Coronavirus: Officers to enforce safe distancing in HDB estates

They will discourage loitering, dining out; those who don't comply will face stern action

People queueing to get their temperature taken while waiting to collect their free reusable face masks at Tampines North Community Club, on April 5, 2020. ST PHOTO: MARCELLIN LOPEZ

In a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the Government is deploying officers in Housing Board estates across Singapore to remind people to stop loitering in public and to be socially res-ponsible, as well as to enforce safe distancing.

This comes as Singapore begins a month-long circuit-breaker period from today to May 4, with most workplaces closed from today and all schools moving to full home-based learning tomorrow.

The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) said in a statement yesterday that safe distancing and SG Clean ambassadors, as well as enforcement officers, will be deployed from various public agencies.

The ambassadors and officers will discourage loitering and gathering in public, and dining out, and ensure safe distancing is practised in queues, through advisories and enforcement action.

MEWR said that the elevated safe distancing measures apply to public and private housing estates, parks and other shared spaces, and non-compliance is an offence.

Enforcement officers will be conducting inspection, and "stern action" will be taken against those who breach safe distancing measures, the ministry added.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) began enforcement operations for safe distancing at Singapore's 114 hawker centres on Sunday.

NEA officers will hand out written warnings and take down the particulars of those who continue to defy the regulations.

Stricter enforcement measures may be imposed when necessary, the agency said on Sunday.

Under the Infectious Diseases Act, first-time offenders can be fined up to $10,000, jailed for up to six months, or both.

During the month-long circuit-breaker period, MEWR said the public is strongly advised to be socially responsible by staying at home, limiting social contact to household members, not gathering in groups, keeping a safe distance from others, and not dining out.

The multi-ministry task force on tackling Covid-19 announced the circuit breaker last Friday. It comprises an elevated set of safe distancing measures that kick in today for four weeks, following a trend of more Covid-19 cases being locally transmitted.

These measures aim to reduce movement and interaction in public and private places.

"We all have to play our part. Our collective efforts will go a long way in curbing the spread of Covid-19," MEWR said in its statement.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 07, 2020, with the headline Coronavirus: Officers to enforce safe distancing in HDB estates. Subscribe