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Tougher measures have been announced in Singapore recently as safe distancing rules aren't being strictly followed. Last week saw social gatherings banned, selected areas in parks and nature reserves being closed off and stadiums shut to increase efforts to minimise crowds and make safe distancing easier to achieve. Instead, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said in a Facebook post, “But increasingly we see that this is hard to achieve.”
All beaches in Singapore are now closed to prevent people from gathering in groups. This means that popular seaside spots like East Coast Park, Changi Beach Park, Pasir Ris Park, and Sembawang Park will (hopefully) see much less traffic in the following weeks. While the nature reserves and parks remain open, certain areas that are prone to overcrowding like Coney Island and the TreeTop Walk at MacRitchie Reservoir are closed to the public.
On top of that, Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced that it is now compulsory for everyone to wear face masks on public transport. This measure will also apply even after the 'circuit breaker' period is over and the buses and trains become crowded again.
Besides public transports, wearing a mask is also compulsory for shoppers visiting malls, supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies from April 12 onwards. These places now have a right to turn those not wearing a mask away from its premises. According to the Health Sciences Authorities, wearing a mask prevents large particles (expelled by you) from reaching the environment by creating a physical barrier. It is also a step in being responsible so we don't unintentionally spread our germs to the people we come across.
Find out where to get a face mask in Singapore and where to go to monitor crowd levels in malls and outdoor spaces.