Gov Now Advises People Not to Go Shopping Malls Unless It’s For Essential Items

Singapore might not be officially in lockdown…but if you were to go to Orchard Road, it’ll feel like one.

Image: AsiaOne / Taken during peak hours

But if you think this is the worst it can get, think again.

S’pore Government Advises Everyone To Stay Home

Defer all non-essential trips to-

FrustratedStallOwner45: I KNOW LAH. DON’T TRAVEL OVERSEAS. HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU WANT TO SAY THIS?!

Oh, no it’s not about going overseas. The government is telling its people not to make non-essential trips to the malls.

Image: Giphy

I know of a few mall managers since some are our clients, and I can see all of them crying collectively in my mind.

On 28 Mar 2020, the Gov.sg WhatsApp channel released an advisory by the government.

They tell Singaporeans to take safe distancing seriously and try to stay home as much as possible.

Then, you ask, what’s non-essential trips?

The advisory classifies “essential trips” as those going to the malls to buy essential goods like food.

Which means everything else is considered as non-essential.

They’re also asking Singaporeans to order food and groceries from online services, if possible.

The main goal is to avoid physical interaction as much as possible.

I don’t know about you but I think it’s time to download the Goody Feed app so that I can read more articles while doing nothing at home. Rumours have it that once you’ve downloaded it, the chances of you striking 4D increases by 0.8%.

Even Then, Please Stick To Safe Distancing Measures

Now, if you die-die need to go out, still stick to safe distancing measures put into place by the government.

And by that, I mean the 1-metre and alternate-seating rule in public spaces.

P/S: It can be pretty embarrassing if an ambassador comes up to you and scold you for not following the measures, even if they won’t fine you.

The Covid-19 coronavirus is transmitted via respiratory droplets.

In layman’s term, if anyone with the virus were to sneeze and cough in your face, you might get infected.

But that’s not all.

If anyone was to sneeze and cough into their hands and touch a surface (like a door handle), anyone who touches the same surface and then, their faces, might get infected too.

That’s why washing your hands with soap and using alcohol-based hand sanitisers are considered to be the top prevention tips during this pandemic.

You Can Get Jailed Or Fined If You Don’t Follow

The government has started hitting where it hurts us the most: our wallets.

If it’s not clear enough, they’re not afraid to turn to the stick when the carrot fails.

Here’s a refresher of all the new measures if you’re unsure.

You can do your part as a responsible citizen through helping out in contact tracing by downloading the TraceTogether app.

In the meantime, keep yourself updated by bookmarking MOH’s website here and registering for the Gov.sg’s WhatsApp service here.