Ridership on the MRT has fallen by 80 per cent, said Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan on Monday (May 4).

This is much lower than the plunge in public transport demand during SARS, which was only 20 per cent, he said in a Facebook post.

Thanks to the ongoing Circuit Breaker, more people are working from home and fewer are using the public transport network.

Sharing a video of a fairly empty Bishan Station at 7:45am on a Monday, Khaw added that the drop in ridership has an upside: More space to observe safe distancing.

However, as Singapore starts to ease the Circuit Breaker measures in the next few weeks, more will start taking public transport, making safe distancing "very challenging" especially during peak periods, said Khaw in a written Parliamentary reply to a question from Member of Parliament Cheng Li Hui.

Cheng enquired about safe distancing measures on public transport during and after the Circuit Breaker.

Khaw said:

"It will therefore be very important for companies to continue to implement staggered working hours and maintain their telecommuting practices as much as possible. Commuters can also play their part to minimise discretionary travel and to travel during off-peak hours when the trains and buses are less crowded."

He added that all commuters will still be required to wear masks in the public transport network after the Circuit Breaker.

Top image via Unsplash.