From Sunday, April 12, people found flouting circuit breaker measures will be fined SGD 300 for first time offenders, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said in a Facebook post.
Repeat offenders will receive higher fines, or prosecution in court for egregious cases.
All visitors to wet markets will also be required to wear masks. Those who do not will not be allowed to enter the 40 markets managed by NEA or NEA-appointed operators.
In the post on Saturday evening, Masagos said the ministry's Enforcement Officers reported "there are still too many people not taking the circuit breaker measures seriously."
More than 3,000 stern warnings were issued that day, and that "stiffer penalties are clearly needed".
The minister said, "The health and safety of Singaporeans are at risk. It is therefore our top priority and collective responsibility." He also added that from April 13, it will be mandatory for all food handlers and wet market stallholders to wear masks, to further safeguard public health.
"Many of us are working hard to protect Singaporeans, including healthcare workers, cleaners, those in essential services, and our public service officers too," Masagos said in his post.
"The simplest thing everyone can do is to #StayhomeforSG. Let us get through this together."
