed at each facility shall be limited according to its Gross Floor Area based on 10 Sqm per person or 50 persons, whichever is lower. This applies to all outdoors, indoors and sheltered facilities that are larger than 50 Sqm. This capacity limit is to minimise the risk of large clusters forming. For facilities smaller than 50 Sqm, facility operators have to ensure that the physical distancing measures are observed. [2]
- Safe Management Measures. In consultation with industry stakeholders, Sport Singapore is providing operational guidance on the following safe management measures, which facility operators will have to put in place prior to the opening of their sport and recreational facilities to minimise the risk and consequence of infection. Operators of facilities are to ensure compliance by all users.
- Appoint Safe Management Officer.Facility operators are to designate a senior staff as Safe Management Officer (SMO) to ensure compliance with the measures. The SMO will be responsible for formulating the implementation plans, conducting inspections and checks, as well as maintaining records for subsequent audits by the authorities.
- Support Contact Tracing & Implement Temperature Screening. All sport and recreational facilities must implement SafeEntry for participants and visitors. Facility operators must conduct temperature screening[3] and checks on visible symptoms[4] for visitors, and turn away those with fever and/or who appear unwell.Employees and visitors are encouraged to download and activate the TraceTogether app.
- Reduce Physical Interaction and Ensure Safe Distancing.Facility operators will have to organise human traffic flow and space management to ensure that the mixing of groups is minimised to transient contact. Equipment should be arranged to allow users to exercise at a safe distance with each other.
- Crowd Management. Facility operators will have to devise systems to ensure there is no overcrowding at or around their premises, such as through the use of booking systems. Facility operators will have to manage rest areas and changing room operations to prevent crowding and loitering.
- Wear Masks & Ensure Hygiene. Facility operators will have to ensure that all visitors don masks when they enter the facility. Hand sanitisers should be placed in close proximity of the facility entrance and high-touch surfaces like door handles.Visitors should be encouraged to sanitise their hands before entering the facility.
- Enhance Cleaning Protocols.Facility operators will have to frequently disinfect common spaces and interactive components (e.g. smart kiosks, turnstiles).Equipment will have to be thoroughly wiped down and cleaned after each use.Personal equipment should not be shared.
- Ventilation.Indoor spaces should be kept well-ventilated.For non-air conditioned spaces, windows should be kept open and additional fans should be put in place.
TABLE 1: ADDITIONAL MEASURES BY FACILITY TYPE |
|
Gymnasiums |
|
Studio |
|
Indoor sport halls
|
|
Swimming pools
|
|
Outdoor facilities (courts, pitches)
|
|
4. Sport Singapore Facilities. ActiveSG stadiums, studios, gyms, indoor sport halls, and swimming complexes (only competition and training pools will be available) will be opened from 19 June 2020. The Rink@JCube will be opened from 3 July 2020. More details will be available on www.therink.sg soon.
There will be facility-specific safe management measures in place at our ActiveSG facilities, and members of public are advised to follow these strictly for their wellbeing.
Bookings for ActiveSG facilities via the ActiveSG app and myactivesg.com will be available from 18 June 2020, 7am. More details on how to book ActiveSG facilities can be found on myactivesg.com.
TABLE 2: SAFE MEASUREMENT MEASURES AT ACTIVESG FACILITIES |
|
ActiveSG Facility |
Safe Management Measures |
Stadiums (including hockey pitches)
|
|
Swimming Complexes (only competition & training pools will be available)
|
|
Indoor Sport Facilities |
|
Gyms / Studios |
|
[Dual-use facilities in schools and some ActiveSG facilities listed in Annex A will remain closed.]
5. More Open Spaces for Sport and Physical Exercise & Activity. There will be more open spaces for members of the public to participate in sport and physical exercise & activity. In addition to ActiveSG stadiums, lawns, playfields and open spaces in parks and state lands under NParks and the Singapore Land Authority, will be re-opened for public use. Organised group sport and physical exercise & activity may proceed in these spaces, subject to the conditions outlined above. If there is more than one group sharing a space, the groups must not interact and must maintain a distance of at least 3m apart at all times. Members of the public are advised to be socially responsible when using these shared spaces and to observe the safe management measures in place. Enforcement officers and Safe Distancing Ambassadors will continue to be deployed around the island to ensure adherence to these measures.
MEASURES CONCERNING NATURE OF ACTIVITIES
10. A 2-metre distancing should be maintained as the default posture and observed wherever possible when one is exercising, because of the higher risk of spread of respiratory droplets.
11. The intent is to allow for contact sport if it is the normal nature of that sporting activity. As such, sport such as Football, Handball, Netball, Basketball, Futsal, Ultimate Flying Disc, Touch Rugby, Paintball may proceed without modification as long as the group size limit is observed. Distancing should still be maintained outside the play area. Contact sport that involve extensive body contact should however be modified.
12. Sport Singapore has been engaging the national sport associations that govern the various sport in Singapore on the safe management measures for their particular sport. The governing bodies of these sport will be publishing their endorsed safe management plans on their websites and on Sport Singapore website: https://circle.myactivesg.com/ssi/safe-return-to-sport/plan-listing from 19 June onwards. In the interim, Sport Singapore is providing sport specific broad guidelines (see Annex B) as a reference to those who engage in these sport and facility operators.
AGE SEGMENT SPECIFIC MEASURES
13. There is no restriction on organised activities for children and youth. Senior-centric[1] activities may resume under Phase 2, limited for now to activities that can be done individually, with safe management measures in place and no sharing of equipment between participants.
14. As Seniors are more vulnerable to the virus, they should stay at home as much as possible, and continue to keep fit by doing exercises at home. There are also online resources available on https://circle.myactivesg.com, which offer access to virtual classes and events, as well as tips and advice on how to stay active at home.
ENFORCEMENT OF MEASURES
15. Government agencies will be conducting inspections following Phase 2 reopening, where those who do not comply with safe management measures may face penalties.
16. Fitness activities organisers and operators should only resume operations when they can comply with safe management measures. Within two weeks of the date of resumption of on-site operations, they are required to:
- Submit the number of workers who are working on-site via the GoBusiness portal (https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg); and
- Prepare and have ready a safe management plan covering the measures relevant to their operations.
Sport Singapore will be conducting on-site inspections, where businesses found not complying with safe management measures may be required to close. Businesses that are unable to comply are advised to approach Sport Singapore on alternative arrangements at SPORT_QSM@sport.gov.sg.
PERIODIC REVIEW
17. These parameters will be reviewed from time to time, and more persons may be allowed at a later juncture in Phase Two, taking into account how well the safe measures are implemented by operators and the compliance of the users in these settings, and the broader COVID-19 situation at the time.
EVERYONE HAS A PART TO PLAY AGAINST COVID-19
18. With the gradual easing of measures, Singaporeans are urged to remain vigilant and observe safe distancing measures in place to minimise community transmissions. Together, we all have a part to play in keeping COVID-19 at bay, and protect ourselves and our loved ones.
For the latest updates on COVID-19 for sport and physical exercise & activity, please visit sportsingapore.gov.sg. For queries, members of the public can email the Sport Singapore QSM at SPORT_QSM@sport.gov.sg or call 1800-344-1177 during office hours (Mondays to Fridays, 9.00am to 6.00pm).
[1] Facilities up to 50 sqm can admit up to 5 persons, e.g. a 20 sqm facility can accommodate 5 persons. This does not include staff.
[2] This does not include staff.
[3]Individuals with temperatures above 38 degrees Celsius are considered as having a fever.
[4]Notable visible symptoms to look out for include: (a) coughing; (b) sneezing; (c) breathlessness; and (d) a runny nose.
[5]Refers to those who are 60 years and above
[6] Refers to those who are 60 years and above