The popular Kwan Im Thong Hood Cho Temple at Waterloo Street has started implementing odd/even entry restrictions based on the last digit of one's NRIC number.

Visitors with an odd last digit on their NRIC can only visit the temple on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

Those with an even last digit on their NRIC can only visit on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

The restrictions kicked in yesterday (May 10).

Only 50 people can enter the temple at each time. The temple opens from Monday to Saturday, 7am to 6.30pm.

Some devotees who spoke to Shin Min Daily News said that while they were not aware of the new restriction and had to be turned away at the entrance, they didn't really mind because they could pray elsewhere or outside the temple.

The restriction is part of a broader set of moves to tighten measures after there was an uptick in the number of community cases and the emergence of new variants.

The range of measures — which run from May 8 to May 30 — include reducing the size of social gatherings outside from eight to five, bringing forward TraceTogether-only SafeEntry to May 17, and closing indoor gyms, fitness & health studios.

Co-chair of the Multi Ministry Taskforce (MTF) Lawrence Wong announced on May 4 that with these measures, Singapore is "effectively back" in Phase 2.

Top image by Joshua Lee