Covid-19: Entry to 4 popular markets by IC ‘odd and even number system’ to be strictly enforced from April 24

SINGAPORE — The new “odd and even number” rule that will stagger visitors' entry into four popular wet markets based on their National Registration Identity Card (NRIC) number will be strictly enforced from Friday (April 24), the National Environment Agency (NEA) said.

Although the rule is not enforced yet, NEA said on Thursday that crowds at the four markets had already thinned by 30 to 50 per cent in the last two days following the Government's announcement on Tuesday.

For instance, at the busiest of the four markets, Geylang Serai Market, the average queue length had more than halved — from consistently long queues involving more than 100 people to not more than 50.

The other three markets are: Chong Pang Market at Block 104 and 105 Yishun Ring Road, as well as the markets at Block 20 and 21 Marsiling Lane and Block 505 Jurong West Street 52.

NEA said that enforcement will begin on Friday given that awareness of the new entry restriction system had increased since the announcement.

Adherence to the new rule — even though it was not being enforced — had improved from an average of 60 to 70 per cent on Wednesday to 80 to 85 per cent on Thursday, it added.

Under the rule, people whose NRIC or Foreign Identification Number (Fin) ends in an even digit (0, 2, 4, 6 or 8) may visit these markets only on even dates of the month. Those with odd numbers as their last digit (1, 3, 5, 7 or 9) may do so on odd dates of the month.

For example, a person whose NRIC or Fin ends with a 7 may visit any of the four markets only on dates ending with a 1, 3, 5, 7 or 9, such as April 27 or May 3.

And a person whose NRIC or Fin ends with an 8, for example, may visit any of the four markets only on dates ending with 0, 2, 4, 6 or 8, such as April 30 or May 4.

Earlier on Thursday, TODAY asked NEA some questions after finding that officers stationed at the four affected markets still let in patrons with the wrong numbers on Thursday, in an extension of what was supposed to be a one-day “grace period” granted by the authorities on Wednesday.

In announcing the new rule on Tuesday, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said that the measure was meant to “clean out the crowds” and reduce the risk of transmitting the coronavirus in these areas.

THOSE WHO DID NOT KNOW

TODAY was at Geylang Serai Market on Thursday morning and saw visibly thinner queues as well. Still, there were a handful of patrons who were still not aware of the new odd-even rule.

Among them was Mr Jureni Mohd, 35, a hooklift truck driver, who was there with his wife on his day off from work to buy some S$200 worth of groceries in preparation for Ramadan, a holy month observed by Muslims.

“Tomorrow is our fasting month. We needed to buy a lot of stuff. Luckily, my IC is an odd number. It’s my luck, lah, if not, the officer says next time cannot enter,” he said.

Asked if he had not had the time to follow the news closely, the worker said: “I did listen to the news, but there are too many details… Every other day, they keep on changing the rules, and we become confused which is which.”

Another market-goer was former librarian Nur Haliza Ramly, 27, who was accompanying her mother on her Ramadan shopping trip.

While she was happy that the rule meant that people are not standing “hip to hip” or shoving from behind unlike in previous years, she said she would be angry if she was abruptly turned away at the entrance since she had not heard of the rule before she arrived.

“I would ask how come I cannot enter?” she said. “I am here to help (my mother).”

SOME WILFULLY CAME ON WRONG DATE

Still, some other people knew of the rule but decided to show up on the “wrong” date anyway.

Speaking to TODAY, boatman Muslim Mohamed Ali, 49, whose NRIC number ends on an even number, said he needed to help his 62-year-old wife, whose NRIC number ends with an odd number, to carry the marketing load, so he queued to try his luck. He got through after being reminded of a strict imposition of the rule the next time.

He added that he was ready to reason with the officers if he had been rejected.

Mr Muslim said: “If (my wife) falls down, who should I blame? Her leg is not so strong. Small items, she can carry, but big items, she cannot.”

In his opinion, it is better to keep things simple by having people queue up like before, pointing out that some workers are not in a position to determine when they can get a day off to go marketing.

Alternatively, family members should be allowed entry together, he said, suggesting that some husbands who are unfamiliar with marketing might have a harder time figuring out what items to buy.

While his wife may take only 15 to 20 minutes to check off the grocery list, he would not know what to buy, Mr Muslim said. "I don’t cook. If I buy, I will need to do a video-call her, send photos to her for her opinion,” he said.

SCANNING SYSTEM AT GEYLANG SERAI MARKET

In its statement on Thursday, NEA also said that it has started progressively piloting the use of a digital check-in application called SafeEntry at Geylang Serai Market.

Those who were trying to enter the wet market on Thursday were asked to scan their NRIC before entry.

NEA said that the app will help to support contract tracing efforts and allow it to better fine-tune its crowd management measures at the markets.

The queue at Geylang Serai Market at about 12.20pm on April 23, 2020. Photo: Wong Pei Ting/TODAY

It was previously announced that the number of people to be allowed in will be capped at 150 at Chong Pang Market, 300 at Geylang Serai Market, 180 for the markets at Marsiling Lane, and 150 for the market at Block 505 Jurong West.Street

“Spreading out the crowds at the markets across the day and course of the week is critical in ensuring that safe distancing measures remain effective,” NEA added.

“Market patrons can do their part and patronise markets during weekdays, or at the non-peak period after 10am on weekends.”