SINGAPORE, 8 April 2020:
More than 7,000 written advisories were issued to members of the public who breached the elevated safe distancing measures – mostly in hawker centres and markets – according to Singapore’s Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
The elevated safe distancing measures, dubbed as a circuit breaker, was announced by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on April 3 It kicked off yesterday for a month to mitigate the island-wide spread of Covid-19.
The ministry said it included written advisories given to members of public at crowded markets to remind them to keep a safe distance when queuing or making payments by following floor markings.
βAn advisory was also issued to a stallholder for selling drinks intended for dine-in at a hawker centre,β it said in its website.
The ministry said more than 2,000 Safe Distancing and SG Clean Ambassadors, and Enforcement Officers (EOs) were deployed to the Housing & Development Board (HDB) estates across Singapore to ensure the observance of safe distancing measures in the heartlands.
These ambassadors and EOs were deployed by the ministry, together with relevant agencies, to cover premises such as town centres, hawker centres, coffee shops, transport nodes, parks, and community clubs/centres.
Under the Covid-19 Temporary Measures Bill passed in Parliament yesterday , first time offenders will face a fine of up to S$10,000 or imprisonment of up to six months, or both.
For the second or subsequent offences, they may face a fine of up to S$20,000 or imprisonment of up to twelve months, or both.
– Bernama