George Yang, Author at Goody Feed

It’s been nearly a year since we started to realise that MC could potentially land you in jail: on 25 March 2020, the Infectious Diseases Act was officially updated to state that any individual who receives an MC for acute respiratory symptoms must not leave his or her place of accommodation for a period of five days, starting from the day that the MC is issued. Needless to say, it created quite a hoo-ha back then as some people still thought that COVID-19 was going to be yet another seasonal flu, and going to jail because you left your house to buy a pack of wanton mee while holding an MC seemed too extreme. Lest you’ve deleted all memories of 2020, here’s a refresher: back then when COVID-19 tests weren’t conducted for anyone having acute respiratory symptoms in clinics, people with acute respiratory symptoms were given five-day MC and they were supposed to stay home throughout the five days, or risk a fine of up to $10,000 or a free chalet in Changi for six months. Then Circuit Breaker came and we realised that the 5-day MC was merely an appetizer to probably the worst year in our lifetime, and we gradually came to terms with it. But not everyone, though. 5 People Charged For Going Out While on MC with SHN; 1 Even Drove Private-Hire While Sick If you think you’d just be fined for going out while on MC, think again, because five people have been charged for allegedly committing coronavirus related offences. First Offender: Went to Town Like It’s Just Another Day The first offender is Foo Suan Rong Nick. On 16 September 2020, the 20-year-old was given a three-day MC after he was diagnosed with acute respiratory infection at a polyclinic. But the youth purportedly went to ION Orchard, Orchard Central, Bugis MRT station and Admiralty station instead, and on the next day, he went to Woodlands and Somerset area. He will be charged for one count of exposing others to the risk of infection by his conduct in a public space under the Infectious Diseases Act, and one count of leaving his place of accommodation during the duration of an MC under the Infectious Diseases (Covid-19 - Stay Orders) Regulations. Second Offender: Cannot Resist a Supermarket Visit The second offender is a 22-year-old, Ang Siu Yen, who was issued a four-day MC on 24 October 2020 after she was diagnosed with acute respiratory infection symptoms. But on the same day and on the next day, she allegedly left home to visit a supermarket in Junction Nine Shopping Mall (Yishun), Bugis Junction and the Yew Tee area. She will be charged for two counts of leaving her place of accommodation during the duration of a MC under the Infectious Diseases (Covid-19 - Stay Orders) Regulations. Third Offender: Winner Went for a Massage This is a winner, indeed, and if not for his age, I’d have thought he’d have documented his actions on TikTok to show how rebellious he is. The 57-year-old, Namasivayam Sundar, had just returned to Singapore on a business trip on 20 March 2020 and he developed a fever on the next day. He visited a doctor a few days later, on 24 March, and was referred to the National Centre for Infectious Diseases where he took a COVID-19 test. Any sane person would’ve stayed home for the results, but the guy allegedly visited Textile Centre for a one and a half hour body massage instead. And guess what? He later tested positive for COVID-19. He has since been charged on 29 January 2021 for one count of exposing others to the risk of infection by his conduct in a public space under the Infectious Diseases Act. Fourth Offender: Drove Private-Hire with Three MCs The 37-year-old apparently had three MCs, and despite having the MCs, she purportedly ferried passengers on six days between July and August last year. Bawani Murugaiah was charged for five counts of exposing others to the risk of infection by her conduct in a public space under the Infectious Diseases Act and one count of leaving her place of accommodation during the duration of an MC under the Infectious Diseases (Covid-19 - Stay Orders) Regulations, and her case is scheduled for further mention in court on 22 March. Fifth Offender: Visited…erm, Geylang and Tampines West Community Centre The last offender is a 30-year-old, Abdul Rashid Bin Sugianto, who allegedly left his home last year between 3 June and 5 June to visit Geylang and Tampines West Community Centre. The problem? He was given a five-day MC on 2 June and 3 June for symptoms of acute respiratory infection. He was charged on 6 January 2021 for three counts of exposing others to the risk of infection by his conduct in a public space under the Infectious Diseases Act. MOH said in their statement, “We urge individuals to adhere to the prevailing measures, and to stay at home for the duration of MC issued for the episode of illness, to prevent putting our loved ones and others in the community at risk of infection.” And just a reminder again: people who are convicted of an offence under the Infectious Diseases Act, or Stay Orders Regulations can be fined up to $10,000 and imprisoned for up to six months. Featured Image: Dariusz Jarzabek / Shutterstock.com

George Yang

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