Safe distancing: No warnings issued so far, focus on ‘helping and giving guidance’, say authorities

SINGAPORE — The Government has deployed personnel to ensure that businesses implement and comply with safe-distancing measures, but no warning letter has been issued so far.

Enterprise Singapore (ESG) and the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said this in a joint statement on Saturday (March 28) in response to queries from TODAY on whether the authorities have taken any businesses to task for flouting new regulations to curb the spread of Covid-19 in Singapore.

Under these rules that came into effect at 11.59pm on Thursday (March 26), owners of premises and event organisers must ensure that non-fixed seating is at least 1m away from any other seat at all times. If seats are fixed to the floor, alternate seats need to be marked as not for use.

Those who break these safe-distancing rules could face jail terms of up to six months or fines of up to S$10,000, or both. Individuals who intentionally sit on demarcated seats or stand in a queue less than 1m away from another person could also face the same penalties.  

The two government agencies said that safe-distancing ambassadors are assisting their personnel to reach out to malls, retail as well as food-and-beverage establishments.

They said: “The operators are putting in their best efforts to implement measures and some may need more time. Our personnel on the ground is focusing on helping and providing guidance.” 

The authorities will first assess the safe-distancing measures put up by businesses and offer guidance if these are not up to mark, they added. 

Businesses are given one to two days to comply with the recommended measures, after which another check will be done.

“If the measures are still not implemented, ESG and SFA will issue an official warning letter to the business owner,” they said.

“Following this, a third visit will be made for further checks on compliance. Businesses that are found to have violated the Infectious Diseases Act and regulations promulgated thereunder may be liable for an offence and charged.”

ESG, which looks after enterprise development, had on Friday debunked an online rumour claiming that its safe-distancing ambassador has fined an individual for sitting on a not-for-use seat. 

“Safe-distancing ambassadors are deployed by various government agencies to guide and ensure that businesses implement and comply with the safe-distancing measures. They do not impose fines,” ESG said in a Facebook post.

In an earlier joint statement on Saturday, ESG, SFA, the Housing and Development Board, the National Environment Agency, the Singapore Tourism Board and the Urban Redevelopment Authority said that they have collectively stepped up efforts to ensure that businesses implement and comply with the safe-distancing measures.