SafeEntry Check-in Using TraceTogether App is Mandatory in Singapore

Starting from June 1, use of the TraceTogether app or token will be the sole means of digital check-in for the purpose of contact tracing at places with higher footfall or where people are likely to be close to one another.

Known as the TraceTogether-only SafeEntry (TT-only SE), it will be implemented at shopping malls, workplaces, places of worship, educational institutions, restaurants and gyms. This comes after more than 90 per cent of the population have either downloaded the TraceTogether app or collected the TraceTogether token.

The existing requirement for SafeEntry check-ins at supermarkets and large retail outlets with operating hours similar to the malls and buildings in which they are located will also be removed when TraceTogether is used for registering check-ins. This set-up is known as TraceTogether-only SafeEntry (TT-only SE).

TraceTogether app and SafeEntry check-in mechanism have helped the authorities reduce the average time taken to contract-trace from four days to fewer than a day and a half. TraceTogether has recently helped to identify 75 persons who had to be placed under quarantine, but would likely not have been picked up through a manual contact-tracing process.

Over Usage of Data

While more than 90% of the population have either downloaded the app or collected the token, some residents may be reluctant to use it.

Earlier this year, the authorities revealed that TraceTogether data can be used for police investigations.

Residents were understandably displeased with this new information, as they were previously told that TraceTogether data that is older than 25 days will automatically be deleted and that it’d only be used for contact tracing.

In response to the criticism, the government said it will introduce legislation listing seven categories of serious offences for which TraceTogether data can be used for police investigations.

This legislation dictates that TraceTogether data will only be used for contact tracing purposes, unless there is a clear and pressing need to use that data for criminal investigation of serious offences.

Here are the seven categories of serious offences:

Offences involving the use or possession of corrosive substances, offensive/dangerous weapons, e.g possession of firearms, armed robbery with the use of firearms.
Terrorism-related offences under the Terrorism (Suppression of Bombings) Act, Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act, and Terrorism (Suppression of Misuse of Radioactive Material).
Crimes against persons where the victim is seriously hurt or killed e.g murder, culpable homicide not amounting to murder, voluntarily causing grievous hurt (where the victim’s injury is of a life-threatening nature).
Drug trafficking offences that attract the death penalty.
Escape from legal custody where there is reasonable belief that the subject will cause imminent harm to others.
Kidnapping
Serious sexual offences, e.g rape, sexual assault by penetration.

Mandatory Places requires TraceTogether SafeEntry check-in

Workplaces
Solemnisations and weddings
Funeral and funerary events
Funeral parlours with wake halls
Schools and educational institutions
Preschools and student care centres
Healthcare facilities
Residential and community-based care facilities
Hotels and hostels
Places of worship
Banks and financial institutions
Malls
Supermarkets
Large retail outlets bigger than 10,000 sq ft
Food & beverage outlets for dine-in customers
Personal care services
Facilities providing basic pet services that do not function on a drop-off and pick-up basis
Selected popular wet markets: Geylang Serai Market, Chong Pang Market, Block 20/21 Marsiling Lane, and Block 505 Jurong West Street 52
Showrooms
Tuition and enrichment and training centres
Outdoor exercise class venues
Sports and fitness centres including gyms and studios
Country and recreation clubs
Registered premises of other member clubs and societies
Libraries
Museums
Exhibitions
Cinemas
Ticketed attractions
Other entertainment venues: Amusement centres, computer game centres, board game centres, billiard saloons, paintball game centres, axe-throwing centres
Event venues such as function halls and event lawns
Cruises