Some retailers and workplaces are allowed to resume operations from May 12, 2020.

These include food retail outlets that sell cakes and confectionery, packaged snacks and desserts, which can open for takeaway and delivery only.

Manufacturing and onsite preparation of all food including cakes and confectionery, ice cream, cocoa, chocolate and chocolate products and other snacks can also resume.

Lee Bee Wah questions why TCM halls not allowed to resume operations

In response to the development that selected businesses are allowed to re-open earlier, Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, Lee Bee Wah, asked the Minister of Health, Gan Kim Yong, why traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was not part of the list.

Lee highlighted in Parliament that many Singaporeans rely on TCM to relieve discomforts such as cupping and massages, but the physicians were not able to do so.

Some also buy herbs to improve their health, but TCM medical halls are not allowed to sell these products.

She also questioned why dessert retailers are allowed to operate from May 12, but not TCM medical halls, saying, "Is it because traditional Chinese medicine does not taste as good as ice-creams and cakes?"

Lee said that many TCM medical halls in the neighbourhoods do not have registered practitioners and their closure posed great inconvenience to residents.

In response, Gan who is also leading the Covid-19 multi-ministry taskforce, said that the team has also many debates over what should be allowed to reopen on May 12 and assured that he takes Lee's feedback seriously.

Here's the exchange:

All TCM medical halls can operate on May 12

In a press conference on May 8, Gan said that since May 5, some 130 TCM medical halls with registered TCM practitioners have been allowed to sell retail products on top of the consultation and herbal dispensary services.

The taskforce has received feedback from some seniors that they had to travel far to these halls to purchase medicine, like what Lee mentioned in Parliament.

As such, after a review by the Ministry of Health, Gan said he is happy to share that from May 12, all TCM medical halls will be allowed to sell retail products with necessary precautionary measures implemented.

This will provide more convenience, especially to seniors who are one of the vulnerable groups during this Covid-19 outbreak.

At the press conference, Gan said that nearly one in six infected seniors develop severe symptoms and needed intensive care in the hospital.

It is therefore critical that we make extra efforts to protect our seniors, even as we cautiously lift some circuit breaker measures, Gan added.

Top photo via Getty Images