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Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)
Circulars

Tightening Safe Distancing Measures at Retail Establishments

22 April 2020

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This article has been migrated from an earlier version of the site and may display formatting inconsistencies.

Who Should Know:
Mall developers, building owners, retail business owners

Effective Date:
With effect from 21 Apr 2020, 2359hrs

This has been superseded by the latest advisory. Please refer to the Circulars page.

  1. On 21 April 2020, the Multi-Ministry Taskforce announced the suspension of less critical consumer services during the Circuit Breaker period, to further minimise the movement and interaction of people.

  2. In line with this, Enterprise Singapore (ESG), Housing & Development Board (HDB), the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) are providing further changes to the guidance on the permissible activities and safe distancing measures for retail establishments. All retail establishments – including retail outlets in shophouses and malls, supermarkets and department stores – must comply with these latest measures. The information in this advisory supersedes those in previous advisories or statements.
    Suspension of non-essential retail activities except online retail

  3. With effect from 21 April 2359hrs, operations of less critical consumer services will be suspended, and there will be additional restrictions on selected consumer-facing businesses:

    • Only retail establishments engaged in essential services can remain open.

    • All other retail establishments must remain closed, and may only continue with online retail operations.

    Refer toAnnex 1 (opens in new tab) [PDF, 156KB] for the updates to essential and non-essential retail activities, or visithttps://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/essentialservices (opens in new tab).

  4. Online retail and delivery may continue, if in compliance with the following guidelines:

    • Retail establishments that do not provide essential services must not open their stores to customers, but staff can access the retail premises when necessary to fulfil delivery of online orders. Such establishments must clearly indicate that the store is closed for business.

    • Fulfilment of online orders must only be done through delivery (e.g. mailboxes, POPStations). No collection of order at the retail stores is allowed.

    • Retail establishments must limit the number of staff within its premises (e.g. warehouses, stores) to the minimum number required for order fulfilment. No other activities should take place within the premises. Staff must ensure safe distancing at all times.

    Retail establishments can refer to theAdvisory for Delivery Businesses (opens in new tab) for guidelines on the delivery requirements.
    Safe distancing measures for retail establishments

  5. Retail establishments that are permitted to remain open must adhere to safe distancing measures by putting in place a crowd and queue management system to minimise crowds within their premises:

    • Use floor markers to clearly demarcate queue lines for customers at cashier counters, or where required.

    • Ensure at least one-metre spacing between customers is enforced at all times, and limit the number of customers within the store to allow for the one-metre spacing.

    • Encourage the use of self-checkouts, cashless or contactless payment, to speed up the payment process and reduce cash-handling.


    Malls/Standalone stores/Supermarkets

  6. All malls, standalone stores and supermarkets should, where reasonably practicable:

    • Conduct temperature screening for customers at entrances to detect customers with fever1.

    • Ensure all staff, customers and other personnel on their premises have their masks on at all times.

  7. In addition, malls/standalone stores and supermarkets with high traffic (refer toAnnex 2 (opens in new tab) [PDF, 165KB]) should, where reasonably practicable, conduct contact tracing of customers.

  8. All malls/standalone stores and supermarkets should also put in place effective measures to avoid transmission of COVID-19. They should also have a system that logs their workers entry into, and exit. They can consider using a digital check-in application called SafeEntry for this purpose. More information on SafeEntry’s deployment at work premises can be found atgo.gov.sg/safeentry (opens in new tab).

  9. Supermarkets are also encouraged to:

    • Provide dedicated shopping hours for vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, persons with disabilities and pregnant women.

    • Use mall atriums or outdoor areas for temporary sale of goods to disperse crowds from their stores.

    • Remind customers to limit entry to 1 per family when shopping at their stores, where practicable

    Other measures to ensure the well-being of shoppers:

  10. Retail establishments that are permitted to remain open must implement temperature screening and health declaration by staff each time they report for work; ensure cleanliness and hygiene practices; and comply with MOH health advisories.

  11. Establishments must implement the sanitation and hygiene practices recommended under the SG Clean campaign.

  12. In addition, retail establishments must:

    • Place hand sanitisers close to high-touch surfaces like door handles as well as at cashier counters and entrances so that staff and customers can sanitise their hands, after touching these surfaces, and/or before and after entering the establishment.

    • Disinfect common spaces, high-touch surfaces and interactive components, such as self-checkout kiosks, frequently.

    • Remove product testers and samples that require customer contact, e.g. electronics and food samples.

    • Train service staff to provide clear communication on safe distancing measures.

    • Put up simple signage to clearly communicate these practices to customers.

  13. Employers, staff and patrons must exercise social responsibility by observing good personal hygiene and monitoring their health conditions. In particular, employers must put in place stringent measures to safeguard the health of their staff. This includes temperature screening, health declaration, and ensuring safe distancing measures are observed at all times. Staff must reduce physical interactions such as gatherings or having meals in groups. Those who are unwell, even with mild flu-like symptoms, must see a doctor and stay at home to prevent spreading illness to others.
    Enforcement of measures

  14. Government agencies will be stepping up enforcement of these safe distancing measures. Under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act passed in Parliament on 7 April 2020, first-time offenders will face a fine of up to S$10,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both. Subsequent offences may face a fine of up to S$20,000, imprisonment of up to twelve months, or both.

  15. Businesses that do not implement or comply with the government’s safe distancing advisories may also be ineligible for government grants, loans, tax rebates and other assistance.

Thank You.

ENTERPRISE SINGAPORE
HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT BOARD
SINGAPORE TOURISM BOARD
URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

Updated as of 21 April 2020


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1Supermarkets in malls need not take the temperature of customers or conduct contact tracing if the mall is already doing so. They should however do so, if they operate for longer hours than the mall.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  1. Is it mandatory for retail establishments to exercise safe distancing?Retail establishments that are permitted to remain open must comply with safe distancing measures. Non-compliance with the Infectious Diseases (Measures to Prevent Spread of COVID-19) Regulations 2020 is punishable with a fine of up to S$10,000 or imprisonment of up to six months or both. Businesses that do not implement or comply with the government’s safe distancing advisories may also be ineligible for government grants, loans, tax rebates and other assistance. 

  2. Smaller retail establishments may find it challenging to practise safe distancing. Any recommendations for them? The Government understands that smaller retail establishments might experience space constraints when implementing safe distancing measures. The general principle is for retail establishments to regulate the number of customers within the store, so that a metre spacing between them could be maintained while retail operations continue normally.

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