SINGAPORE: More than 7,000 written advisories were issued to members of the public who breached the elevated safe distancing measures, mostly in hawker centres and markets, according to Singapore's Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

The elevated safe distancing measures, dubbed as a circuit breaker, which was announced by Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last April 3, kicked off yesterday for a month to mitigate the island-wide spread of COVID-19.

The ministry said it included written advisories given to members of public at crowded markets to remind them to keep a safe distance when queuing or making payments by following the floor markings.

"An advisory was also issued to a stallholder for selling drinks intended for dine-in at a hawker centre," it said in its website.

The Ambassadors and EOs were deployed by the Ministry, together with relevant agencies, to cover premises such as town centres, hawker centres, coffee shops, transport nodes, parks, and community clubs/centres.

Under the COVID-19 Temporary Measures Bill passed in Parliament last , first time offenders will face a fine of up to S$10,000 or imprisonment of up to six months, or both.

For the second or subsequent offences, they may face a fine of up to S$20,000 or imprisonment of up to twelve months, or both.

— BERNAMA