SINGAPORE: From haircuts to Happy Meals and desserts, people across Singapore were out on Tuesday (May 12) as stores reopened after weeks of closure during the “circuit breaker” to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Among the first to be allowed to reopen were hairdressers and barbers. Quick-cut salons in particular saw snaking queues, with people waiting for their first haircut in weeks or even months.
People queuing up outside a hairdressing salon on May 12, after some circuit breaker measures were eased. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
People queue up outside a hairdressing salon on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Temperatures had to be taken, and all staff members and customers at the salons had to keep their masks on at all times.
A barber attends to a customer on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Hanidah Amin)
Outdoors, the sweltering heat didn’t deter people from joining similar queues outside neighbourhood hair salons, like this one in Ang Mo Kio.
People queue outside a hairdressing salon on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
People queue outside a hairdressing salon on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
People queue outside a hairdressing salon on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
At full-service hair salons, the pace was slower and less frantic.
Hairdressers were seen tending to two or three customers who had booked appointments in advance.
A customer getting a blow-dry inside a hairdressing salon on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Regardless, all hairdressers and barbers were allowed to offer only basic haircut services, which must be completed within an hour.
READ: Customers flock to hair salons after circuit breaker measures ease
A customer getting his hair cut on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
A customer getting a haircut on May 12 2020, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Hanidah Amin)
Shops selling confectionery and desserts were also allowed to reopen on Tuesday, and saw their first queues after weeks of closure.
People in masks waited in line patiently, keeping a safe distance from each other.
People queue up at an outlet selling pastries on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
People queue up at a dessert outlet on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Opticians, like the one next to this dessert shop, are still not allowed walk-in customers, although those with an appointment can pick up their contact lenses or prescription glasses.
People queue up at a dessert outlet on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
There were also long queues outside the various McDonald’s outlets that CNA visited.
People queue outside a McDonald’s outlet on May 12, a day after the fast food chain resumed operations. It closed for three weeks after workers at several of its other branches in Singapore tested positive for COVID-19. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
The fast-food chain reopened most of its restaurants on Monday, after it suspended operations for weeks when some of its employees contracted COVID-19.
It had been allowed to reopen on May 4 but decided to extend its closure until Monday.
The queue outside a McDonald’s outlet on May 12, a day after the fast food chain resumed operations. It closed for several weeks after several of its other branches in Singapore were identified as a COVID-19 cluster. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
People queue outside a McDonald’s outlet on May 12, a day after the fast food chain resumed operations. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Pet supply stores were also allowed resume business, and saw a steady stream of patrons stocking up on consumables for their pets.
People shopping at a pet supplies store on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Shoppers at a pet supplies store on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
Many were seen filling their baskets to the brim with pet food and treats, as well as buying toys to keep their animals entertained at home.
People shopping at a pet supplies store on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
A man leaving a pet supplies store with several bags of pet food on May 12, following the easing of some circuit breaker measures. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)
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