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SINGAPORE – The lifting of weekend entry restrictions at Geylang Serai Market went into effect on Saturday (September 12), but stall owners say the move has not affected the influx of the public as capacity limits are still in effect.
“It doesn’t make any difference. Safe distancing ambassadors are very strict with crowd control, so it’s not like more people can come into the market now,” said An Raihan, 35, who runs a stall miscellaneous items.
The same sentiment was shared by vegetable stand owner Haled Aidil, 59, who said that while there were still long lines to enter the market in the morning, the interior of the market was “very empty.”
He lamented: “This doesn’t make much sense to me, because there is no control over the number of people on the second floor.”
The second floor of the market is a lively food center.
Geylang Serai Market is one of four popular wet markets that have imposed entry restrictions that allow people to visit only on odd or even dates, based on the last digit of their ID card number. The others are Chong Pang Market in Block 104/105 Yishun Ring Road and Markets in Block 20/21 Marsiling Lane and Block 505 Jurong West Street 52.
The restrictions were first implemented in April, but were relaxed for weekdays starting August 13.
Starting Saturday, the weekend restrictions were also relaxed, although there is a limit on the number of people allowed at any one time.
When The Straits Times visited Geylang Serai Market at 8 a.m., long meandering lines had formed to enter, although the interior of the market seemed spacious, with no issues of space for customers to observe a safe distance. Safe distance ambassadors were spotted throughout the area to ensure that visitors were kept within 1m of each other.
By lunchtime, the lines had cleared and the crowd thinned, possibly also attenuated by the rainy weather.
Fruit seller Kadariah Shamsudin, 62, welcomed the easing of the measures, although it did not appear to immediately improve business.
She said, “I’m happy about that. It means we’re getting closer to returning to a normal way of life, and that’s always a good thing.”
Buyers like Madam Neha Agarwal, 47, agreed. She is happy that her husband, whose last NRIC digit is different from hers, is now able to accompany her on weekend market trips. “Finally, he can help me carry my things,” said the housewife, who visits the market once a week.
As lifting of entry restrictions may mean longer wait times in the four popular wet markets, the National Environment Agency on its website advised shoppers to visit during weekdays and off-peak hours, and have them check out the Space Out site to verify the crowd. level, such as the length of the queues, before heading.
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