38 Unvaccinated People Caught Dining in Hawker Centres in a Week


Advertisements
 

As you all would have already known, all unvaccinated people are not allowed to dine in, go to shopping malls or visit attractions. This rule was in effect from 13 October and was put in place to protect individuals who are unvaccinated.

Of course, they can still purchase takeaway food from hawker centres and coffee shops.

But it appears that some of them didn’t get the memo.

38 Unvaccinated People Caught Dining in Hawker Centres in a Week

In order to let everyone get used to the new rules, there was an advisory period between 13 and 19 October.

During that week, more than 800 unvaccinated diners were caught by the safe distancing enforcement officers. However, since it was during the advisory period, many of them were simply urged to finish up their meals and quickly leave the premises.

However, when 20 October rolled around, it seemed that there were still a number of unvaccinated people who wanted to try their luck at eating at hawker centres and coffee shops, just like other fully vaccinated individuals. After all, the stallholders are not required to check one’s vaccination status.

Safe distancing enforcement officers who patrolled hawker centres and coffee shops conducted selective checks of people who were dining in and started taking down the particulars of those who breached the rules.

A total of 38 unvaccinated individuals were caught dining in at hawker centres in just the first week since the enforcement measures were implemented.

Yes, it is a significant drop from the 800 unvaccinated individuals who were urged to quickly leave during the advisory period, but 38 is still a rather high number. 

Everyone Urged to Follow The Rules

In a statement by the National Environment Agency (NEA), the agency urged everyone to adhere to the restrictions that have been put in place. It understands that some people are doing so to support the hawkers, but it has urged everyone to do so safely instead.

NEA said, “We all have a part to play in protecting ourselves and people around us. If you are not vaccinated, please take away your food instead of dining in.”

In the same statement, NEA has also revealed that it has taken action against 41 individuals between 22 and 24 October after they were caught breaching the COVID-19 safe management measures at hawker centres.

These individuals were caught for gathering in groups of more than two, not adhering to a safe distance of a minimum of 1m, and not wearing their masks properly.

Those who commit their first offence will be fined $300, while subsequent offences will result in a fine of $1,000.

Those who commit a serious offence can be prosecuted in court and face higher fines.

Now that the cases have climbed to a new daily high of 5,324 cases, it’s best that we all do our part to follow the measures in place so that we not only protect ourselves but also our loved ones around us.


Advertisements
 

If you really feel the need to dine out, then you should do a Pre-Event Testing (PET) at any of the Ministry of Health (MOH) approved clinics. Once you have obtained a valid negative COVID-19 test result, you will be able to dine in within 24 hours from the time you register yourself for a test at the testing premises.

Or just take the vaccine if you’re medically eligible lah.

Read Also:

Featured Image: kandl stock / Shutterstock.com