Shoppers who visit NTUC Fairprice outlets are "strongly encouraged" to wear masks, Fairprice Group CEO Seah Kian Peng said in a Facebook post on Thursday, April 9.

Wear a mask to protect yourself and others

He said such a measure is to "provide a safe and healthy environment for yourself and others".

He also encouraged everyone to wear a mask to shop for their own sake, as well as their families' and everyone else's sake in a separate Facebook post on the same day.

In a Thursday statement released by NTUC Fairprice, Seah was quoted as saying wearing a mask "complements safe distancing measures, provides some basic protection and also protects others should one be infected but unaware".

NTUC Fairprice said the measure is "in line with the Ministry of Health's latest approach of encouraging people to wear masks and to continue ensuring the safety of its shoppers and staff".

Number of shoppers limited in each store

In addition, the supermarket chain said crowd control measures are introduced to limit the number of customers within each store when necessary.

This is to ensure that safe distancing measures are followed.

No food samples anymore

Existing measures at the supermarket outlets include the following:

• floor markings at checkout queues;
• in-store posters and announcements to encourage safe distancing;
• ceasing of food sampling activities;
• stepping up of cleaning regimes to every four hours, especially for "high-touch surfaces" like railings, trolleys, baskets, checkout counters;
• taking of temperature for all staff and suppliers at least twice a day; and
• making hand sanitisers available for customers to use.

Day 3 of circuit breaker mode

Singapore is on Day 3 of its Covid-19 circuit breaker mode, which kicked in on Tuesday, April 7.

Food-related services, such as supermarkets, wet markets and convenience stores, still remain open during this period.

However, only takeaways and food delivery services are allowed.

Dining in at food and beverage outlets is no longer allowed.

All social gatherings of any size in both private and public spaces have also been banned under a new Bill passed in Parliament on Tuesday, April 7.

Top image via Seah Kian Peng's Facebook