Where's social distancing? Netizens ask after crowd spotted at Paya Lebar Square

[The_King]

 

 

We're not out of the woods, yet people continue to congregate at some public spaces during the ongoing pandemic.

This time around, a crowd was spotted at Paya Lebar Square on Sunday (Sept 13).

A video clip circulating on Facebook showed a throng of people standing at the area in between the train station and the shopping mall.

Although they were wearing face masks, the shoppers did not keep a one-metre distance from each other.

After watching the clip, some netizens were quick to criticise the behaviour, stating that people are getting careless about following Covid-19 regulations nowadays.

But others suggested that people had gathered there to seek shelter from the rain.

 

One netizen took the lack of social distancing in stride, reasoning that practising good hygiene such as wearing a face mask, washing or sanitising hands while outside is sufficient to protect a person against the coronavirus.

 

PHOTO: Facebook screengrabs

However, such crowds are not unique to Paya Lebar Square. It's a common sight at shopping malls around the island during the weekends, netizens noted.

They also offered suggestions such as deploying more safe distancing ambassadors and enforcement officers to ramp up checks in the area.

AsiaOne has reached out to the Singapore Tourism Board and Enterprise Singapore for comment.

Gatherings at public spaces on weekends

In recent months, large gatherings in public spaces have come under the spotlight among fears of community spread of the coronavirus.

It saw ramped up checks at popular recreation spots such as East Coast Park and Toa Payoh Town Park, as well as additional safe distancing measures at shopping malls such as Lucky Plaza and Peninsula Plaza on Aug 29.

The new rules, which allow people with odd numbers in their ID cards to enter the premises on odd dates, and vice versa, were introduced to reduce overcrowding at the two malls which normally attract large crowds and long queues on weekends.

It follows a system that was introduced in April to manage crowds at popular wet markets, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong explained.

Singapore is currently in phase 2 of reopening and the 'group of five' rule continues to apply to gatherings outside of the home.

As of Sept 14, Singapore has 57,454 Covid-19 cases with 27 deaths related to the disease.

 

https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/wheres-social-distancing-netizens-ask-after-crowd-spotted-paya-lebar-square

[ManOfTheHour]

Must be fucking jollibees and maria

[Chestnut]

Paya lebar square always a lot of picnic especially before paya lebar quarter was built

I used to werk there before

Edited September 14, 2020 by Chestnut

[XianGe]

They jz dun wanna mention maids hangout

[chamfer]

Hangout place for indon maids too.

[ManOfTheHour]

On 9/15/2020 at 12:07 AM, XianGe said:

They jz dun wanna mention maids hangout

My friend say his block got gatherings of maids last Sunday cos of the rain. So all picnic at nearby void decks

[ManOfTheHour]

On 9/14/2020 at 10:40 PM, Chestnut said:

Paya lebar square always a lot of picnic especially before paya lebar quarter was built

I used to werk there before

Did you fart on them to chase away?

[Chestnut]

12 minutes ago, ManOfTheHour said:

Did you fart on them to chase away?

 

Not enuff fart

 

 

[ManOfTheHour]

6 minutes ago, Chestnut said:

 

Not enuff fart

 

 

Mai paedo rah post young boy 🙊

 

 

[XianGe]

40 minutes ago, ManOfTheHour said:

My friend say his block got gatherings of maids last Sunday cos of the rain. So all picnic at nearby void decks

Sunday there is flooded wif maids huan... Friday night ish youngsters hangout