Story Timeline:
- 10th April 2020 – Singapore: While some flout circuit breaker rules, others struggle to find a place to eat (Current Article)
- 12th April 2020 – Coronavirus: Hawkers can eat at table directly in front of stall but must do so alone, says NEA
- 13th April 2020 – Coronavirus: Delivery riders, cabbies can eat at void decks, parks if they can’t head home
Despite the arrest of an elderly man who insisted on dining outside the confines of his home (on the very first day of the circuit breaker, no less), many others are still flouting the rules.
Photos and a video of a woman dining in an Ang Mo Kio hawker centre started circulating the next day (April 8). In the footage, two enforcement officers can be seen approaching her and asking her to leave.
Under current regulations, dining outside is not allowed from April 7 to May 4. Patrons are only allowed to buy takeaway food or order food to be delivered, and they’re expected to eat their meals at home.
Failure to comply would result in a stern written warning for first-time offenders, a $300 fine the second round, and a charge in court for a third offence.
While most people have the luxury of dining at home, others aren’t quite so fortunate.
The past week has also brought to light several instances where hawkers and food delivery riders have nowhere to eat.
Unable to eat at void decks or within hawker centres, some riders have turned to sitting by the roadside to have their meal, while taxi drivers are seen eating off the boot of their vehicles.
Even the hawkers themselves are being criticised for sitting at the tables outside their own stalls on social media.
A food deliveryman, allegedly photographed while eating, took to Facebook to lament on his situation: “We deliver the food to you also need to eat we also human can’t some people be more understanding? (sic)”
“We are doing our job by sending food to your house.. But we also needed to eat right?? (sic)”