More than 800 not fully vaccinated persons caught dining in at hawker centres so far

SINGAPORE — More than 800 diners have infringed vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS) at hawker centres since the VDS took effect on 13 October, the National Environment Agency said on Tuesday (19 October).

With VDS, dine-in at hawker centres is limited to fully vaccinated persons, while the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated persons can only buy take-away food. Children aged 12 years and below who are unvaccinated can dine at hawker centres.

Safe distancing enforcement officers (SDEOs) have taken an advisory approach from 13 October to 19 October, where unvaccinated or partially vaccinated persons found to be dining in were urged to finish up their meal and leave the hawker centre promptly.

“From 20 October, enforcement actions will be taken against persons found to have breached VDS at the hawker centres. Police assistance will be requested for those who refuse to cooperate with the directions of the SDEOs,” the NEA said.

To avoid queues and inconvenience to patrons, checks on vaccination status are not conducted at entry points of the hawker centres. Instead, SDEOs will conduct selective checks of patrons who are dining in.

Meanwhile, NEA took enforcement action against 92 individuals, as part of stepped-up enforcement action for breaches of safe management measures at hawker centres from 15 to 17 October.

The enforcement was for offences such as gathering in groups of more than two, not maintaining a safe distance of at least one metre, and not wearing masks. The hawker centres included Newton Food Centre, Whampoa Food Centre, Haig Road Market & Food Centre, Golden Mile Food Centre, Hong Lim Market & Food Centre, and Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre.

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