SINGAPORE — From June 1, SafeEntry check-in can only be done via the TraceTogether token or mobile application for venues with high visitorship or venues that are likely to have people be in close proximity for prolonged periods such as malls, workplaces and schools.

This means that at these venues, other methods used for SafeEntry check-in, such as scanning the venue’s QR code, using the SingPass app, and scanning the barcodes of personal identification cards, will be discontinued from June 1.

The move comes as more than 90 per cent of the population have either downloaded the contact-tracing TraceTogether app, collected the TraceTogether token, or done both, the Smart Nation Digital Office (SNDGO) said in a statement on Thursday (April 22).

With the implementation of the TraceTogether-only system at these locations, members of the public will no longer need to check in via SafeEntry at large retail stores and supermarkets located inside malls, the agency said.

“This is because all visitors would have already performed TraceTogether-only SafeEntry check-in at the mall entrances, and the interactions at these venues within the mall are generally more transient,” it added.

Small retail stores such as pharmacies, convenience stores and heartland provision shops that are not required to implement SafeEntry for customers, but have done so voluntarily, should remove SafeEntry check-ins to increase convenience for their patrons, the agency also said.

The full list of TraceTogether-only SafeEntry venues can be found on the SafeEntry website. 

Examples of the businesses and venues that have to implement the mandatory TraceTogether-only SafeEntry check-ins include:

• Healthcare facilities (such as hospitals, clinics, traditional chinese medicine halls)

• Retail and food-and-beverage establishments (such as malls, supermarkets, popular wet markets, showrooms)

• Cultural and entertainment venues (such as libraries, museums, cinemas, ticketed attractions)

• Preschools and student care centres

• Hotels and hostels

• Tuition and enrichment venues

• Places of worship

To facilitate SafeEntry check-in with the TraceTogether token, SNDGO said that operators should download the SafeEntry (Business) app or use the SafeEntry gateway box. 

Businesses may find out more information on how to apply for the device on the SafeEntry website as well.

SNDGO said that the 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.

It added that 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.

“This has been important in ensuring that the impact of any local cases detected were immediately contained, with very little further spread in the community,” it said.

“With greater active usage of TraceTogether, the coverage and speed of contact-tracing can be further enhanced.”