Covid-19: Safe-distancing measures help control crowds at markets, but some park-goers still ignoring rules

SINGAPORE — To ensure that safe-distancing measures are being adhered to at wet markets, stallholders and town council staff are turning to different ways to manage large crowds.

And these seem to be working, with three markets that TODAY visited on Friday (April 10) seemingly having the situation under control with patrons also cooperating.

The scene at parks in the evening on the same day however was quite the opposite with many groups still gathering and flouting safe-distancing rules.

More than 150 visitors to Singapore's green spaces received written stern warnings and fines from the National Parks Board (NParks) as of 9.30pm on Friday.

HOW WET MARKETS ARE CONTROLLING CROWDS

At Bukit Timah Market, for example, several vendors started work as early as 4.30am on Friday (April 10) to serve customers who wanted to avoid the peak period which starts around 7am.

Those extra hours put in may have made all the difference to help with crowd control because by 9am, when TODAY visited the market, there was barely a crowd.

Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong said on Thursday, when a record 287 Covid-19 cases were reported, that wet markets are a “hot spot” and the authorities have been controlling entries and exits to ensure safe-distancing is carried out.

At the three wet markets TODAY visited, there were barricades around the perimeter with only one entry and one exit for customers as a crowd control measure.

National Environment Agency personnel were also seen walking around the markets, reminding shoppers to keep a safe distance.

Besides putting in extra hours to serve customers to spread the crowd out, stallholders are also allowing orders through the phone.

Mr Stanisiaus Tan, 60, who runs the Dr Yong Tau Fu stall at the Bukit Timah wet market, said he was accepting calls from customers to place orders in advance so they could just pick them up when they arrived.

At Teck Ghee Market, the maximum occupancy is being monitored with the aid of a sensor that was set up on Friday morning that automatically tracks the number of people moving in and out, said a town council staff who did not want to be named.

There was only a short queue when TODAY visited at 10am.

Even at smaller markets with snaking queues, customers adhered to the safe-distancing measures and queued orderly.

Over at Yew Tee Market at around 8am, TODAY observed a long line of customers winding around a portion of the Block 626 carpark along Choa Chu Kang Street 62.

The market allows only 50 customers at any one time.

Madam K Komala, 54, who was near the entrance said she had waited 15 minutes but did not feel it was an inconvenience.

“I’m a nurse, so I understand there is a need to safeguard us with the safe distancing measures,” said Mdm Komala.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said that he had visited the Geylang Serai and Tekka Markets in the morning.

He noted that the queue at Geylang Serai was "very long". He advised consumers to help by not lingering in markets, to make a list before heading out and to do their shopping on weekdays. They can also opt for markets which are not as busy.

MORE THAN 90 PARK VISITORS ISSUED FINES AND WARNINGS

While the situation at the wet markets seemed to be under control in the morning, a different scene played out at some of Singapore’s nature parks in the evening.

When TODAY visited Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park on Friday, signs were placed in visible spots to remind visitors to keep a safe distance from each other.

National Parks Board (NParks) staff were also on the ground to remind visitors to do so.

Despite this, TODAY observed at around 6pm that there were many unrelated groups running, cycling or just walking close to each other.

A majority were not wearing face masks as well.

Several visitors were also observed carrying footballs or frisbees, only to be told by NParks staff that they were not allowed to engage in such activities during this period.

TODAY also visited Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve around 3pm when NParks’ webpage reflected that it was a green space with a “high visitorship status”.

NParks had to temporarily close the access bridge at the Wetland Centre in Sungei Buloh to ensure safe distancing.

Mr Darren Seow, who visits Sungei Buloh about once a month, said he found the place a bit busier than usual.

The 49-year-old, who works in infocomm technology and was there with his family, said people should have the “common sense” to observe social distancing. Otherwise, he fears the Government might force people to stay home, at the detriment of everyone’s mental health.

On Thursday, the Government had already announced a tightening of rules and closed all stadiums because people were flouting rules and exercising in groups.

In response to queries from TODAY, NParks said that generally most parks, gardens and nature areas have “seen relatively low visitorship” since the circuit breaker period started.

However, there were still 150 visitors to Singapore's green spaces who received written stern warnings and fines as of 9.30pm on Friday, said Dr Leong Chee Chiew, NParks’ commissioner of parks and recreation.

Dr Leong said that the offenders were those who had gathered in groups for exercising, kite flying, frisbee playing, entering areas that had been closed, as well as groups of mountain bikers and cyclists in parks managed by NParks and Town Councils.