Just earlier this month, you may have noticed that Singapore streets and malls seemed to be significantly quieter.
This included typically-crowded areas, like Orchard area, Jewel Changi and public transport.
One possible explanation for that phenomenon is, of course, the travel ban that kicked on Feb. 1, 11:59pm.
Singapore had closed its borders to all new visitors from mainland China, including foreigners who have been there within the past 14 days.
On Feb. 7, Singapore also raised the DORSCON alert level to Orange in light of the ongoing Covid-19 situation.
Somewhat-typical crowds
However, based on observations by some Mothership staff and readers over the Feb. 22 and 23 weekend, it appears that retailers may be seeing some improvements in traffic.
Orchard on Saturday evening
Here's a look Orchard on Saturday evening, as shared with us by Mothership reader Stella Tang.
Tang shared that bubble tea stores saw the usual queue:
Photo by Stella Tang.
Photo by Stella Tang.
Ion basement was described as being fairly crowded.
Photo by Stella Tang.
The linkway connecting Wisma Atria to Ion, as well as Orchard MRT area was also rather squeezy, even at around 9pm in the evening.
Photo by Stella Tang.
Photo by Stella Tang.
On Sunday (Feb. 23), a Mothership colleague also reported that she observed crowds along the pedestrian paths along Orchard Road at around 1pm in the afternoon.
The volume of traffic was enough for people to "brush against each other".
Plaza Singapura
That same afternoon, Mothership also observed typical weekend crowds at Plaza Singapura.
The usual queues and crowds were spotted in Five Guys and Starbucks at around 2:30pm.
Photo by Joshua Lee.
Photo by Joshua Lee.
Photo by Joshua Lee.
Photo by Joshua Lee.
Jewel Changi
Sunday afternoon at Jewel Changi also saw queues at Shake Shack and A&W at around 2pm.
Photo by Sulaiman Daud.
Photo by Sulaiman Daud.
And the Shake Shack queue apparently persisted until around 8pm:
Photo by Nigel Chua.
Restaurants expecting losses
Given the ongoing coronavirus situation, Singapore restaurants are expecting losses.
It was also revealed that close to 60 per cent of restaurateurs surveyed indicated that they are “not prepared and equipped” to deal with the Covid-19 situation as it is different from SARS, where the incubation periods are longer and symptoms are clearer.
Andrew Kwan, vice president of RAS said that he foresees some restaurants closing within the next few months if they are unable to wait out the situation.
To help restaurants in Singapore during this critical period, the Restaurant Association of Singapore (RAS) has reached out to landlords to write off their F&B tenants’ rent.
A turning point
While the drop in tourism is expected to be significant, things could gradually pick up as locals start going out again.
During the SARS period, which began early March 2003, Straits Times Opinion Editor Chua Mui Hoong wrote that the mood seemed darkest up until early April -- four weeks into the outbreak.
However, Chua wrote that this changed in the second half of April, with people starting to come out to shop.
If Singaporeans were to approach the Covid-19 situation in a similar fashion, it is also likely that malls and shops will start seeing more visitors as the mood shifts.
Top photo composite image by Stella Tang and Joshua Lee.