The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Enterprise Singapore (ES) have drawn up a safe distancing advisory for all retail establishments in Singapore.

This includes retail outlets, supermarkets, department stores, and shopping malls.

Let shoppers into the store progressively

One of the most salient recommendations is crowd and queue management at these venues.

Measures listed are:

• Space out queuing shoppers (at least one metre apart) for fitting rooms and at cashiers.
• Use floor markers to mark queueing positions for shoppers.
• Encourage the use of self-checkouts, and cashless or contactless payment to speed up the processing of payment and reduce cash-handling.

Furthermore, shops are advised to limit the number of shoppers within the store to allow for at least a metre spacing between them, where possible.

This can be done by letting shoppers into the store progressively, the advisory suggested.

Supermarkets, however, are advised not to create queues outside their stores.

Service staff should be trained to provide clear communication on such measures, and signage can also be put up to inform the shoppers.

Remove cosmetics and food samples

In addition to placing hand sanitisers near high touch surfaces and conducting frequent disinfection of common spaces, retail shops are also advised to remove product testers and samples, such as cosmetics and food samples.

This will help to reduce customer contact.

The safe distancing measures are taken to reduce the risk of local spread of Covid-19, as it limits the number of people gathering in a confined space over a prolonged period.

Previously, the Ministry of Health has also advised owners of dining venues to seat customers one metre apart.

Top image via Zheng Zhangxin