Covid-19: All govt-run columbaria to be closed on weekends and public holidays during Qing Ming festival

SINGAPORE — All government-run columbaria will close on weekends and public holidays until April 26, with added restrictions for visitors on weekdays in light of the current Covid-19 situation, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Wednesday (March 25). 

The announcement was made a week before the upcoming Qing Ming Festival — which takes place on April 4 — where large crowds may gather at the columbaria to pay their respects, with the peak period expected to last between March 21 and April 19.

Visitors who have made arrangements to visit on the weekends could instead make arrangements to visit on weekdays between Monday, 8am and Friday, 5.30pm. 

As previously announced, NEA has extended the opening hours for government-managed columbaria to 24 hours daily, from Mondays to Fridays until April 24. These include Choa Chu Kang, Mandai and Yishun Columbaria. 

For those visiting on weekdays, there will be added restrictions, which include: 

• Minimising family visits to no more than four persons 

• Not bringing elderly family members or young children 

• Not prolonging time spent in the facilities

• Avoiding crowds around the prayer and joss paper burning areas of the columbaria, and

• Keeping a safe distance of at least 1m from other visitors                            

NEA said it will monitor the situation closely and may implement further measures for crowd control, which include temporarily stopping access to the columbaria block and closing off joss paper burners. 

“Those who feel unwell or are sick should stay at home and see a doctor, and avoid visiting during the Qing Ming peak periods as crowds are expected at the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and government columbaria,” said NEA. 

The agency also urged members of the public to exercise socially responsible behaviour “so as to protect our own well-being and the well-being of our families and relatives”.

Operating hours for government-managed columbaria (until April 26, 2020)

• Monday – Opens at 8am

• Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday – 24 hours

• Friday – Closes at 5.30pm

• Eve of public holiday (Thursday, April 9) – Closes at 5.30pm

• Public holiday (Good Friday, April 10) and weekends – Closed