In light of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) outbreak, the National Environment Agency has issued sanitation and hygiene advisories to step up the cleaning of public areas with high human traffic.

Common living spaces and facilities

Town councils have stepped up the frequency of cleaning and disinfection to stem the spread of 2019-nCoV.

High traffic areas and frequent touchpoints such as lift buttons, notice boards, railings and letter boxes are being disinfected regularly.

Playgrounds, fitness corners and other frequently touched areas are also being disinfected every day.

The NEA has also informed Town Council supervisors of the proper way of cleaning, as well as the kind of disinfectant/cleaning solutions they should be using.

Public transport

 Public transport operators SMRT and SBS Transit have both ramped up cleaning efforts in light of the 2019-nCoV outbreak.

At MRT and LRT stations, public surface areas will be cleaned with disinfectants. Train interiors will be cleaned and disinfected daily for areas such as the grab poles, overhead handles, seats and windows.

High commuter touch points at bus interchanges such as queue rails, seats, and passenger service centre counters will also be cleaned and wiped down with disinfectants about once every two hours. Bus interiors will undergo an additional disinfection every week.

Hawker centres

NEA is engaging stallholders at various markets and hawker centres, to provide guidance on maintaining a high level of public hygiene and cleanliness.

An advisory outlining good practices that stallholders should carry out is being distributed.

Good habits include:

• Monitoring your temperature and seeing a doctor if you’re unwell
• Washing your hands with soap before food preparation and after visiting the toilet
• Separating raw and cooked food
• Using separate gloves for handling food and for cleaning purposes
• Disposing refuse properly
• Maintaining good housekeeping
• Washing and disinfecting at the end of the day
  
  

For more on how you can protect yourself and your loved ones, click here.