Control Measures

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SINGAPORE: Fast Lane for Essential Business and Official Travel Between China and Singapore

On 3 June 2020, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) jointly announced that fast lane arrangements will be in place to facilitate essential business and official travel between Singapore and China. The fast lane arrangements will be established between Singapore and six Chinese provinces and municipalities (Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Tianjin and Zhejiang).

Under the fast lane arrangements, residents in Singapore who are seeking to make essential travel to China must be sponsored by either a company or a government agency in China, while residents in China who are seeking to make essential travel to Singapore must be sponsored by either a company or a Singapore Government agency.

From 8 June 2020, a traveller sponsored by a government agency for essential business or official travel to Singapore may submit an application under the fast lane arrangements. Applications for company-sponsored travellers may be submitted in a later phase.

This Update highlights the key requirements of the fast lane arrangements which relate to: (1) applications for approvals by the relevant authorities and visas; (2) pre-departure health measures; (3) post-arrival health measures; and (4) controlled itinerary.

SINGAPORE: Updated Requirements under COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Control Order

The COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 were issued on 7 April 2020 to impose restrictions on (i) premises and businesses in relation to the closure of premises and the respective controls on essential and non-essential service providers; and (ii) the movement of people, both in public places and in places of residence. Subsequently the Minister for Health issued the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) (Amendment) Regulations 2020 and the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2020 ("Amendments"). These amendments introduce additional obligations and requirements, including in relation to essential service providers, essential service workers, occupiers and owners of permitted premises, and operators of specified dormitories.

In this Update, we highlight the key changes introduced by the Amendments. 

SINGAPORE: Control Orders under the COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures

Under the new circuit breaker measures introduced to combat the spread of COVID-19, one of the key safeguards is the imposition of control orders. On 7 April 2020, the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 ("Regulations") were issued under the Act to impose restrictions on (i) premises and businesses in relation to the closure of premises and the respective controls on essential and non-essential service providers; and (ii) the movement of people, both in public places and in places of residence. In this Update, we provide a summary of the movements which are or are not permitted under the Regulations.

SINGAPORE: COVID-19 Circuit Breaker Measures: Suspension of Activities at Workplace

On 3 April 2020, the Singapore Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced that an elevated set of safe distancing measures will be in place from 7 April 2020 until 4 May 2020. These enhanced measures aim to act as a circuit breaker to control the spread of COVID-19 in Singapore by minimising movements and interaction in public and private places. Notably, there will be a suspension of activities at all workplace premises, subject to certain exemptions for selected essential services. In this Update, we highlight the scope and key aspects of the measures requiring the suspension of activities at all workplace premises.