Not everything is closed (phew!), but the advisory is to go out only if you really need something and remember to wear a mask and practice social distancing while you’re out.

Yes, you read that right, shops are still open and you will still be able to purchase daily essentials, personal hygiene products, and hot meals. Here’s a list of 8 essential shops that will remain open during the 7 April to 4 May 2020 circuit breaker, in order to provide you and your family with convenient and delicious solutions.

Why do we have a circuit breaker?

During Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s televised address on 3 April, he announced that Singapore will “impose significantly stricter measures” to combat the spread of COVID-19. They include closing workplaces (with the exception of essential services), schools to implement full home-based learning and restrictions to all movements and gatherings—a circuit breaker. 

How long will the circuit breaker last? 

The circuit breaker will last for a month — from 7 April to 4 May 2020. If the COVID-19 situation does not improve, the circuit breaker may be extended beyond 4 May 2020. 

What are essential services?

Essential services are businesses that we all rely on for our basic needs. These businesses include supermarkets, coffee shops, hawkers, food delivery, hardware stores, medical clinics, vets, pet food shops, logistic companies and banks. To put things into perspective, non-essential services include arcades, massage parlours, furniture shops, electronic stores, gyms and movie theatres. 

1. Supermarkets

There’s no need to panic buy or hoard groceries as both major supermarkets, NTUC FairPrice and Cold Storage, will remain open throughout. The import of vegetables, meats, fruits and home cleaning products are not affected by the circuit breaker either, so nothing should be getting in your way of shopping for your weekly groceries. 

Both NTUC Fairprice and Cold Storage’s online stores are also open. Just bear in mind that they are currently experiencing a surge in orders and delivery times may be affected. 

Save more on your next trip to the supermarket or online grocery order when you use the right card. Compare and apply for one through SingSaver today, and you may even get rewarded with cash and prizes!

2. DON DON DONKI

Yes, the Japanese supermarket that plays a really catchy jingle that goes “Don Don Don, Donki, Don Don Donki I’m in paradise, it’s a wonderful place for me”. You can still get your hands on Japanese groceries, ready-to-eat meals and snacks at DON DON DONKI. All 8 of their shops remain open, but with revised operating hours. 

3. 24-Hour convenience stores

Rain or shine, all 7-Eleven and Cheers convenience stores will open 24/7. Services like bill payments, SIM card top-ups, cash withdrawals and sending or collection of parcels are also available over-the-counter. 

4. Bubble tea stores

Bubble tea stores like Koi, Gong Cha, R&B Tea and Tiger Sugar remain open. When we heard the news that bubble tea classifies as “essential services,” we literally heaved a huge sigh of relief. Why? Because life would be pretty sad without a sweet and chewy dessert in a cup (cue dramatic music). 

But don’t want to leave the house just for bubble tea? No problem. Most of the bubble tea stores are on food delivery apps like Grabfood, Foodpanda and Deliveroo. Better yet, use a promo code from our handy list to save even more on your bubble tea order. 

5. Health and beauty care stores

Fret not if you’ve run out of shampoo, vitamins, baby milk powder or even a specific brand of hypoallergenic soap for your little one because Watsons and Guardian’s retail and online stores are open. Watsons pharmacies are also open as usual for those who need their prescription medication, antihistamines for an allergic reaction, medicated eye drops, etc.

6. Optical stores

Broke on your spectacles and need a replacement or ran out of contact lens solution? You’d be relieved to know that optical stores like Owndays, Spectacle hut, Capital Optical and your neighbourhood optical stores are ready to help. However, before heading down, we recommend that you give them a call first as many have revised their operating hours. 

7. Barbers and salons

Many barbers and salons remain open, but are only allowed to offer simple haircuts. Other regular salon services like perming, rebonding, treatment, colouring and chemical treatments are not allowed. This is to minimise close physical contact and encourage more to stay home.  

8. Coffee shops, hawkers and mini-marts

Keeping the best for last, most of your favourite neighbourhood coffee shops, hawkers and mini-marts will remain open to provide comforting hot meals and daily necessities. This means you can still get your kopi and pau for breakfast, chicken rice for lunch, lemon biscuits for tea time and tze char for dinner. To minimise time spent outside the home, all coffee shops, hawkers and restaurants are only allowed to offer food for takeaway. 

As a matter of fact, many hawkers have started to offer free island-wide delivery services if you hit a minimum order and, if not, for a small fee. You can find an entire encyclopedia of hawkers offering this service on the Facebook page #HawersUnited2020.

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By Geralyne Ong
A lover of gin and all things Nigella Lawson, Geralyne’s a big believer of #Adulting. She spends her leisure time serving fur-babies and doing as many mountain climbers and kettlebell swings as she possibly can.

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