Frequently Asked Questions

It is mandatory for all persons who are six years old and above to wear a mask when leaving their homes. First-time offenders face a composition fine of $300. Repeats offenders will face a $1,000 composition fine, or prosecution in court for egregious cases.

The following specific groups of persons may use a face shield, in place of masks:

• Children 12 years old and below, who may have difficulty wearing and keeping face masks on for a prolonged period of time;
• Persons who have health conditions that may result in breathing or other medical difficulties when a mask is worn for a prolonged period of time;
• Persons who are speaking to a group in a classroom or lecture-style setting, where they largely remain at the spot from which they are speaking, and are able to maintain a safe distance away from any other persons.

Find out more at www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/faqs

First-time offenders face a composition fine of $300. Second-time offenders will face a $1,000 composition fine, or prosecution in court for egregious cases.

You can identify the EOs and Ambassadors by their respective agencies’ corporate attire, staff pass and/or lanyard. EOs and Ambassadors also carry Safe Distancing EO and Ambassdor passes respectively, and EOs may additionally wear a red armband. These identifiers will help the public to better identify EOs and Ambassadors, and facilitate the work of the officers in enforcing safe distancing measures.

You should also be vigilant and wary of persons who impersonate EOs to perpetuate crimes. You may request for an officer’s identification to verify his identity, before complying with his instructions.

Anyone found to have impersonated an EO will be subject to police investigation. Under the Penal Code, the offence of cheating by personation carries an imprisonment term that may extend to five years, or a fine, or both. The offence of personating a public servant carries an imprisonment term that may extend to two years, or a fine, or both. 

Like police officers, EOs are empowered to take enforcement action against the public for breaches of safe distancing measures. Ambassadors guide businesses and individuals to comply with safe distancing measures. 

Enforcement Officers (EOs) can take enforcement action against the public for breaches of safe management measures. Anyone found to breach safe distancing measures, including failure or refusal to comply with directions of an EO, will be asked to produce his or her personal particulars. As such, you should always carry around proof of identity (such as your NRIC) when performing essential activities.

Offenders will be issued notices either on site, or through the mail. You should never hand over cash to persons who claim to be EOs as no immediate payment will be required.

When faced with egregious offenders, the Police will be called in for assistance. NEA takes a serious view of those who verbally or physically abuse our officers and SG Clean Ambassadors and will not hesitate to take strong action against such egregious offenders, including criminal prosecution if necessary. Cases of physical or verbal abuse will be reported to the Police for follow-up, and these cases will be considered separately from the principal offence that NEA will be charging the offender for.

NEA’s EOs do not collect fines or demand payment of fines on the spot. Offenders will be issued notices either on site, or through the mail. Members of the public are cautioned against handing over cash to persons who claim to be EOs.

No. SG Clean Ambassadors will advise the public to comply with safe distancing measures but are not empowered to take enforcement action. Appointed Enforcement Officers (EOs) are the only ones who can take enforcement action against the public for breaches of safe distancing measures. However, all SG Clean Ambassadors will be paired with EOs during their patrols, who will conduct enforcement when necessary.

You must put on a mask when you leave your home and you may leave your home to smoke in an area where smoking is not prohibited under the smoking prohibition law. You should always observe a safe distance from others while smoking, and must put your mask back on immediately after smoking to protect yourself and others around you.

NEA will continue enforcement for safe distancing and smoking prohibition. The fines for smoking prohibition offence and violation of safe distancing measures are $200 and $300, respectively. In addition, second-time offenders for non-compliance with safe distancing measures will face a $1,000 composition fine, or prosecution in court for egregious cases.

You must observe safe distancing within any DSA. You should not enter a DSA if it is at full capacity. A signage will be put up to indicate the maximum capacity of each DSA, and you have to adhere to the safe distance markings within the DSA. If a signage is not visible or if you are unable to maintain a safe distance from others, do not enter the DSA, but instead head to another DSA. Keep your mask on and maintain a safe distance from others when queueing to enter the DSA. You should always observe the safe distance from others while smoking, and must put your mask back on immediately after smoking to protect yourself and others around you.

You must observe safe distancing within any DSA. The maximum capacity of the number of persons smoking in a DSA varies according to its size. Larger DSAs may accommodate more than two persons, as long as the smokers observe the safe distancing requirement. A signage will be put up to indicate the maximum capacity of each DSA, and smokers have to adhere to the safe distance markings within the DSA. If a signage is not visible or if you are unable to maintain a safe distance from others, do not enter the DSA, but instead head to another DSA. Smokers queueing to enter the DSA have to keep their masks on, and maintain a safe distance from others as well. Smokers should always observe safe distancing measures while smoking, and must put their masks back on immediately after smoking to protect themselves and others around them.

From 23 November 2021, up to five vaccinated persons may dine in at hawker centres which have put in place vaccination checks at access points.

The other remaining hawker centres are expected to similarly have entry checks in place and also be permitted to have groups of up to five vaccinated persons dine in by 30 November. In the meantime, the restriction of dine-in by up to two fully vaccinated persons will continue to apply for the remaining hawker centres.

Children aged 12 years and below who are unvaccinated can continue to dine at hawker centres. If there is more than one child aged 12 years or below dining in a group of up to 5, all children must be from the same household. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated persons can take away food from hawker centres. Seniors are urged to continue to stay away from crowded places and where possible, ask household members or neighbours to purchase takeaway food on their behalf. You should also observe the following when visiting hawker centres:

• Do not sit on marked seats.
• Keep a distance of at least one metre from other individuals when queuing to make your purchase.
• Wear your mask covering the nose and mouth fully at all times, except while you eat and drink. Put your mask back on immediately after you finish.
• Do not visit hawker centres if you are feeling unwell.
• Check-in and out on every visit to hawker centres, with the TraceTogether SafeEntry QR codes or SafeEntry Gateway devices available at the centres, even if the access points of centres are not manned.
• Return your trays with used crockery after eating, and keep the table clean for the next diner.
• Bin used tissues and wet wipes.
• Do not spit out and leave bones or food remnants on the table or tray. 

Diners should also return your trays and used crockery, and not leave behind used tissues, wet wipes and food remnants. This will help keep the table clean for the next patron. Cleaners can then focus on wiping and sanitising tables, as well as clearing the tray racks, sorting and distributing trays and used crockery back to the stalls.

Safe Distancing Enforcement Officers (EOs) and Ambassadors are deployed at hawker centres and markets, to ensure compliance with the safe management measures. As part of the vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS), the EOs will also conduct selective checks as part of their patrols to verify the vaccination status of diners at hawker centres. Please show them the vaccination ‘green tick’ verification on the TraceTogether app, or to provide the TraceTogether token to be scanned for your vaccination status. Diners found to have breached the VDS will be warned and have their particulars recorded. Enforcement action will be taken against repeat offenders and those who refuse to cooperate.

We seek the public’s support to work with Safe Distancing EOs and, who are tasked with ensuring that safe measurement measures are complied with for everyone’s safety. While the most members of the public are cooperative, there is a small proportion of offenders who are uncooperative and sometimes abusive. The authorities take a serious view of those who verbally or physically abuse public officers, and will press charges in court where warranted.

We strive to continue to ensure high standards of cleanliness and hygiene at all hawker centres and markets. Stallholders are reminded to not handle food if they are unwell, and to ensure that food preparation areas, utensils, cooking equipment and premises, are kept clean and pest-free.

Cleaning contractors have been advised to clean frequently touched areas, such as table tops, seats, toilets, lifts, refuse bins and hand rails, more often. Cleaning tools and equipment, including cleaning cloths, must be cleaned and sanitised regularly, and replaced with new ones when needed. In the toilets, there must be adequate supply of soap for patrons to wash their hands with.

Automated hand sanitiser dispensers have been installed at suitable locations such as near the entrances and exits, lift lobbies and/or tray return racks, at the 113 hawker centres and markets managed by NEA and NEA-appointed operators.

NEA is also working closely with Hawkers’ Associations and Town Councils to keep our premises safe, and regularly undertake deep cleaning and disinfection of premises.

Patrons who frequent markets are strongly encouraged to visit the markets on weekdays or during the non-peak period between 10am and 12pm on weekends when fresh produce is still available, to avoid the crowd. Instead of small, frequent purchases throughout the week, you should consolidate your purchases and make weekly visits instead. Patrons can also consider alternatives like ordering online. Patrons in vulnerable groups, such as the elderly and young children below should refrain from visiting markets.

Instead of jostling with the crowd, consider alternatives like ordering online or switching to a nearby market during this period. Patrons in vulnerable groups, such as the elderly should refrain from visiting markets and should seek assistance from families or neighbours instead. If such an option is not available, visit the markets on weekdays, or during non-peak period between 10am and 12pm on weekends, when fresh produce is still available, to avoid the crowd. 

Please keep a distance of at least one metre from any other person, and keep your mask on at all times. Families who visit in groups should limit the group size to not more than five persons. Please keep yourself and others around you safe by observing good hygiene habits, such as binning your litter and keeping our shared spaces clean.

If you feel unwell or are sick, please stay at home, see a doctor, and avoid visiting the cemetery or columbaria. Please do not prolong your stay at our facilities, and avoid bringing the vulnerable such as elderly family members or young children to our facilities.

1. Attendees at wakes and funerals including foot processions, shall be kept to 30 persons or fewer at any one time, depending on the safe capacity of the venue, whichever is lower. Pre-event testing is not required.
   
2. Burials and cremations shall be attended by not more than 30 persons in total. NEA will issue 30 entry passes for each cremation or burial application at the government-managed facilities.
3. Religious workers, funeral staff and persons involved in the conduct of live instrumental music (non-wind) should be kept to a minimum.
4. All attendees at funeral wakes, foot processions, burials and cremations must wear a mask. The prevailing group size of no more than five pax applies and there should not be mixing between groups. Please ensure that a safe distance of at least one metre is maintained between individuals and/or groups. 
5. Where seating at a table is provided, every chair for each table must be placed at least one metre away from any other chair for another table at all times. Tables and chairs must be arranged such that each table can accommodate no more than five individuals seated at the table, or no more than five individuals in each group separated by a space of at least one metre. There should be no mixing between groups.
6. Attendees of funeral events should minimise their interaction with fellow attendees and leave the premises immediately after the event. No buffet set-up or reception with food and drinks is allowed. From 19 July 2021, provision of individually packed drinks (that is bottled/packet drinks) or individually packed titbits (such as peanuts, melon seeds) is disallowed at funeral wakes. 
   
7. Individually packed food/drink (for example, bento boxes) may be supplied to family members of the deceased who keep vigil for the duration of the funeral wake, and need to consume food at the premises. However, they should not interact with the other attendees when consuming their meals, and should consume their meals away from guests present at the funeral/wake event.
8. Live instrumental music (non-wind) will be allowed at funeral events. The persons involved in the conduct of live instrumental music must wear a mask and should minimise movement to ensure that the one metre safe distance can be adhered to at all times. They are not to participate in the foot processions. No other performances, such as singing, dancing or variety acts, are allowed and there should be no sharing of equipment, such as musical instruments, microphones or props. Live singing and playing of wind instruments (instruments which require intentional expulsion of air such as trumpets and conch shells) are not allowed.
9. Hearse escort party, i.e. musical band and/or display contingent on foot and including vehicles ferrying banners, blankets and/or flowers, is not allowed during the funeral event.
10. Religious workers involved in the conduct of the religious rites, such as preachers, prayer leaders or scripture leaders, will be required to wear face masks when performing their speaking duties (i.e. preaching or chanting of prayers) at funeral wakes and funeral services (i.e. cremation or burial services). They should largely remain at the spot from which they are speaking from, and must be at least one metre away from any other individual. Use of face shields in place of face masks is no longer allowed.
11. From 19 August 2021, temperature screening is no longer required. Any person who is unwell must be turned away.
12. TraceTogether-only SafeEntry check-in is required for funeral events and funeral parlours with wake halls. Visitors must perform SafeEntry check-in, via TraceTogether app or TraceTogether token to enable or facilitate contact tracing. 
13. Funeral parlours with wake halls are required to deploy SafeEntry Gateway as an additional SafeEntry check-in method. The SafeEntry Gateway enables contactless detection of both the TraceTogether app and token, and serves as an additional mean of SafeEntry check-in that is quicker and more seamless.
14. Discourage vulnerable persons, such as the elderly, from attending these events to protect their health, and consider alternative solutions for them, such as live video screening instead.
15. Funeral staff is strongly advised to administer self-testing regime using the Antigen Rapid Test (ART) kits available for purchase over retail counters. Family members may also consider performing self-testing if they are worried that they may have COVID-19 and want to put their mind at ease. For more information on ART self-test kits, please visit www.moh.gov.sg/covid-19/selftestart. 

Installation of niches at government-managed columbaria (Choa Chu Kang and Mandai) and inland ash scattering at Garden of Peace @ CCK can involve not more than 30 attendees at any time, and in groups of no more than five persons (excluding funeral staff or religious workers, whose numbers should be kept to a minimum). This is subject to the capacity of the premises under prevailing safe management measures. 

Yes. MOH has assessed that funeral wakes can be held for those who passed away from COVID-19 infection.

Although measures have been put in place to ensure safe handling of the deceased infected with COVID-19, and physical contact with their bodies is not permissible, the duration of funeral wakes should be kept within three days. This is to minimise any potential risk of transmission between visitors during the funeral wake.

You may also consult your appointed funeral directors for options other than a three-day funeral wake, such as conducting prayers just before the cremation at the service hall at Mandai Crematorium.

Healthcare workers prepare the bodies of the deceased for cremation or burial in hospitals. The bodies of the deceased will be double-bagged before being placed in a hermetically sealed coffin.

Collection, casketing and transport of the bodies for cremation or burial are limited to funeral services companies, whose staff have undergone the basic infection control course conducted by the National Centre for Infectious Diseases. These companies have also received a joint circular from the Ministry of Health and NEA on the guidelines for the handling of bodies with COVID-19. Staff of the funeral services companies also have to be suitably protected when carrying out their work. 

Cremation is strongly recommended, though burial will be permitted only if there are strong religious reasons.

Hospitals will provide the next-of-kin of the deceased with the list of funeral services companies that are qualified to handle bodies infected with COVID-19.

Next-of-kin are strongly advised to cremate the bodies of the deceased before transporting the ashes back to their home countries. No special permit is required for the repatriation of cremated ashes.

To repatriate the body of a foreign deceased back to their home country, the next-of-kin may either seek the assistance of a funeral director or their Embassy to make the necessary arrangements. Approval from both their home country and NEA’s Port Health Office is required for import to their home country and export from Singapore, respectively. Besides the relevant documents required by NEA for the export, the next-of-kin have to ensure that the body of the deceased is double-bagged, sealed in a leak-proof coffin, and preserved for transportation.

Together with the relevant authorities, NEA will provide assistance on repatriation arrangements to the next-of-kin.

Embalming of the body with COVID-19 infection is not permitted.