Last Monday (23 Mar), Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan advised Singaporeans to refrain from talking on public transport amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
It seems that the ‘no talking rule’ is extending beyond just our trains and buses.
A sign was recently spotted in Sim Lim Square’s lifts, warning users not to talk while within the confined space.
A picture of the sign was shared on the Singapore Subreddit by redditor u/mecha_power on Tuesday (31 Mar).
Drawn boxes in lifts are now a common sight in Singapore, with the added emphasis of social distancing measures in public spaces.
Source
Though so, this “no talking” sign is the first of its kind, at least in a lift, prompting a Redditor to share this innovative rule with fellow Singaporeans.
Users are encouraged to keep to themselves during their lift rides to prevent transmitting germs from one to another.
As amusing as it sounds, shushing people with a sign might actually be an efficient precautionary measure.
In a comment, another Redditor shared that lifts are optimal locations for virus transmissions due to how closely packed riders are.
According to Dr Leong Hoe Nam, an infectious disease expert from Mount Elizabeth Hospital, Covid-19 “spreads primarily by respiratory droplets, which come out through saliva or when we sneeze”.
Hence, stopping yourself from conversing in confined spaces like lifts might be effective in preventing respiratory droplets from reaching others.
Despite the great benefits of this bizarre measure, many netizens can’t help but feel its striking resemblance to rules in primary school.
Similar to the iconic ‘one silent clap’ and ‘finger on your lips’, the no talking sign by Sim Lim Square serves a similar function of getting people to keep quiet.
For introverts who dread small talk on lifts, the sign is a godsend that restores peace and order. For extroverts, quite the opposite.
Though Singaporeans have mixed reactions towards this new ‘no talking’ rule, we can all agree that this kiasu-ness is pretty sensible during this critical period.
Hence, do keep quiet on your elevator rides and maintain a safe distance with other passengers on the lift.
Hopefully, these stringent Covid-19 measures will pay off in days to come.
Featured image adapted from Reddit and Google Maps.
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