SINGAPORE: When the Hougang Community Club opened its doors at 2pm on Saturday (Feb 1) for the first day of mask collection, there were as many volunteers waiting as there were residents in line.
“We had about 10 to 20 people in the queue in the first hour so we cleared that very fast,” said Community Club Management Committee chairman for Hougang SMC Joel Leong. “It was a very small queue ... We haven’t seen a big crowd (in the first two hours).”
AdvertisementAdvertisementThese scenes were similar to those at other distribution centres across the island, during a largely uneventful first day of mask collection for members of the public.
Residents collecting face masks at a Residents’ Committee centre on Feb 1, 2020. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
Face masks being distributed at Hougang Community Club on Feb 1, 2020. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
[h=3]READ: Wuhan virus in Singapore: The first 7 days[/h] AdvertisementAdvertisementEarlier in the week, it was announced that each Singapore household will receive four surgical face masks, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said, amid worries over the Wuhan coronavirus and long queues for masks at retailers across the island.
The masks – a pack of four sealed in a bag – will be progressively made available at 89 Community Centres (CCs) and 654 Residents' Committee (RC) centres, he said.
[h=3]READ: Singapore households to get 4 face masks each amid worries over Wuhan virus[/h][h=3]READ: Wuhan coronavirus: 1,500 SAF personnel packing 5.2m masks in 24-hour operation[/h]Collection of the masks, which are free, is expected to be completed by Feb 9.
When CNA visited Woodlands Zone 1 Residents' Committee Centre at 1.30pm, distribution counters had been set up, with fewer than five residents milling about, hoping to secure a mask early.
A resident collecting face masks at a Residents’ Committee Centre in Woodlands, Feb 1, 2020. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
A resident collecting face masks at a Residents’ Committee Centre in Woodlands, Feb 1, 2020. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
Five minutes before distribution time, queues of about ten people had formed.
“I expected (a line of people) that’s why I came here to see my chances of getting it earlier,” said a resident who only wanted to be known as Mr Tan. “I came here to collect it just in case myself or my family members needed it, it’s nice to know that at least this is being issued.”
At the Kampong Chai Chee Linear Green Residents’ Network (RN) at Bedok, there was a steady stream of residents collecting masks but no queue when CNA visited at 5.30pm.
[h=3]READ: Singapore has 'done well' in handling Wuhan coronavirus situation, but must remain vigilant: PM Lee[/h][h=3]READ: Masks may offer 'false sense of security' against Wuhan virus, say medical experts[/h]RN chairman Jason Ng described the collection process as “orderly”.
“We thought there would be more people ... but end up it turned out quite okay,” he said. “This was because we staggered the collection time for different blocks ... We were worried it would be overcrowded in the first place, (so this was) to make sure that they come down in different timings.
“Initially it was slightly more but as time went by, the crowd is got lesser and lesser. It was quite orderly.”
Residents collecting face masks at a Residents’ Committee Centre, Feb 1, 2020. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
While residents were pleased with the initiative, it was pointed out that four masks could potentially not be enough for larger families.
“There are times when we need to bring the kids to the hospital or clinic so this will come in handy,” said Mdm Ng Wei Ping, who has three children. “This initiative is good but it’s just that for my family, we have more than four people.”
At the Hougang Community Club earlier in the evening, only about 15 people collected masks within 40 minutes.
Face masks being distributed at Hougang Community Club, Feb 1, 2020. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
Some residents were unable to collect face masks at Hougang Community Club. (Photo: Rauf Khan)
One of those who had collected the masks was Mr Tan Kim Keong.
“I expected there would be a lot of people at 2pm," said Mr Tan, who also echoed Mdm Ng's comments that more masks would have been useful. “I think most Singaporeans would have wanted to come later ... The process was quite fast.”
[h=3]BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage on the Wuhan Coronavirus and its developments[/h]Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the Wuhan virus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
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“We had about 10 to 20 people in the queue in the first hour so we cleared that very fast,” said Community Club Management Committee chairman for Hougang SMC Joel Leong. “It was a very small queue ... We haven’t seen a big crowd (in the first two hours).”
AdvertisementAdvertisementThese scenes were similar to those at other distribution centres across the island, during a largely uneventful first day of mask collection for members of the public.
[h=3]READ: Wuhan virus in Singapore: The first 7 days[/h] AdvertisementAdvertisementEarlier in the week, it was announced that each Singapore household will receive four surgical face masks, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said, amid worries over the Wuhan coronavirus and long queues for masks at retailers across the island.
The masks – a pack of four sealed in a bag – will be progressively made available at 89 Community Centres (CCs) and 654 Residents' Committee (RC) centres, he said.
[h=3]READ: Singapore households to get 4 face masks each amid worries over Wuhan virus[/h][h=3]READ: Wuhan coronavirus: 1,500 SAF personnel packing 5.2m masks in 24-hour operation[/h]Collection of the masks, which are free, is expected to be completed by Feb 9.
When CNA visited Woodlands Zone 1 Residents' Committee Centre at 1.30pm, distribution counters had been set up, with fewer than five residents milling about, hoping to secure a mask early.
Five minutes before distribution time, queues of about ten people had formed.
“I expected (a line of people) that’s why I came here to see my chances of getting it earlier,” said a resident who only wanted to be known as Mr Tan. “I came here to collect it just in case myself or my family members needed it, it’s nice to know that at least this is being issued.”
At the Kampong Chai Chee Linear Green Residents’ Network (RN) at Bedok, there was a steady stream of residents collecting masks but no queue when CNA visited at 5.30pm.
[h=3]READ: Singapore has 'done well' in handling Wuhan coronavirus situation, but must remain vigilant: PM Lee[/h][h=3]READ: Masks may offer 'false sense of security' against Wuhan virus, say medical experts[/h]RN chairman Jason Ng described the collection process as “orderly”.
“We thought there would be more people ... but end up it turned out quite okay,” he said. “This was because we staggered the collection time for different blocks ... We were worried it would be overcrowded in the first place, (so this was) to make sure that they come down in different timings.
“Initially it was slightly more but as time went by, the crowd is got lesser and lesser. It was quite orderly.”
While residents were pleased with the initiative, it was pointed out that four masks could potentially not be enough for larger families.
“There are times when we need to bring the kids to the hospital or clinic so this will come in handy,” said Mdm Ng Wei Ping, who has three children. “This initiative is good but it’s just that for my family, we have more than four people.”
At the Hougang Community Club earlier in the evening, only about 15 people collected masks within 40 minutes.
One of those who had collected the masks was Mr Tan Kim Keong.
“I expected there would be a lot of people at 2pm," said Mr Tan, who also echoed Mdm Ng's comments that more masks would have been useful. “I think most Singaporeans would have wanted to come later ... The process was quite fast.”
[h=3]BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage on the Wuhan Coronavirus and its developments[/h]Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the Wuhan virus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Let's block ads! (Why?)
More...