Lawrence Wong: Circuit Breaker measures could get stricter if there is no improvement

Wet markets could see further restrictions imposed on them.

Andrew Koay | April 09, 2020, 08:47 PM

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Two days after Singapore entered life under the government's circuit breaker measures, Minister Lawrence Wong has indicated that restrictions could get even tighter.

Speaking at an Apr. 9 press conference, Wong said that the government would continue to "review the rules".

"Over the coming days as we monitor movement, we may very well have to tighten up some more."

This would be done to ensure that the circuit breaker was effective and that the efforts and sacrifices of Singaporeans would pay off, he said.

Earlier in the press conference, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce (MTF) had announced that stadiums were to close after non-compliance from members of the public who were still turning up to exercise in groups.

While the MTF had not prevented people from driving beyond their neighbourhoods to exercise thus far, Wong said that this policy would be reviewed and possibly tighten.

"A the end of the day, as we said, the key to the success of this circuit breaker is if everyone minimises movement and stays at home as much as possible."

When asked about what the next level of restrictions could be — in the event that improvements are not observed — Wong said that the MTF could look at further closures of "small premises".

He noted that expanding restrictions of movements was another plausible step to take.

Wet markets a "hotspot"

Furthermore, Wong highlighted the existence of "hotspots that we really need to manage".

"One of which is our wet markets. We have kept these wet markets open. But we do know that many Singaporeans are used to going to wet markets on weekends, particularly in the morning."

While entry to wet markets were now being controlled, Wong said that the consequential build-up of queues was not sustainable.

One solution Wong said was for Singaporeans to change their wet market habits.

"You don't all have to go on the weekend morning," he said.

"Go on a weekday where it's less crowded, then maybe we don't need additional measures but if this doesn't happen, then we may have to impose tighter restrictions."

The Co-chair for the MTF said that a review of the situation was underway and that stricter measures might be coming soon.

"If we delay further, it means, this circuit breaker period will have to be extended longer. So we'd rather use the fact that we are now in a circuit breaker and do what we need to do quickly and urgently."

Top photo composite from Su-May via Flickr and Lawrence Wong's Facebook page