Special Report

Shutdown: The Coronavirus

In Singapore, spaces close, but restaurants open

Red-and-white tapes block residents from using all amenities, April 15, 2020. Yifan Yu

On March 21, I returned to Singapore, a country initially lauded for its COVID-19 measures. Cases in Singapore rose exponentially and stricter measures kicked in with every government press conference. Soon, boisterous children in the condominium are nowhere to be heard. Though still crowded at times, supermarkets become unnaturally muted behind masks.

Paying visits to supermarkets and food establishments liberates many, including me, from confinement. But once out, liberation comes at full speed – there is no time to pause, legally, in the public space. Benches are cordoned off by tapes and most shops no longer open. Coronavirus has taught us a lesson: even this is a luxury.

Life is not the same for essential workers, who aren’t given a real choice between eschewing health risks and maintaining a livelihood. Busy operations continue at food establishments, like a blessing to those working in related businesses.

The pandemic has torn away veils of inequality. What next?

Only direct paths in the parks remain open in Tanah Merah, Singapore, May 3, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu

Dine-in is no longer allowed under Singapore’s Circuit Breaker. Ann, employee at a restaurant in Tanah Merah tells customers not to sit on the chairs in the restaurant, April 25, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu

Employees at Haig Road Putu Piring making putu piring, or kueh tutu, for delivery or takeout orders. The traditional Malay street snack made of rice flour and gula melaka (palm sugar) is usually consumed immediately, April 15, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu

Stone bench, where families or couples would sit for after-dinner walk, is cordoned off, May 3, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu

Employee at Syed Cafe says he makes 500 roti pratas, known in the US as roti, everyday. Photo by Yifan Yu

Employees at Syed Cafe clean up after completing an order for 2000 people. The employees said that the government has placed 4000 orders per day from April 19 to June 1 for staff catering. An entire side of the kitchen is used for these orders and employees work from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. to complete the orders, May 2, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu

A Western food restaurant separate lines for deliverymen and customers ordering takeouts. There is little communication between deliverymen and restaurant employees at this line, May 2, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu

Benches are usually extra space for a crowded hawker center. They are now cordoned off next to the empty hawker center, April 14, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu

Wang’s fruit store is one the few stalls open in a neighborhood wet market. But noticeably more customers make their purchases at a large fruit store opposite Wang’s. April 29, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu

Row of shops that have closed as they are not “essential service”, April 29, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu

Huang (left) and Liu (right) are employees of SKP, a container store. The store selling plastic food containers remains essential for food delivery. Large boxes of containers from SKP are seen near Syed Cafe, April 29, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu


Playground in condominium on March 27, 2020. Photo by Yifan Yu

 

 

 

 

Author


Tags


Other Stories in Special Report: Shutdown: The Coronavirus

Life returns to the East Village

Quincy Walter May 5, 2021

Reopening for Ramadan

Hassan Abbas May 4, 2021

And the band played on

Xavier Bartaburu May 2, 2021

Queens residents mourn at Covid vigil

Annie Burky May 2, 2021

Floating for Free: COVID and the Staten Island Ferry

Trish Rooney May 2, 2021

COVID-19 has left many Black and Hispanic landlords in serious debt

Norah Hogan April 24, 2021

Village East movie theater reopens to the public

Inga Parkel April 13, 2021

Chinese adoptions halted by COVID

Inga Parkel March 24, 2021

Remote is the new workplace normal

Courtney Guarino March 24, 2021

One year of COVID-19 in New York City

Michelle Diaz March 16, 2021

COVID long haulers deal with lingering symptoms and doubt

Kaity Assaf March 5, 2021

Pandemic Weddings

Chuyan Jiang March 2, 2021

Pandemic fatigue 101

Chuyan Jiang February 28, 2021

Yankee Stadium becomes COVID-19 vaccine site for Bronx residents only

Michelle Diaz February 24, 2021

The queer community rallies behind their sacred spaces closed because of COVID-19

Inga Parkel February 23, 2021

Street vendors struggle as New Yorkers and tourists stay home

Norah Hogan February 13, 2021

Keeping the faith in COVID-19

Courtney Guarino February 3, 2021

Little Italy’s restaurants need indoor dining to survive pandemic

Michelle Diaz February 2, 2021

Stray pets find homes and love during pandemic

Inga Parkel February 1, 2021

No Actors, But the Show Goes On

James Pothen December 5, 2020

New York City, a place of refuge 

Edith Rousselot December 4, 2020

Commuting in a pandemic world

Michelle Diaz December 3, 2020

Battling food insecurities during a pandemic

Courtney Guarino December 3, 2020

Adaptation

Justin McGown December 3, 2020

Honk!: Cars earn a special spot in 2020

Luana Harumi December 3, 2020

Working out looks very different during a pandemic

Chuyan Jiang December 2, 2020

One kitchen’s transformation in the age of isolation

Isabel Beer December 2, 2020

Nursing homes are filled with sadness and loss during pandemic shut down

Inga Parkel December 1, 2020

The show goes on

Norah Hogan December 1, 2020

Loyal members help keep independent cinemas afloat

Courtney Guarino December 1, 2020

Musicians deal with the reality of no live shows as covid takes center stage

Paola Michelle Ortiz December 1, 2020

 Black Friday’s Aftermath

Sughnen Yongo November 30, 2020

The Spirit of Little Haiti

Savannah Daniels October 14, 2020

Small business owners hope for future relief

Courtney Guarino October 2, 2020

Brooklyn Book Festival held virtually

Chuyan Jiang September 28, 2020

NYC Restaurant owners worry about maintaining business during winter 

Isabel Beer September 27, 2020

The pandemic is causing mental health struggles for many Latinos

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 24, 2020

Politically divided family can agree on one thing, rallies are bad during a pandemic

Michelle Diaz September 23, 2020

New Yorkers are vulnerable to mental issues due to pandemic

Sughnen Yongo September 23, 2020

Healthcare professionals struggle with Trump’s decisions during pandemic

Tori Luecking September 23, 2020

Some Americans Say “Not So Fast” on Operation Warp Speed

James Pothen September 23, 2020

Trump voters unfazed by morality of Trump’s Covid response

Norah Hogan September 22, 2020

Trump rallies continue, despite the rising Covid-19 death toll

Isabel Beer September 22, 2020

Latinos weigh in on President Trump’s management of the pandemic

Paola Michelle Ortiz September 21, 2020

Fast track vaccine causes fear

Kaity Assaf September 21, 2020

It’s business as usual at McSorley’s Old Ale House

Tori Luecking September 20, 2020

Trump defiance to hold indoor rallies amidst COVID-19 sparks polarized responses 

Courtney Guarino September 20, 2020

NYC Cafes and restaurants try and survive the pandemic

Isabel Beer September 19, 2020

A typical afternoon at Shade Bar NYC

Kaity Assaf September 19, 2020

West Village staple, Caffe Reggio, remains open for outdoor dining in the wake of coronavirus restrictions 

Norah Hogan September 19, 2020