This comes after the ministry held consultations with the National Security Council, health ministry, the Chinese Cemetery Management Association and other religious groups.

The SOPs will be in place from March 20 until April 18, two weeks before and after the day itself.

At cemeteries, the number of family members in attendance cannot exceed six people at any time, while ceremonies can be conducted from 5am to 6pm. All ceremonies are limited to 90 minutes.

At columbariums, the number of family members in attendance cannot exceed 10 people at any one time in MCO areas, 50% of columbarium capacity in CMCO areas while social distancing measures must be practiced at RMCO areas.

Ceremonies are to be conducted from 5am to 6pm, and are to be no more than 60 minutes long, with sessions separated by 30 minutes for sanitisation.

Inter-state activities are not permitted.

National unity minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique called on the Chinese community to abide by the SOPs set during the ceremonies this year in order to ensure Covid-19 is kept at bay.

Cheng Beng, literally tomb-sweeping day, is observed as the Chinese All Souls Day.