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Watching a movie the first weekend since TraceTogether records were introduced in theaters on Monday turned out to be a mostly stress-free experience.
Checks by The Sunday Times for two hours yesterday afternoon found that about half of the visitors to the cinemas at the JCube and Jem malls in Jurong East used the TraceTogether app or the token to enter. Installations are run by Shaw Theaters and Cathay Cineplexes, respectively.
Almost all of these viewers used the TraceTogether app, and ST spotted only one person who signed up with the token. The other half used the older methods, scanning SafeEntry QR codes with smartphones or scanning the NRIC barcode, which will no longer be allowed in theaters as of November 16.
These numbers were consistent with what movie operators saw in their media during the week. Both Golden Village (GV) and Shaw told ST that more than half of their customers were using the app or token.
A GV spokesperson said: “Over the past few days, we have also seen a steady increase in … users who are ready with their app or token without any further notice.
Operators have spared no effort to ensure that customers adhere to the new rules. Signs and people standing with information about TraceTogether have been prominently displayed, and operators have deployed staff to encourage and guide users to adopt TraceTogether.
Shaw JCube staff were seen, for example, tirelessly informing users of the new requirements and the November 16 deadline, as well as helping less tech-savvy users download the app.
Cinemagoer Tao Guang, 28, downloaded the TraceTogether app on the spot on JCube when asked to do so by Shaw staff. He spent about five minutes setting up the app before entering the theater.
“I don’t find the (new TraceTogether registrations) problematic because it’s something that is necessary if we want to open up more,” said Tao, who lives in Yew Tee and works in facilities management. “But I’m still not sure how convenient the app is, and I’d probably prefer to use the token if I can get one.”
Token distribution was suspended due to long lines at certain collection centers, but resumed on a limited basis earlier in the week.
Currently, residents living in the constituency can only collect tokens at the Marsiling and Woodgrove Community Centers (CCs). The remaining CC will be opened for collection progressively from now until mid-December.
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