F&B, high-risk mask-off workers given until October to be fully vaccinated

Workers who are not fully vaccinated by the deadline have to undergo antigen rapid tests twice a week.

Workers in high-risk mask-off settings like food and beverage places, gyms, and border checkpoints, as well as those who work in healthcare, eldercare, or in settings with children, should be vaccinated by 1 October.

“This will help to protect them, their colleagues and the people they serve in the course of their work. We will allow individuals time to get vaccinated so this new requirement will take effect from 1st October, which means that individuals in these settings who have not been vaccinated yet can get themselves vaccinated, between now and end-September,” said Finance Minister Lawrence Wong in a multi-ministry task force press conference on 6 August.

Those who are not fully vaccinated by October will have to undergo antigen rapid tests twice a week, although the details have not yet been fully worked out.

“I’ve set out the broad framework for this new vaccinate or regular test regime, and details will be released by the specific agencies in due course,” Wong said.