Singapore’s integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands (MBS) and Resorts World Sentosa (RWS), introduced new restrictions from Wednesday preventing anyone who is not fully vaccinated from entering their facilities, including gaming areas.
The policy shift follows new rules announced by the Ministry of Health on Saturday and put in place from 13 October to slow the spread of COVID-19. To be considered fully vaccinated, individuals must have received their second dose of a World Health Organization-approved vaccine at least 14 days earlier.
Under the new rules, unvaccinated individuals will not be allowed to enter attractions, shopping malls, hawker centers or coffee shops – expanding measures that were already in place for restaurants and other food and beverage establishments.
In a notice posted on its website, MBS said that from 13 October its casino would “open only to fully vaccinated individuals, in groups of up to two persons, aged 21 years and above. Individuals with a valid negative Pre-event Test (PET) result, or those with a valid exemption from PET, may be permitted entry if they meet all eligibility conditions.”
The two-person limit also applies to MBS attractions, the hotel and Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.
MBS added that the vaccination rate among its staff was now at more than 97% with a “further enhancement of our Rostered Routine Testing programme for staff” also in place.
RWS outlined similar measures on its website, stating, “The number of guests per group will be no more than the maximum allowed by current government restrictions.”
Singapore has experienced a significant increase in COVID-19 cases since easing restrictions in early September, part of the country’s COVID-19 recovery plan. The eased restrictions were introduced after Singapore reached an 80% vaccination rate.
