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SINGAPORE — From Sunday (April 12), anyone who is not abiding by the ‘circuit breaker’ measures will be fined S$300 for their first offence, instead of being issued with a warning, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said on Saturday.
In a Facebook post, Mr Masagos said that the move comes as there are still too many people not taking the circuit breaker measures seriously, as enforcement officers issued more than 3,000 written stern warnings and more fines on Saturday.
“Stiffer penalties are clearly needed,” he said.
During the ‘circuit breaker’ period, everyone is to stay at home at all times except for essential needs such as buying food or seeing a doctor.
And when outside, individuals have to maintain a safe distance from each other.
Since the circuit breaker began on April 7, enforcement officers have been issuing written warnings to those found in breach of these rules and only repeat offenders are fined.
But from Sunday, officers will no longer do so, Mr Masagos said.
Any offender encountered by the enforcement officers will be asked for particulars immediately and will face a S$300 fine for a first offence, while repeat offenders will face higher fines or prosecution in court for egregious cases.
“The health and safety of Singaporeans are at risk. It is therefore our top priority and collective responsibility,” Mr Masagos said.
“I have been receiving a lot of feedback on the circuit breaker measures. Many of you shared photos and videos of people (both young and old) who are still not staying at home, or not complying with the elevated safe distancing measures.”
Mr Masagos urged the public not to send photos that they did not take themselves as some of these cause enforcement officers to waste time pursuing past events.
To further safeguard public health, he added that the Government has made it mandatory for all food handlers and wet market stallholders to wear masks from Monday, and all visitors to wet markets will need to wear masks from Sunday.
Those who do not will not be allowed to enter the 40 markets managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) or NEA-appointed operators.
“Many of us are working hard to protect Singaporeans, including healthcare workers, cleaners, those in essential services, and our public service officers too,” Mr Masagos said.
“Many in the community have also started their own initiatives to chip in and to help others around them. The simplest thing everyone can do is to #StayhomeforSG. Let us get through this together.”
In a Facebook post, Mr Masagos said that the move comes as there are still too many people not taking the circuit breaker measures seriously, as enforcement officers issued more than 3,000 written stern warnings and more fines on Saturday.
“Stiffer penalties are clearly needed,” he said.
During the ‘circuit breaker’ period, everyone is to stay at home at all times except for essential needs such as buying food or seeing a doctor.
And when outside, individuals have to maintain a safe distance from each other.
Since the circuit breaker began on April 7, enforcement officers have been issuing written warnings to those found in breach of these rules and only repeat offenders are fined.
But from Sunday, officers will no longer do so, Mr Masagos said.
Any offender encountered by the enforcement officers will be asked for particulars immediately and will face a S$300 fine for a first offence, while repeat offenders will face higher fines or prosecution in court for egregious cases.
“The health and safety of Singaporeans are at risk. It is therefore our top priority and collective responsibility,” Mr Masagos said.
“I have been receiving a lot of feedback on the circuit breaker measures. Many of you shared photos and videos of people (both young and old) who are still not staying at home, or not complying with the elevated safe distancing measures.”
Mr Masagos urged the public not to send photos that they did not take themselves as some of these cause enforcement officers to waste time pursuing past events.
To further safeguard public health, he added that the Government has made it mandatory for all food handlers and wet market stallholders to wear masks from Monday, and all visitors to wet markets will need to wear masks from Sunday.
Those who do not will not be allowed to enter the 40 markets managed by the National Environment Agency (NEA) or NEA-appointed operators.
“Many of us are working hard to protect Singaporeans, including healthcare workers, cleaners, those in essential services, and our public service officers too,” Mr Masagos said.
“Many in the community have also started their own initiatives to chip in and to help others around them. The simplest thing everyone can do is to #StayhomeforSG. Let us get through this together.”
