Deliverymen and taxi drivers have had trouble finding places to have their meals, as dining in at hawker centres and other F&B outlets is not allowed during the current circuit breaker period from Apr. 7 to May 4.

Some have been spotted eating while sitting on the ground, or in their vehicles.

Essential workers can eat in public spaces

However, these essential workers are now allowed to eat in public spaces such as void decks and park benches, according to a set of FAQs on safe distancing measures on the Ministry of Health (MOH) website, updated on Apr. 11.

This applies for workers such as deliverymen, whose work requires them to be on the move.

While MOH said in the FAQs that they "should return to their offices or homes for their meals", it acknowledged that this was not always a practical solution.

Rules to observe while dining in public spaces

The FAQs added that essential workers who are dining in public spaces should observe the following:

• Dine alone, keeping a safe distance from others
• Dine quickly and leave the public space in a clean state
• Carry identification, and proof of their essential employment status

Other essential workers' dining arrangements

MOH said that workers who have fixed work stations should also be allowed by their employers to consume their meals there, if they are suitable for consuming food.

Also, the owners and managers of premises like malls can designate an area within their premises for essential service workers to have their meals.

This could be done by designating a part of a food court within a mall, MOH said.

Hawkers, on the other hand, may consume their meals at the table immediately in front of their stalls, an NEA spokesperson confirmed on Apr. 10.

Related stories:

Top image from Wikipedia