The information on this page is out of date. Please refer to the latest update here:

COVID-19 circuit breaker: Closure of workplace premises – Additional safe distancing measures will be implemented in workplaces from 7 Apr 2020

Can we still shoot? – Workplace advisory and safe distancing measures

Yes, you can, if you comply with the details below:

(updated 30 Mar 2020)

On 24 March 2020, the Ministry of Health issued an advisory on Tighter Measures to Minimise Further Spread of COVID-19. On 26 March 2020, the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) has issued a clarification there is no ban on both indoor and outdoor location shoots.

Media companies and practitioners are expected to adhere to the following requirements:

  • Employers and employees must adopt safe distancing measures at the workplace. MOM and MOH will take enforcement actions against employers who do not implement safe distancing measures, including ordering employers or occupiers to cease operations until the measures are put in place.
  • Where employees can perform their work by telecommuting from home, the employer must ensure that they do so
  • For job roles or functions where employees cannot work from home, employers must take the following precautions:
    • Reduce need for and duration of physical interactions
    • Ensure clear physical spacing of at least 1m apart
    • Stagger working hours to reduce possible congregation of employees at common spaces such as entrances/exits. Staggered working hours must be implemented over at least three 1-hourly blocks, with not more than half of the employees reporting to work within each 1-hour block.
    • Defer or cancel all events
    • Implement or enhance shift or split team arrangements
    • Location filming activities, in-house or professional training workshops and courses, and any other work activities may still continue, but these should not involve members of the public.
    • Implement visitor registration and contact-tracing measures at their entrances, such as obtaining the contact details of visitors (name and phone number and/or email address). In addition, venue operators can request visitors to download the TraceTogether app (https://www.tracetogether.gov.sg) to complement (but not replace) the contact-tracing measures.
    • Put in place temperature screening measures as well as keep an eye out for persons who appear unwell. These visitors must then be turned away and encouraged to seek medical attention.
    • Obtain travel and health declarations of visitors. Visitors who have been overseas in last 14 days must be turned away.
    • Increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfection of their premises or the spaces used, especially frequently touched surfaces and items, and remove all handling objects where possible.
    • Provide hand sanitisers in easily accessible locations.
    • Put up notices and posters in prominent places to remind all to practise social responsibility and comply with the safe distancing measures.
  • Prior to implementing the above measures, employers should clearly communicate and explain them to employees.
  • Activities which are unable to adhere to the above bullet points must be cancelled/deferred.
  • Employers who are service buyers should also request their suppliers/contractors to implement similar safe distancing measures, so that operations and business interactions with these suppliers/contractors are kept safe.
  • For employers who have frontline or customer-facing operations, they should adopt queue management measures as recommended by the Enterprise Singapore (ESG) for safe distancing measures
  • Media activities located in tenanted spaces (e.g. commercial malls) must comply with the requirements above, as well as any other requirements that the Government may impose through landlords on tenants. Media companies and practitioners who are also landlords must ensure their tenants comply with any such requirements.
     

Action will be taken against any non-compliance with the government’s safe distancing requirements. Media practitioners who do not implement or comply with the requirements may be ineligible for government grants and assistance, and may be subject to penalties under the Infectious Disease Act. Additional penalties may be imposed on those which are found to have been a place of transmission of COVID-19, if the venues are found not to have adhered to these requirements.

These requirements are subject to further review based on the global situation and developments in Singapore, including changes to MOH’s advisories.

For more information:

Updated as of 26 March 2020