How’s life in Singapore during Covid 19 Circuit Breaker Measure?

It was on 7 April 2020 Singapore announced to stay home and introduced the COVID 19 circuit breaker period. Schools are closed and all non-essential businesses have to stop operating.

I think most of us knew this is coming but we are still quite worried. The most worrying part for me is are we having enough food. The government calms us that there is plenty of food and enough for everyone. As usual, I got up early and went for my weekly groceries.

On the bus

Safe distancing stickers were seen on the buses, to mark out spaces and seats that should be avoided by commuters.

At the mall

The mall now limit the number of people from entering the supermarket, queue markers are seen on the floor. A queue number will be issued to you and just wait for your turn to enter the supermarket.

Before you enter the supermarket, hand in the queue ticket to the NTUC staff.

Wearing a face mask is compulsory

The government has given each Singapore citizen and resident a washable face mask.  We are expected to wear a mask once we stepped out of the house.  Entry is not allowed without a face mask to the supermarkets, takeaway shops, trains, and buses ride.

At the MRT

Safe distancing stickers to mark out spaces and seats are seen everywhere, on the seats and the floor. The stickers are in green and orange color, to remind everyone to sit or stand apart from one another.

Commuters are only allowed to stand on the designated stickers.

Notice outside the school for parents

Reminding parents to stand at least a meter apart from the person beside you while waiting for your child to be dismissed.

At the Gym

The gym that I normally go to was closed until 4 May 2020.

What we can do

• We are allowed to go out to do some exercise in our neighborhood park but we are not allowed to go outside our neighborhood to do exercise.
• We are only allowed to do exercise with the person who is living in the same household and we are not allowed to exercise with someone outside the household.
• Penalty will be applied if ignoring the circuit breaker measures, $300 will be given by the enforcement officers.

At KFC – Contactless takeaway table

Foor and beverage outlets turn to deliveries and takeaway only. I ordered KFC online and applied the contactless takeaway option. Staff will indicate the given order number on the takeaway meal, which will be placed on a separate Contactless pickup table. Check your order number and just pick up your order. I was quite shocked to see that the Contactless table here is so messy.

Final thoughts:

Life seems to pause, it is not the same anymore, most of the adults are now working from home, it will probably be a permanent shift as employers discover the benefits of effective remote working and most importantly cost saving. Students stay home to do their online learning. Mask is the new fashion in this period. A cough in the public will attract lots of attention, followed by someone yelling “corona” from the background and at the same time, people running away from you as if you have the plague disease. E-commerce booms even faster since more shops are closed.

The impact of the isolation accompany a work from home lifestyle seems like an early retirement for some. Maybe it is time to adjust and find a new normal that works for you. Maybe this is a time to challenge yourself to be disciplined, encourage healthy habits, along with some daily structure that helps you to be more productive. We all need to adjust.