Odd/even date entry restriction at 4 markets to be lifted
UPDATE (10 SEPT): The National Environment Agency said that, from 12 September, the odd/even date entry restriction at the four popular markets – Geylang Serai, Chong Pang, 20/21 Marsiling Lane and 505 Jurong West Street 52 – will be completely lifted. Caps in the number of patrons who can be inside the market at any one time will remain, to ensure that safe distancing inside the market.
SINGAPORE — From Thursday (13 August), the odd/even date entry restriction at the four popular markets – Geylang Serai, Chong Pang, 20/21 Marsiling Lane and 505 Jurong West Street 52 – will be lifted on weekdays.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said in a media release on Tuesday that, with little or no queues being observed at these four markets on weekdays, the restriction can be eased as part of gradual resumption of activities in Phase Two reopening after the COVID-19 circuit breaker period.
The odd/even date entry restriction will remain in place at the four markets.on weekends – when the crowd is generally about 20 to 40 per cent more than on weekdays.
Also remaining in place is the access control system implemented at 39 popular markets where patrons have to queue outside once the market has reached maximum allowable capacity.
“By lifting the odd/even date entry restriction on weekdays, we hope that more patrons will also visit these popular markets on a weekday instead of a weekend,” NEA said in the media release.
Space Out website to obtain crowd level info
The odd/even date entry restriction was implemented amid the COVID-19 circuit breaker period on 22 April to restrict patrons’ access to the four markets.
It is based on the last digit of their National Registration Identification Cards or Foreign Identification Numbers. Those with an odd last digit (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) can visit these markets only on the odd dates of the month, while those with an even last digit (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) can only visit these markets on the even dates of the month.
NEA urges patrons to continue to visit markets on weekdays whenever possible, or at the non-peak period between 10am and 12pm on weekends. During these periods, crowds can be up to 50 per cent fewer than the early morning, and fresh produce continues to be available at markets up to noon.
Patrons can refer to the Space Out website to obtain crowd level information of the markets, such as the length of the queue waiting to enter these markets when they have reached the allowable capacity.
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