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SINGAPORE: Starting Sunday (April 12), people who do not wear face masks will not be able to enter the 40 markets managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) or operators designated by NEA.
The move is to safeguard the health and well-being of all street vendors and customers in the 40 markets, which are relatively popular and tend to draw crowds on the weekends, the agency said in a press release on Friday.
The COVID-19 outbreak in Singapore, which has killed seven people and infected more than 2,100, has prompted the government to establish safe distancing measures, such as bans on eating in food establishments and brand names, to maintain 1 million separation between people in the markets
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Reusable masks are distributed to all residents, and the Government has advised people to wear them if they have to leave their homes.
“With the reusable masks being made available to Singapore residents, customers should wear a mask when visiting markets, given the generally crowded and closed environment in the markets,” NEA said.
These 40 markets have crowd management measures, such as controlled entry and exit points. However, several markets, such as those at Geylang Serai, 505 Jurong West Street 52 and 104/105 Yishun Ring Road, still drew large crowds on the weekends, and long queues were seen outside the markets.
Members of the public queue outside the Geylang Serai market on April 9, 2020. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
A temporary shelter was installed to protect people who join the long lines at the Geylang Serai Market, April 9, 2020. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
Limiting the capacity of a multitude of markets is necessary to ensure that there is enough space for people to maintain the 1 million gap, especially when customers are at the stalls making their purchases, NEA said.
People should also come back another day if the queue outside the market is too long, he added.
“If the terrain situation at these few critical points does not improve, the NEA would consider even stronger measures to reduce overcrowding both inside and outside these markets.”
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NEA also said that customers should limit their visits to the market once a week and during the week or non-peak hours on weekends. Elders are encouraged not to make their own purchases and instead seek help from family or neighbors.
People should also avoid stopping at the market when shopping for groceries and consider visiting a market other than the popular 40.
A market stall Geylang Serai, April 9, 2020. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
68 APPLICATION ACTIONS ON FRIDAY
Since Thursday, NEA officials have begun deleting the details of anyone who is violating safe distancing measures.
A total of 68 enforcement actions were taken against members of the public in the markets and cooked food sections of the street vendor centers on Friday, NEA said.
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In one case, a market customer claimed to ignore the safe distancing requirements and refused to comply with it after being informed by compliance officers. In another case, a client who was sitting in the cooked food section of a street vendor center while waiting for the spouse to become verbally abusive towards a compliance officer.
In both cases, the police had to be called, NEA said.
View of stalls in the Geylang Serai Market, April 9, 2020. (Photo: Try Sutrisno Foo)
“While it has been observed that most customers are neat when they queue to go, there are some customers who ignored safe distancing measures and even consumed food or drinks in dining rooms,” the agency said.
“All customers and visitors are reminded to follow the guidance and instructions of NEA officers. Clients and visitors who do not meet the requirements may face enforcement actions, including a S $ 300 composition fine or prosecution in court. ”
“The cooperation of all customers, as well as street vendors, is required so that stricter measures beyond the current circuit breaker are not necessary to stop the transmission of COVID-19 in Singapore,” NEA said.
Below is the list of the 40 markets with crowd management measures:
1. Tiong Bahru Market
2. Bukit Timah Market
3. Tanglin stall market
4. Geylang Serai Market
5. Taman Jurong Market & Food Center
6. North Bridge Road Market & Food Center
7. Beo Crescent Market
8. Kallang real estate market
9. 409 Ang Mo Kio 10 Avenue
10. 505 Jurong West Street 52
11. 13/14 Haig Road
12. 4A Eunos Crescent
13. 104/105 Yishun Ring Road
14. 137 Tampines Street 11
15. 630 Bedok Reservoir Road
16. 209 Hougang Street 21
17. 453A Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10
18. 527 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 10
19. 628 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4
20. 341 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1
21. 20 Ghim Moh Road
22. 29 Bendemeer Road
23. 49 Sims Place
24. 254 Jurong East Street 24
25. 448 Clementi Avenue 3
26. 50A marine terrace
27. 160/162 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4
28. 115 Bukit Merah View
29. 726 Clementi Street 2
30. 79 Redhill Lane
31. 105 Hougang Avenue 1
32. 16 Bedok South Road
33. 216 Bedok North Street 1
34. 58 New Upp Changi Road
35. 335 Smith Street
36. 347 Jurong East Avenue 1
37. 20/21 Marsiling Lane
38. 665 Buffalo Road
39. 221 A / B Boon Lay Place
40. 127 Toa Payoh Lorong 1
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