Entry restrictions at 4 popular markets eased on weekdays

Shoppers getting their NRICs scanned at Geylang Serai Market. Currently, people can visit this market - and three others - only on alternate days, depending on the last digit of their NRIC number, but this rule will be lifted on weekdays from tomorro
Shoppers getting their NRICs scanned at Geylang Serai Market. Currently, people can visit this market - and three others - only on alternate days, depending on the last digit of their NRIC number, but this rule will be lifted on weekdays from tomorrow. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

Entry restrictions at four popular wet markets will be eased from tomorrow after a noticeable reduction in weekday queues, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said yesterday.

The four markets - Geylang Serai Market, Chong Pang Market at Block 104/105 Yishun Ring Road, the market at Block 20/21 Marsiling Lane and the one at Block 505 Jurong West Street 52 - have seen weekday crowds reduced to the point where there are either no queues or very short ones over the past three months.

NEA sent a circular to stallholders at these four markets yesterday to announce that the rule, which allowed shoppers to visit these markets only on alternate days depending on the last digit of their identity card number, would be lifted on weekdays. The aim is to further reduce crowding on weekends by allowing people more time to shop during the week, it said.

NEA said in a statement: "Safe distancing within the market will not be compromised as the access control system, which caps the number of patrons who can be inside the market at any one time, will still be in place.

"We urge members of the public to continue to adhere to safe distancing measures."

The rule, in place since April 22, will continue to apply on weekends. Other measures such as the use of SafeEntry for contact tracing purposes and the 1m distance between patrons will remain.

Chong Pang Market provision shop owner Ng Meng Seah was not sure whether easing the rule would lead to a significant increase in shoppers on weekdays as footfall is quite "unpredictable".

The 65-year-old does not have special plans to manage potential crowds as "there is only so much you can do to prepare".

"There is not much I can do due to space constraints. I will wait for Thursday to see if there is a big change in the number of patrons before I react," he said.

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The tighter regulations over the past few months have affected his earnings, but he is not celebrating just yet and wants to first see the impact of the rules being eased.

Retiree Chan Heng Lian, who frequents Chong Pang Market, said the easing of weekday restrictions makes the rules a lot less complicated.

The former electronics factory worker, who is in his 70s, said he is happy he can now visit the market whenever he wants to on weekdays, especially as "it is really crowded on weekends".

"I have already been avoiding the weekends so this is great news," he said. "This makes things so much easier for me."

The Government has been progressively easing rules that were imposed earlier in the year to curb the spread of Covid-19. Up to 50 people can now attend weddings, while some places of worship can hold services for up to 100 people.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on August 12, 2020, with the headline Entry restrictions at 4 popular markets eased on weekdays. Subscribe