Singapore – There were long queues in many places in Singapore on Friday (June 19) and Saturday following the start of Phase 2 of the relaxation of circuit breaker measures. Among the places allowed to reopen were F&B and retail outlets.

Many people appeared to be catching up on their shopping and on their favourite foods and drinks. There were long lines outside Daiso, Ikea and bubble tea outlets.

The crowds and the strain on social distancing have led to worries about a second wave of Covid-19 cases.

This photo and the following video are of the queues at Daiso.

https://twitter.com/cheolswifey/status/1273831600808013826?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1273831600808013826&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmothership.sg%2F2020%2F06%2Fsingapore-phase-2-go-out%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR2oE3IYFOX9OUIFAHrksgR2qwJ_N4YdnyyQDzXtbBawljfFwOpCrC6QeoU

According to a mothership.sg report, there were queues at Ikea Tampines, various Popular bookstores, banks and retail outlets. Orchard Road, which felt like a ghost town during the circuit breaker, was bustling with shoppers on Friday.

https://twitter.com/mkvlln/status/1273842195062124545

See also  Resident says her house was renovated in 2020 but water leakage and mold problems have gotten worse

Those who saw the crowds described the rush as “silly”, “worrying” and “a terrible sight”.

Photo: FB screengrab
Photo: FB screengrab
Photo: FB screengrab

One person said the crowds behaved like people in a desert do when they see water for the first time.

Photo: FB screengrab
Photo: FB screengrab
Photo: FB screengrab

Priorities were put into focus among the comments, with one person asking if shopping was more important than one’s life.

Photo: FB screengrab

Many noted how such behaviour could lead to history repeating itself with much worse consequences.

Photo: FB screengrab
Photo: FB screengrab
Photo: FB screengrab
Photo: FB screengrab

Someone suggested to control access to shopping centres based on the same last digit of IC number system used in four popular wet markets. Others are waiting for the situation to stabilise before taking any risks.

Photo: FB screengrab
Photo: FB screengrab

Read related:

http://theindependent.sg/want-to-dine-in-restaurant-but-still-afraid-heres-how-to-stay-safe-in-phase-2/

ByHana O