Do take this seriously as for those who do not adhere to the one-meter safe distancing measures in public places could see themselves paying a hefty fine, or even worst, landed in jail.
Individuals to sit and queue one metre apart
These penalties were announced in amendments to the Infectious Disease Act and published on the government’s e-gazette. This change was announced at around 11pm on Thursday. This announcement were made right before the closure of entertainment venues like bars, clubs and cinemas to reduce transmission of the virus, a move which was announced earlier on Mar. 24.
There will be a marked out space and people should not sit on a seat that has been marked out as not to be occupied, or queue less than one metre away from another person in the queue.
Those who do so will be guilty of an offence and can be fined up to S$10,000 or jailed up to six months or both.
Aside from the user, the owners of public places and organisers of events will be liable to the same penalties if safe distancing measures are not adhered to. In short, the owner need to ensure that seats that are not fixed to the floor are positioned at least one metre away from any other seat at all times, and seats that are fixed to the floor, such as hawker centres, have alternate seats demarcated as not to be occupied.
These include those own or occupy shopping centres, a place of attraction specified in the Act, places of worship and funeral parlours.
Organisers are also required to conduct temperature checks, ensure attendees do not exhibit symptoms and obtain the contact details of every attendee to facilitate contact tracing.
The government has also imposed a “control period” between Mar. 27 and Apr. 30 (both dates inclusive) which starts today and sll sporting events, exhibitions, trade fairs, organised tours, tuition in public places, and any entertainment event held at venues like cinemas, theatres and arcades are prohibited during this control period.
For any other event, oragnisers must ensure there are no more than 10 attendees, unless the event is conducted in the course of business or education in the workplace or in an educational institution.
Do take note on this to ensure you dun kena saman and you need to pay hefty.