After a two-year suspension due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Singapore’s nightlife sector will fully reopen on April 19, the authorities announced on Monday (April 4). However, strict Covid-19 safety measures will be enforced to ensure the safe return of operations.
All nightlife establishments, including bars, pubs, nightclubs, and karaoke outlets, will be required to follow the same safe management measures (SMMs) imposed on food and beverage venues, retail liquor stores, and live performances, where applicable.
This includes the implementation of vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS), as outlined by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in a joint statement.
For venues like nightclubs and discotheques, where dancing is a primary activity, patrons will need to show a negative antigen rapid test (ART) result before entry. This test must be supervised either in person or remotely by a Ministry of Health-approved provider. The test result will be valid for 24 hours from the time of issuance, and patrons must take the test before the start of their visit and no more than 24 hours before leaving the event or activity.
This reopening follows the government’s March 24 decision to relax SMMs across various sectors, including allowing nightlife businesses to resume operations after an extended hiatus.