SINGAPORE - Hawkers and coffee shop stall owners saw the buzz return to their venues on Tuesday (Nov 23) morning, as patrons from different households were once again allowed to dine in groups of up to five. As part of the initial run of venues that will allow such groups, 11 hawker centres and seven coffee shops were identified as being able to control access, as well as conduct checks on the vaccination status of their customers. Hawkers The Straits Times spoke to saw more life on Tuesday morning compared to the weeks before, when only those from the same household could dine in together in groups of up to five. "You can feel the difference today, it's more busy," said Madam Ng Bee Leng, 57, whose family has been running Holland Village Homemade Soyabean at Holland Village Market and Food Centre since the the 1970s. "More parents have been bringing their kids here; I hadn't seen them in so long." She added: "I was surprised they chose (our hawker centre) because we're so small, the whole market only has 21 stalls and business has been very slow since they closed the (open-air and double-storey) car parks a few years ago." It was a similar case at Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre in Woodlands. Mdm Ainun Hasan, 50, a full-time employee at Warong Lontong Fatimah stall, said: "The hawker centre feels a lot livelier today. Usually it's very quiet, especially since people order takeaway. Now that they allow five people to dine in, there are more families dining in, or even elderly people with their friends." ST visited several hawker centres and coffee shops across the island in areas such as Hougang, Woodlands and Holland Village on Tuesday morning and just before lunch. Some like Kampung Admiralty Hawker Centre in Woodlands and Beo Crescent Market in Tiong Bahru were almost fully occupied with the breakfast and lunch crowd respectively. Others like Holland Village Market and Food Centre and and Ci Yuan Hawker Centre in Hougang were only half occupied in the morning, while coffee shop The Patio in Sembawang was near empty just before lunch. At these selected hawker centres and coffee shops, there were a maximum of two entry points, which had additional reinforcements such as iPads to scan patrons' TraceTogether apps and tokens, and additional cordons to direct traffic flow. Fully vaccinated people or those who are eligible for dining at hawker centres were also given a sticker for identification. Different hawker centres had different coloured square stickers, that were slightly bigger than a $1 coin. Patrons at the entry point of Ci Yuan Hawker Centre on Nov 23, 2021. ST PHOTO: ONG WEE JIN However those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated can only purchase food to take away. Safe distancing officers dressed in white National Environment Agency (NEA) polo shirts and red arm bands, as well as safe distancing ambassadors in red shirts were also seen patrolling the various hawker centres. More on this topic Related Story Eateries in S'pore welcome back groups of up to 5 vaccinated people Related Story S'poreans, eateries welcome easing of Covid-19 curbs, including bigger group size for dining in Patrons ST spoke to welcomed the chance to dine together again with their friends. Three retirees were spotted chatting together over cups of coffee at Holland Village Market and Food Centre. One of them who wished to be known only as Mr Siu, 67, said that the trio would meet regularly at the food centre for their morning coffee before the pandemic struck. Diners dining in at Holland Village Market and Food Centre Another member of the group, who declined to be named, told ST: "Because the restrictions have relaxed a little, instead of going to each other's houses we decided to come here because it's midway from everyone's house. "We also chose to come here early this morning to avoid the crowd for safety reasons." More hawker centres and coffee shops will join the list of approved venues that can allow groups of five from different households by the end of November. The NEA and Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Saturday said that the remaining hawker centres under NEA and NEA-appointed operators will have entry and vaccination checks by Nov 30, while coffee shops can come on board when they have put in place the necessary control measures. More on this topic Related Story Satay by the Bay among initial batch of coffee shops, hawker centres to allow 5 to dine in Related Story Dining, gathering group size raised: What you need to know about Covid-19 rules from Nov 22
SINGAPORE - Thirty-eight diners who were not vaccinated or partially vaccinated against Covid-19 were caught dining in at hawker centres between Oct 20 and Tuesday (Oct 26), in the first week after enforcement measures kicked in. The National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Thursday the diners were identified during checks by safe distancing enforcement officers. It added that their particulars were taken down, but did not elaborate on what penalties they will face. Vaccination-differentiated safe management measures - that limited dining in at hawker centres and coffee shops to only those who are fully vaccinated - started on Oct 13. Those who are not inoculated or partially inoculated can enter hawker centres only to buy takeaway food. Exceptions are made for children aged 12 and below - they can eat at hawker centres even if they are not inoculated. A ministerial task force said the measures are to protect unvaccinated people and reduce the strain on Singapore's healthcare system. New daily Covid-19 cases climbed to 5,324 on Wednesday. An advisory approach was taken between Oct 13 and Oct 19 to let people get used to the new rules that allow only groups of two fully vaccinated persons to dine in together. NEA also said on Thursday it has taken action against 41 people between Oct 22 and Sunday for breaches of Covid-19 safe management measures at hawker centres. They were caught for offences such as gathering in groups of more than two people, not maintaining a safe distance of at least 1m and not wearing masks properly. First-time offenders who breach safe distancing measures are fined $300, and repeat offenders $1,000. Offenders may face prosecution in court for egregious cases, and higher fines if convicted. NEA urged the public to support hawkers safely by adhering to the Covid-19 measures. Stallholders at hawker centres do not need to check their patrons' vaccination status. Instead, safe distancing enforcement officers will conduct selective checks of people who are dining in. "We all have a part to play in protecting ourselves and people around us," NEA said. "If you are not vaccinated, please take away your food instead of dining in." More on this topic Related Story Over 800 diners unvaccinated against Covid-19 found eating at hawker centres Related Story No entry to malls, no dine-in at hawker centres: What are the new rules for the unvaccinated?
SINGAPORE - The first day of tray return enforcement kicked off on Wednesday (Sept 1) with most patrons at some hawker centres here diligently clearing their own trays. However, cleaners said that some patrons still attempted to flout the rules and left used crockery and litter on tables. When The Straits Times visited Redhill Food Centre on Wednesday morning, the centre's toilet attendant Mdm Ong Hong Luan, 76, said: "Some (errant patrons) come in very early at 4am to 5am to eat before working, before any of the cleaners come in. "They left their trays because they thought no one would see and catch them," said Mdm Ong in Mandarin. From Wednesday, enforcement will be taken against those who do not comply with advice to clean up after themselves in hawker centres - after a three-month advisory period. First-time offenders will be given a written warning, while second-time offenders will face a $300 composition fine. Subsequent offenders may face court fines, which can go up to $2,000 for the first conviction. Enforcement of the rule requiring diners to clear used crockery and table litter at coffee shops and foodcourts has been pushed back to January next year (2022). The Straits Times also visited Serangoon Gardens Market and Food Centre, where people could be seen returning their trays to designated tray return stations during breakfast and lunch. Announcements were regularly broadcast at the hawker centre in English, Mandarin, Malay and Tamil to remind patrons to observe safe distancing and to return their trays after use. National Environment Agency (NEA) officers were also on hand to patrol the market, and remind people to return their trays. The tray return stations at both hawker centres in Redhill and Serangoon Gardens were cleared frequently by cleaners to ensure ample space. Cleaners were also going around to wipe the tables clean after patrons had left. Mr Oh Tiong Li, 53, cleaning supervisor at Redhill Food Centre, hoped that NEA enforcement officers would be "empathetic to seniors", especially those using canes and wheelchairs, and not warn or fine them indiscriminately. "It's not easy for them to return trays as they may not be able to move as well or the trays may be heavy for them," said Mr Oh. Retiree Wai Fooi, 78, who visits Redhill Food Centre regularly said: "If there is a tray return station nearby I still can return it. I have had surgery on both my knees. Now, my friends and I prefer to get our food in takeaway packets to eat at the hawker centre. It's easier to throw the packets away as they are lighter and more convenient." More on this topic Related Story More diners returning trays at hawker centres Related Story It's a shame we need fines to force us to clear table litter, return trays
SINGAPORE - The hawker centre at Block 75 Toa Payoh Lorong 5 underwent deep cleaning on Thursday (July 15) morning after a stall assistant who allegedly visited a KTV lounge over the weekend tested positive for Covid-19. A crew of six people wearing personal protective equipment spent about an hour spraying disinfectant and wiping down the tables and chairs at the 36-stall hawker centre managed by NTUC Foodfare. Notices put up around the hawker centre said it would be closed until further notice, with deep cleaning and disinfection to be carried out on Thursday and Friday. Stallholders told The Straits Times that they were notified about the positive case at about 3pm on Wednesday. They were given three hours to pack up and were told to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days. Swab testers visited the homes of some of the stallholders on Thursday morning to test them for Covid-19. Mr Tan Boon Chuan, 50, secretary of the hawker centre's stallholder association, runs a dessert stall there with his wife. "It was very sudden and the whole hawker centre was a mess. Everyone was anxiously packing up," he told ST in Mandarin. He said he had to throw away all of the ingredients he had made for the day and will likely have to dispose of the rest he had to leave behind at his stall. "We are just waiting to be tested," Mr Tan said, adding that most of the hawkers, including himself, are fully vaccinated. Madam Ang Goon Lay, a 56-year-old drinks stall owner at the hawker centre, tested negative after taking a antigen rapid test, said her daughter, Ms Lim Jia Hui. The 27-year-old said her mother, who is fully vaccinated, received a call from the Health Ministry and thought it was a scam at first. Her mother was not worried about contracting Covid-19, but is concerned about the loss of income as the hawker centre is expected to be closed until July 25, Ms Lim added. Mr Tan said he is hopeful that the hawker centre can reopen earlier as the positive Covid-19 case was absent from work this week. He said the stall assistant who tested positive had allegedly visited a KTV lounge on Sunday. The man, who is said to be an assistant at Fang Yuan Satay, did not turn up on Monday and went to see a doctor after feeling ill on Tuesday, Mr Tan added. "It should not affect our hawker centre because he didn't come into contact with the people here," the stallholder said. Asked about the hawker centre's closure, Mr Tan added: "We are not the only hawker centre to have a case, so we are mentally prepared that this could happen. We are outside and interact with so many customers, it is inevitable."
SINGAPORE - A national survey on public hygiene has found that some 47 per cent of Singaporeans think that clearing their own tables after eating at public places can deprive cleaners of their jobs. But this is not true, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor on Saturday (Feb 6). She said: "There will still be cleaners needed to maintain and upkeep the general cleanliness and hygiene of the food centre... they will still have to wipe down and disinfect the tables. "In fact, (diners returning their own trays) will help the cleaners, in terms of improving the welfare of the working environment." She was speaking to reporters on Saturday after a visit to Yuhua Village Hawker Centre and Broadway Coffeeshop in Jurong East, to launch a national campaign to encourage people to clean up after eating in public food places. The survey of 1,402 people conducted by the National Environment Agency (NEA) late last year had also found that 90 per cent of respondents felt that people should be required to do so. And 76 per cent said they do return their trays and used crockery most of the time in such places. However, the average tray return rate at most hawker centres is currently only around 30 per cent. NEA said this indicates the actual practice on the ground does not reflect individual espoused behaviour when it comes to tray return. Dr Khor said the Clean Tables Campaign, which aims to address this discrepancy, is timely due to the coronavirus pandemic. She said: "Used tissues, wet wipes and the remnants left on the table - they are potential bio-hazards. And they pose a threat to the people who have to clear this up when we leave them behind on the table." Cleaning up one's own table can potentially minimise the risk of infectious diseases spreading, she added. During her visit, Dr Khor spoke to diners at the two food centres, and demonstrated the folding of an origami "dustbin" box to be used to collect food remnants and litter. The NEA said: "In view of the current pandemic, NEA seeks support from the public to address table litter at our public dining places... Good public and personal hygiene is the first line of defence against diseases." More on this topic Related Story Robots that clean floors, chase pigeons away among technologies being tested at Tampines food centre Related Story More coffee shop chains to work with Public Hygiene Council to enhance hygiene standards From this month, posters and other visual cues, as well as audio announcements, will be rolled out progressively to all 111 hawker centres, coffee shops and food courts in Singapore. The NEA will also work with grassroots advisers, volunteers and educational institutions to reach out to the larger community, to foster greater ownership of dining places and encourage diners to keep public dining places clean. It will engage some schools and their students to design special table wraps for selected hawker centres. Mr Neo Swee Eng, 62, hawker association chairman at Yuhua Village Hawker Centre, said, on average, there are 12 cleaners deployed at the hawker centre daily. "It is a matter of hygiene to return the trays, so that we do not attract birds which will come and eat the leftover food," he said. Madam Cindy Chan, 65, a cleaning supervisor at Yuhua Village Hawker Centre, said diners there often return their trays. She added: "It would be a great help if more people do it. We still have many things to do and we can just focus on things like cleaning and wiping down the tables." More on this topic Related Story Coronavirus: SG Clean certificates dished out to hawker stalls meeting new hygiene standards Retiree Edmund Teo, 70, who was having breakfast at Broadway Coffeeshop, said he returns his trays. He added: "We cannot rely solely on the cleaners because how many can you have? Many of them are also aged and mobility may be an issue. "It should be a group effort - the cleaners as well as customers who are there, everyone must do their part."
SINGAPORE - Hawker culture in Singapore had its chances of being inscribed as an official Unesco intangible cultural heritage boosted on Tuesday (Nov 17), with an expert body recommending to the official panel that it be put on the coveted list. An evaluation body comprising 12 experts around the world - appointed by the 24-member intergovernmental committee that will give the final verdict in December this year - said in a highly anticipated report that Singapore's application satisfied all criteria. The evaluation body recommended that hawker culture here be added to the official list. In the past, the final decision in December has not always adhered closely to what has been recommended by the evaluation body. However, The Straits Times understands that those which have been approved by the evaluation body are typically given the nod. The report recognised that hawker culture provides Singapore "a sense of identity and continuity for people across the generations and in a context of urbanisation". "It plays a crucial social role in enhancing community interactions, fostering an inclusive society irrespective of the diverse social, religious and ethnic backgrounds of its people," it added. The Unesco convention for the safeguarding of intangible cultural heritage, or “living heritage” which changes over time, has been around since 2003. It includes practices as varied as performing arts, festive events, rituals and oral traditions. The convention hopes to make sure these are transmitted to the next generation and also promote intercultural dialogue and mutual respect for other ways of life. Singapore submitted its bid to have hawker culture internationally recognised in March last year, in hopes that it be added to the 463 items currently already on the list. Ms Chang Hwee Nee, the National Heritage Board’s chief executive officer, said that with the affirmation by the expert panel, she hopes to hear good news during the intergovernmental committee meeting to be held online from Dec 14 to 19. She added: “We hope the successful inscription of hawker culture would further raise awareness and appreciation among Singaporeans of the importance of intangible cultural heritage in our daily lives, and continue to promote dialogues among our communities.” Mr Tan Meng Dui, chief executive officer of the National Environment Agency, said Singapore’s bid shows its commitment to the preservation of hawker culture, and that his agency “remains steadfast” in its efforts to attract new entrants and work with current stakeholders. The application, uploaded online, had included letters, photographs and videos demonstrating community support for the bid. More on this topic Related Story Singapore submits Unesco bid to recognise hawker culture Related Story Joe Biden's memorable visit to Singapore in 2013 included surprise stop at hawker centre Over 850,000 people, through various means such as attending travel exhibitions and singing letters of consent, gave a strong signal to the evaluation body that there is public awareness and "significant vitality" to hawker culture, according to the report. The photographs submitted featured an Indian Muslim hawker preparing briyani, a Chinese hawker demonstrating a chicken rice recipe, and a father and his children enjoying the chendol dessert, among other snapshots. A 10-minute video was also produced. Hawker culture in Singapore has evolved significantly through the years, from individual hawkers selling their fare on the streets to the more built-up hawker centres of today. There are currently about 6,000 hawkers spread over 110 hawker centres. There were 42 submissions in this year's bid, including mechanical watchmaking by Switzerland and France, Budima dance by Zambia and tree beekeeping culture by Poland and Belarus. Among these, 25 were recommended to be inscribed on the official intangible cultural heritage of humanity list, including Singapore's bid. More on this topic Related Story Illustrated series of hawker centre culture unveiled in new book