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SINGAPORE – Singapore’s shopping malls were packed with crowds ahead of the pandemic the last weekend before Christmas, as shoppers searched for last-minute gifts in a festive New Year’s Eve atmosphere.
This was despite the government calling for caution in the run-up to phase three of Singapore’s reopening on December 28, which will allow for larger gatherings of up to eight and expanded capacity limits in public places.
The Straits Times spoke to several patrons at the island’s malls, who admitted their discomfort at the lack of safe distancing amid crowds larger than they expected.
“It’s very busy in the mall, it’s scary to see people go out like there’s no pandemic,” said Muhammad Faiz, who was at Bugis Junction. “You don’t know who might be a carrier, and there are so many people around that you could end up being too close to someone and coming into contact with (a carrier).”
The 23-year-old usually goes to the city only once a month.
“It seems that people are behaving as if we are already in phase three,” added Aisyah Daman, a 30-year-old homemaker.
The government has warned against complacency during the holiday season, and Education Minister Lawrence Wong signaled last Monday concerns that “there will be groups of people letting their guard down.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also said this “is not the time to relax” or imagine “that the problem is gone.”
On Saturday afternoon, even when it was revealed that 13 people with a stay-at-home notice at the Mandarin Orchard Singapore hotel may have been infected there, shopping malls in the area were full.
At Ion Orchard, queues formed from around 20 retailers outside of JD Sports and Muji.
Shoppers packed Daiso with baskets full of Christmas items. Ms. Gwee, 33, a healthcare professional who declined to give her first name, changed her mind upon entering the variety store. “I was put off by the number of people,” he said. “It was so crowded it seemed like the air conditioning wasn’t on.”
Similar crowds were seen at 313 @ Somerset, but they had little effect on a 29-year-old who wanted to be known only as Serene. “There are so many reasons not to sell, the festive atmosphere, meeting friends,” he said. “I’m not worried … And we’ll move on to phase three soon.”
At Bugis Junction, with the retail staff saying they had seen an increase in crowds and sales over the past two weekends, it was difficult for shoppers to stay within a meter of each other in some places, although most seemed aware. of the need to do so.
Outside of Toys ‘R’ Us on VivoCity, 35-year-old Asikin Said told ST that he normally shops online, but with deliveries affected by the holiday season, he decided to bring his three-year-old son to challenge the crowd. .
Even with the crowd scattered throughout the sprawling mall, Ms. Asikin said she had had enough. “It’s pretty bad. We go home immediately after this.”
Aisyah, who was in Bugis Junction with her family, acknowledged that she did not feel 100% safe. “But we still need some entertainment in our life so we want to go out … we are willing to take the risk, as long as we make sure we practice good hygiene and wear our masks correctly. I also make sure my 10 month old daughter does not play things “.
The government has said it will continue to deploy safe distancing ambassadors and work with retailers to better manage crowds.
During the weekend, these ambassadors were seen, in moderation, in some shopping centers visited by ST.
At VivoCity and Bugis Junction, regular announcements were played through the public address system, asking people to keep a safe distance, among other Covid-19 precautionary measures.
Jenny Khoo, Head of Singapore Asset Operations for Lendlease Group that manages shopping malls such as 313 and JEM, said Ms Jenny Khoo: “Our shopping malls will continue to apply an improved cleaning regime and implement crowd management measures such as directing shoppers to staffed entrances as well as implementing security measures. crowd control personnel. “
Ms Aqilah Salahudin, Typo sales assistant in Bugis, said footsteps were expected to remain strong, with the school reopening and the Chinese New Year coming.
She has been reminding clients to keep a safe distance from each other. “(With) Covid-19, sometimes you don’t know what could happen … But we have to deal with the risk.”
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