No. S 273
Infectious Diseases Act
(CHAPTER 137)
Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 Access Restrictions and Clearance) Regulations 2021
In exercise of the powers conferred by section 73(1) of the Infectious Diseases Act, the Minister for Health makes the following Regulations:
PART 1
PRELIMINARY
Citation and commencement
1.  These Regulations are the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 Access Restrictions and Clearance) Regulations 2021 and come into operation on 24 April 2021.
[S 991/2021 wef 01/01/2022]
General definitions
2.—(1)  In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires —
“approved test” means any of the following tests carried out in Singapore in relation to an individual, the purpose of which is to test for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in that individual:
(a)a polymerase chain reaction test;
(b)an antigen rapid test;
“approved test provider” means a person —
(a)who has an approval under the Infectious Diseases (Antigen Rapid Test Providers) Regulations 2021 (G.N. No. S 267/2021) to provide, in the course of business at any premises in Singapore, a service involving the carrying on of any approved test for hire or reward; or
(b)to whom a licence is issued under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act (Cap. 248) to carry on any approved test for hire or reward at any premises in Singapore;
“approved vaccine” means a vaccine described in the First Schedule;
“atypical finding for SARS-CoV-2”, for an individual who undergoes an approved test or tests, means a determination by or under the authority of the Director, or by a legally qualified medical practitioner in Singapore, that the individual is neither —
(a)actively infected with a COVID-19 infection; nor
(b)a carrier of COVID-19,
despite a report by the approved test provider carrying out the approved test or tests that the individual tests positive for SARS‑CoV‑2;
[S 590/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
“bar” means any place or premises at which a retail liquor business is for the time being carried on;
[S 774/2021 wef 13/10/2021]
“building” includes part of a building;
“celebrant”, in relation to a marriage, has the meaning given by Part 2 of the Second Schedule;
[S 513/2021 wef 12/07/2021]
“cleared status” means —
(a)a cleared status (general) that is current;
[S 908/2021 wef 01/12/2021]
(b)a cleared status (special) that is current; or
[S 991/2021 wef 01/01/2022]
(c)a cleared status (overseas temporary) that is current;
[S 991/2021 wef 01/01/2022]
[S 590/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
“cleared status certificate” means a certificate granted by the Director under regulation 6(2), (3), (4), (5) or (5A), 7A(2), (3) or (4) or 7B(2) certifying that the individual specified in the certificate has a cleared status according to that regulation;
[S 590/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
[S 908/2021 wef 01/12/2021]
[S 991/2021 wef 01/01/2022]
[S 91/2022 wef 14/02/2022]
[S 445/2022 wef 01/06/2022]
“cleared status (general)” has the meaning given by regulation 6;
[S 991/2021 wef 01/01/2022]
“cleared status (overseas temporary)” has the meaning given by regulation 7B;
[S 991/2021 wef 01/01/2022]
“cleared status (special)” has the meaning given by regulation 7A;
[S 908/2021 wef 01/12/2021]
“Control Order” means any of the following:
(a)the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020 (G.N. No. S 254/2020);
(b)the COVID‑19 (Temporary Measures) (Reopening — Control Order) Regulations 2022 (G.N. No. S 179/2022);
[S 180/2022 wef 15/03/2022]
(c)[Deleted by S 180/2022 wef 15/03/2022]
(d)[Deleted by S 180/2022 wef 15/03/2022]
(e)[Deleted by S 180/2022 wef 15/03/2022]
“corresponding foreign authority” means the government or an appropriate authority of a foreign country that has the functions corresponding to the functions of —
(a)the Director —
(i)under these Regulations of certifying that an individual has recovered from a COVID-19 infection in that foreign country;
(ii)under the Infectious Diseases (Antigen Rapid Test Providers) Regulations 2021 of authorising a person to provide in that foreign country the services of an approved test provider; or
(iii)under the Private Hospitals and Medical Clinics Act 1980 of authorising any premises or conveyance in that foreign country to be used as a private hospital, medical clinic, clinical laboratory or healthcare establishment; or
(b)the Singapore Medical Council under the Medical Registration Act 1997 of authorising an individual to practise medicine in that foreign country;
[S 634/2022 wef 29/07/2022]
“COVID-19 naïve individual” means an individual who is not a recovered individual;
[S 91/2022 wef 14/02/2022]
“current”, for any cleared status, has the meaning given by regulation 8A;
[S 590/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
“defined approved vaccine” means —
(a)Sinopharm COVID‑19 vaccine; or
(b)Sinovac‑Coronavac COVID-19 vaccine;
[S 991/2021 wef 01/01/2022]
“digital cleared status certificate” means a cleared status certificate granted in a digital form described in regulation 4(1);
“employee”, in relation to a person, includes a volunteer who does work for the person with the knowledge or consent of that person;
“enhanced entry control” means a requirement in any of the Control Orders requiring procedures and protocols to ensure that any individual, without a cleared status, does not enter or remain within a restricted place during a restricted period;
“entrant”, in relation to a restricted place, means an individual who is about to enter or is in the restricted place, regardless of age;
“foreign ART provider” means a person who is duly authorised by a corresponding foreign authority of a foreign country to provide in the foreign country the services of an approved test provider;
[S 634/2022 wef 29/07/2022]
“foreign country” means any country or territory outside Singapore;
[S 634/2022 wef 29/07/2022]
“foreign healthcare institution” means any premises or conveyance that is duly authorised by a corresponding foreign authority of a foreign country to be used as a private hospital, medical clinic, clinic laboratory or healthcare establishment in the foreign country;
[S 634/2022 wef 29/07/2022]
“foreign medical practitioner” means an individual who is duly authorised by a corresponding foreign authority of a foreign country to practise medicine in that foreign country;
[S 634/2022 wef 29/07/2022]
[Deleted by S 226/2022 wef 29/03/2022]
“medical treatment” includes a medical consultation, and a diagnostic procedure connected with any medical treatment;
[S 9/2022 wef 06/01/2022]
“movement control measure”, in relation to an individual, means a requirement for the individual not to leave a place of accommodation because of —
(a)an order made under regulation 3(1) of the Infectious Diseases (COVID-19 — Stay Orders) Regulations 2020 (G.N. No. S 182/2020); or
(b)an order under section 15 or 17 of the Act relating to COVID-19;
[S 69/2022 wef 01/02/2022]
“nationwide approved vaccine” means any of the following approved vaccines:
(a)Tozinameran (Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or Comirnaty COVID-19 vaccine);
(b)Spikevax (Moderna COVID-19 vaccine);
[S 69/2022 wef 01/02/2022]
(c)Sinovac‑Coronavac COVID-19 vaccine;
(d)COVOVAX COVID-19 vaccine or Nuvaxovid (Novavax COVID-19 vaccine);
[S 445/2022 wef 01/06/2022]
[S 908/2021 wef 01/12/2021]
“nightclub” means any place or premises (whether or not an open-air area or part of a hotel, club, retail food and drinks establishment, bar, retail shopping centre or casino) —
(a)where an occupier thereof uses to carry on a business consisting principally of —
(i)the provision of facilities for the purposes of dancing by customers to —
(A)continuous live music presented by performers present in person performing there, after disregarding reasonable intervals between acts or performances; or
(B)continuous recorded music presented either personally by an individual (such as a disc jockey) employed or engaged to do so, or by any other means, after disregarding reasonable intervals between sets of recorded music; and
(ii)the sale or supply of liquor for immediate consumption while the facilities and entertainment mentioned in sub-paragraph (i) are provided;
(b)where the predominant activity at the place or premises when carrying on that business is dancing by the customers; and
(c)where that business is carried on at the place or premises primarily during hours after sunset, or is or may reasonably be characterised as a nightclub, cabaret or discotheque;
[S 317/2022 wef 19/04/2022]
[Deleted by S 324/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
“nuptial event” means —
(a)a solemnization of a marriage; or
(b)a wedding;
[S 513/2021 wef 12/07/2021]
“occupier”, for a restricted place, has the meaning given by regulation 3;
“primary vaccination” means undergoing a vaccination after which the individual vaccinated is eligible to be granted under regulation 6(4) a certificate stating that he or she has a cleared status (general) for a definite period of at least 270 days;
[S 91/2022 wef 14/02/2022]
[S 445/2022 wef 01/06/2022]
“private social event” has the meaning given by Part 2 of the Second Schedule;
[S 326/2022 wef 26/04/2022]
“reasonable excuse”, in relation to a person doing or omitting to do any act in contravention of any provision in these Regulations that constitutes an offence, includes doing or omitting to do, in good faith and for the purpose of the person complying with or giving effect to —
(a)any other written law; or
(b)any order or requirement of —
(i)the Government or a public body; or
(ii)an individual acting under the authority or direction of the Government or a public body,
given in the performance of any function, the exercise of any power or the discharge of any duty of the Government or public body (as the case may be) under law;
“recognised medical practitioner”, for any provision of these Regulations, means a legally qualified medical practitioner in Singapore approved by the Director for the purposes of that provision in these Regulations;
“recognised vaccination provider”, in relation to an approved vaccine, means an individual or a body approved by or accredited with the Government, in relation to the approved vaccine, to administer it for the purposes of these Regulations;
[S 590/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
“recovered individual” means an individual who —
(a)tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon undergoing (whether before, on or after 24 April 2021) any of the following:
(i)a polymerase chain reaction test in or outside Singapore;
(ii)an antigen rapid test in Singapore on or after 6 January 2022, and a subsequent serology test in Singapore that is not attributable to the administration of any vaccine against a COVID-19 infection;
(iii)an antigen rapid test outside Singapore, where the result is certified by a corresponding foreign authority, foreign medical practitioner, foreign healthcare institution or foreign ART provider;
(iv)an antigen rapid test outside Singapore (where the result is not certified in accordance with sub-paragraph (iii)), and a subsequent serology test in Singapore that is not attributable to the administration of any vaccine against a COVID-19 infection;
(v)a serology test in or outside Singapore that is not attributable to the administration of any vaccine against a COVID-19 infection, without having tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon undergoing a polymerase chain reaction test or an antigen rapid test;
(vi)an antigen rapid test in Singapore on or after 6 January 2022 that is performed by or under the direction of the individual’s treating doctor in the course of providing medical treatment to the individual because the individual has acute respiratory symptoms;
(vii)an antigen rapid test in Singapore (whether before, on or after 23 February 2022) that is performed by or under the direction of an approved test provider or is self-administered by the individual under the supervision of an approved test provider;
(b)is assessed (whether before, on or after 24 April 2021) as having had a COVID-19 infection; and
(c)is not actively infected with a COVID-19 infection;
[S 634/2022 wef 29/07/2022]
“relevant assessment activity” means ascertaining the results of an approved test on a respiratory specimen from an individual and recording the results, even if uncertain or invalid;
[S 768/2021 wef 11/10/2021]
[Deleted by S 326/2022 wef 26/04/2022]
“relevant sampling activity” means removing a respiratory specimen from the lining of the oral or nasal passages of an individual where that is being done for the purpose of a relevant testing activity;
[S 768/2021 wef 11/10/2021]
“relevant start date”, in relation to any COVID-19 infection of a recovered individual, means —
(a)in a case falling within paragraph (a)(v) of the definition of “recovered individual” read with paragraphs (b) and (c) of that definition —
(i)the date that the individual first tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon undergoing the serology test in or outside Singapore that led to the assessment of the individual having the COVID-19 infection; or
(ii)such earlier date (if any) that is certified by a registered medical practitioner in Singapore as the date that the individual is first assessed as having had the COVID-19 infection; or
(b)in any other case — the date that the individual first tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon undergoing the test or series of tests under paragraph (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi), or (vii) of the definition of “recovered individual”, which led to the assessment of the individual having the COVID-19 infection;
[S 634/2022 wef 29/07/2022]
“relevant testing activity” means subjecting the respiratory specimen from an individual to an approved test for the purpose of testing the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in that individual;
[S 768/2021 wef 11/10/2021]
“respiratory specimen” includes human biological tissue, saliva or mucus;
“restricted period”, for a restricted place, means the period specified in Part 1 of the Second Schedule opposite the restricted place;
“restricted place” means any place specified or described in Part 1 of the Second Schedule except any premises if also a place of residence;
[Deleted by S 326/2022 wef 26/04/2022]
“retail food and drinks business” means a business or an undertaking or activity at any premises or place that involves, in whole or part, the preparation of food or drinks (or both) intended for sale predominantly for immediate consumption;
[S 774/2021 wef 13/10/2021]
“retail food and drinks establishment” means any premises or place the principal purpose of which is to carry on a retail food and drinks business, whether or not the premises or place is part of a hotel, club, retail shopping centre, food court or market;
[S 774/2021 wef 13/10/2021]
“retail liquor business” means a business the principal purpose of which is to supply at any premises or place liquor for immediate consumption on the premises or place, and that —
(a)is not part of a retail food and drinks establishment;
(b)is not the subject of a licence issued under section 32 of the Environmental Public Health Act (Cap. 95) that is stated to be a Foodshop (Restaurant) or Foodshop (Snack Counter) licence; and
(c)is or may reasonably be characterised as a pub or bar;
[S 317/2022 wef 19/04/2022]
[S 774/2021 wef 13/10/2021]
[Deleted by S 326/2022 wef 26/04/2022]
“sale”, in relation to food or drinks for human consumption, includes supplying food or drinks or both (whether or not for consideration) in the course of providing other services;
[S 774/2021 wef 13/10/2021]
“solemnization of a marriage” means a ceremony at which a single marriage is solemnized according to proceedings prescribed by written law and without virtual participation, except that where —
(a)those proceedings take place concurrently with or in a manner indistinguishable from an organised gathering made in connection with the celebration of a marriage; or
(b)those proceedings at any premises are followed immediately or without a break by an organised gathering made in connection with the celebration of the marriage at the same premises (whether or not in the same room or place),
the gathering of individuals at the proceedings in paragraph (a) or (b) must be treated instead as a wedding for the purposes of these Regulations;
[S 513/2021 wef 12/07/2021]
“sporting activity” and “sporting event” have the respective meanings given by Part 2 of the Second Schedule;
[Deleted by S 69/2022 wef 01/02/2022]
“treating doctor”, for an individual, means a legally qualified medical practitioner who, in the course of providing medical treatment of the individual as a patient thereof, assesses the individual’s condition, whether remotely or in person;
[S 9/2022 wef 06/01/2022]
“Type S recovered individual” means a recovered individual because he or she tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon undergoing a test mentioned in paragraph (a)(v) of the definition of “recovered individual”;
[S 91/2022 wef 14/02/2022]
[S 634/2022 wef 29/07/2022]
“Type T recovered individual” means a recovered individual because he or she tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 upon undergoing a test mentioned in paragraph (a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) or (vii) of the definition of “recovered individual”;
[S 91/2022 wef 14/02/2022]
[S 102/2022 wef 24/02/2022]
[S 634/2022 wef 29/07/2022]
“uncleared junior” means a child who is below 13 years of age and without a cleared status;
[S 590/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
“vaccinated” means vaccinated against a COVID‑19 infection by a recognised vaccination provider using (whether before, on or after 10 August 2021) an approved vaccine or a combination of approved vaccines in the way described in the First Schedule;
[S 324/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
[S 513/2021 wef 12/07/2021]
[S 590/2021 wef 10/08/2021]
[S 908/2021 wef 01/12/2021]
“wedding” means an organised gathering of individuals in connection with the celebration of a single marriage.
[S 513/2021 wef 12/07/2021]
[S 326/2022 wef 26/04/2022]
[Deleted by S 324/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
(2)  For the purposes of these Regulations, an individual is treated as undergoing or having undergone an approved test where an approved test is applied to any respiratory specimen taken from the individual in the course of a relevant sampling activity.
(3)  In reckoning a period for the purposes of these Regulations, days must be counted consecutively, whether or not a public holiday.
(4)  To avoid doubt, for the purpose of determining whether an individual is vaccinated, any amendment to the First Schedule which inserts, or deletes and substitutes, any vaccine in the First Schedule applies in relation to any individual who is administered that vaccine even before the date the amendment to that Schedule comes into operation.
[S 908/2021 wef 01/12/2021]
(5)  [Deleted by S 474/2022 wef 14/06/2022]
(6)  To avoid doubt, the definition of “nightclub” in paragraph (1) does not prevent any place or premises that is a nightclub from being a retail food and drinks establishment or a bar during any period when the predominant activity taking place in the place or premises is not dancing by the customers.
[S 317/2022 wef 19/04/2022]
Meaning of “occupier” of restricted place
3.—(1)  Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a person is, for the purposes of these Regulations, an occupier of a restricted place during a restricted period if the person has —
(a)the charge, management or control of the restricted place, either on the person’s own account or as agent of another person, during that period; or
(b)the use temporarily or otherwise of the restricted place during that period.
[S 774/2021 wef 13/10/2021]
[S 69/2022 wef 01/02/2022]
[S 226/2022 wef 29/03/2022]
[S 326/2022 wef 26/04/2022]
(2)  If different parts of a restricted place are occupied by different persons, then for the purposes of these Regulations, a person is an occupier of a part of the restricted place during a restricted period if the person has —
(a)the charge, management or control of that part of the restricted place, either on the person’s own account or as agent of another person, during that period; or
(b)the use temporarily or otherwise of that part of the restricted place, during that period.
(3)  If a restricted place or a part of a restricted place is used for a nuptial event relating to a marriage, then for the purposes of these Regulations, a person is an occupier of the restricted place or part of the restricted place when so used if the person is any person (whether or not for reward and whether jointly or otherwise) who procures for, or supplies to, any party to the marriage, the restricted place or the part of a restricted place and any goods and services for the celebration arrangements in connection with the holding of the nuptial event.
[S 324/2021 wef 16/05/2021]
(3A)  [Deleted by S 326/2022 wef 26/04/2022]
(3B)  [Deleted by S 226/2022 wef 29/03/2022]
(4)  However, a person is not an occupier of any restricted place or part of a restricted place by reason only of being a lodger of the restricted place or part thereof.
Digital certificates and automated decision making, etc.
4.—(1)  To avoid doubt, a cleared status certificate may be granted under these Regulations in a digital form, consisting of evidence of the grant of the certificate (using information about the individual to whom the certificate relates) that is displayed on a mobile communication device or other electronic device.
[S 317/2022 wef 19/04/2022]
[S 474/2022 wef 14/06/2022]
(2)  For the purposes of these Regulations, any decision, assessment or certification which may be made or granted by the Director under any provision in these Regulations may also be made or granted —
(a)by a public officer or other individual acting under the authority of the Director; or
(b)by a computer for whose operation the Director or a public officer mentioned in sub‑paragraph (a) is responsible.
Exception for discharging public duties
5.  These Regulations do not apply to prevent or restrict —
(a)the Government or any public body doing or omitting to do anything in the performance of any function, the exercise of any power or the discharge of any duty of the Government or public body (as the case may be) under law; or
(b)any individual acting under the authority or direction of the Government or any public body in the performance of any function, the exercise of any power or the discharge of any duty of the Government or public body (as the case may be) under law.
Made on 23 April 2021.
NG HOW YUE
Permanent Secretary
(Health Development),
Ministry of Health,
Singapore.
[AG/LEGIS/SL/137/2020/13 Vol. 1]