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SINGAPORE: Access to four popular markets will soon be restricted based on the last digit of customer identification card numbers, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Tuesday (April 21), when Singapore extended its period COVID-19 “breaker” for four more weeks.
Starting Wednesday, customers visiting the Geylang Serai Market, Chong Pang Market (Block 104/105 Yishun Ring Road), Block 20/21 Marsiling Lane and Block 505 Jurong West Street 52 can only do so according to the last digit of your national registration identification card (NRIC) or Foreign Identification Number (FIN).
Those whose last digit on their ID card is an even number, such as 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8, can only visit these markets on the even dates of the month. Those whose last digit is an odd number, such as 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, can only visit these markets on odd dates of the month.
Buyers of face masks mingle at Singapore AFP / Roslan RAHMAN Geylang Serai Market
NEA said the controlled entry and exit points to the markets it manages have helped maintain a safe distance at these locations. However, long lines were observed in certain popular markets, especially on the weekends.
To address this, NEA urged customers to make further adjustments to their trading hours by sponsoring markets on weekdays or in the non-peak period on weekends, such as after 10 a.m. It also posted peak hours and queue locations in 39 popular markets, and provided users with a list of alternative markets located nearby.
“These measures have helped to expand the crowd slightly and market customers have started making some adjustments,” the agency said, adding that from April 7 to 19, more customers were seen visiting markets during less busy hours. .
However, long queues were still seen over the last weekend in the four popular markets mentioned above, NEA said.
READ: The COVID-19 circuit breaker was extended until June 1, as Singapore aims to cut community numbers “decisively” – PM Lee
Starting Wednesday, customers in these markets will be required to present appropriate forms of identification at entry points for verification. Those who are unable to do so will be denied entry.
Customers who require assistance with their marketing, such as the elderly and people with disabilities, may have a member of the same household or a foreign domestic worker accompany them to the market. At least one person among them must meet the odd or even date entry restriction.
“Overall, we continue to encourage older people to avoid visiting markets, especially during peak hours, and to seek help for their marketing needs,” NEA said.
“Members of the public are urged to take safe distancing measures seriously in street vendor markets and centers, and to do our part to help make current circuit breaker measures a success,” he added.
The initiative came shortly after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the extension of the circuit breaker for four weeks.
The circuit breaker, which was supposed to end on May 4, will now end on June 1, as Singapore tries to “decisively” reduce the number of community COVID-19 cases.
Earlier Tuesday, the Health Ministry said there were 1,111 new cases of coronavirus in Singapore, bringing the national total to 9,125.
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