Over the last few days, we’ve seen images like these floating on the Internet:
Essential workers who are always on the road didn’t know where to have their meals.
But now, in an updated FAQs in the MOH website, that super frequently asked question is finally answered.
Confirmed: Food Delivery Riders, Cabbies & PHV Drivers Can Eat in Public Like Void Decks or Park Benches
According to the MOH website, for “workers providing essential services, they should take their meals at their work premises, while practicing safe distancing measures.”
Well, that’s for people who work in the comfort of a workplace.
And for “selected workers whose work requires them to be on the move, e.g. delivery services, they should return to their offices or homes for their meals.”
However, if that is “not practical, they can eat in their vehicles, or in public spaces such as void decks and park benches.”
Even so, they must follow these guidelines:
- Dine alone and keep a distance of at least one metre from another individual
- Dine quickly and leave the public space in a clean state after they have consumed their meals
- Carry identification to indicate their employment status as essential service and selected service workers, and provide the identification upon request by Safe Distancing Ambassadors, Enforcement Officers, and police officers.
So yes, if you need to makan outside, you’d need something to prove that you’re a food delivery rider, a cabbie or a PHV driver, because we’re sure there would be people who’d abuse this system.
This update comes at a perfect timing as starting from today, people who flout the Circuit Breaker rules won’t be given an advisory or warning; they’ll be fined $300 immediately.
Two days ago, it was also announced that stallholders can have their meals on the table right in front of their stall as long as it’s a quick meal with safe-distancing measures in place.
But of course there’s still one grey area.
Frontline Staff With No Place to Makan
A lady has taken to Facebook to show how she has to eat in the toilet because her workplace has no dining area nor any table for her to have her meal (think: Old Chang Kee).
It’s unknown if this new rule applies for her or not.
But still, you can read her interesting experience here.