Singapore’s stricter "circuit breaker" measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 begin next week, from Apr 7 to May 4, with only establishments providing “essential services” allowed to continue to operate. While the government has outlined what counts as “essential services”, there’s still some uncertainty over what’s essential and what’s not (business owners who are unsure can check here).

Several retailers have taken to social media to announce that they’ll remain open, while 8Days.sg checked with several others who told us that they’d still be in operation — with safe distancing measures in place, of course. Unofficial sources online have stated that Daiso stores will close from Apr 7, but that has yet to be verified by the company.

Meanwhile, here's a list of shops providing essential services that will stay open while circuit breaker measures are in place in Singapore. Needless to say, exercise social responsibility and only head to these shops only if it’s really necessary. And no, “getting out of the house”, “stretching your legs” or “window shopping” do not count as essential.

Update, Apr 6: An earlier version of this list included Audio House, Best Denki and Japan Home, who had informed us and announced on their respective social media platforms that they would remain open. However, we have since received an update from Enterprise Singapore that these stores will have to be closed from Apr 7 to May 4, and have removed these shops from the list.

Stores that will stay open from Apr 7 to May 4

Capitol Optical: All stores open with new opening hours (11am-8pm). Stepped up disinfection and health check routines, including mandatory health and declaration forms for customers.

Owndays: All stores open with revised opening hours. All outlets open 11am-10pm, except for Ion Orchard (10am-10pm), Clarke Quay and JCube (11am-9pm), and Jewel Changi Airport (12-9pm Mon-Thur; 11.30am-10pm Fri-Sun).

Spectacle Hut: All stores to remain open, with precautionary measures taken to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Watsons: All stores, including pharmacies and its online store, will remain open, with crowd control measures in place.

Guardian: All stores and its online store will remain open.

7-Eleven: All stores remain open.

Singapore’s stricter circuit breaker measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19 begin next week, from Apr 7 to May 4, with only establishments providing “essential services” allowed to continue to operate. While the government has outlined what counts as “essential services”, there’s still some uncertainty over what’s essential and what’s not (business owners who are unsure can check here).

Several retailers have taken to social media to announce that they’ll remain open, while 8Days.sg checked with several others who told us that they’d still be in operation — with safe distancing measures in place, of course. Unofficial sources online have stated that Daiso stores will close from Apr 7, but that has yet to be verified by the company.

Meanwhile, here's a list of shops providing essential services that will stay open while circuit breaker measures are in place in Singapore. Needless to say, exercise social responsibility and only head to these shops only if it’s really necessary. And no, “getting out of the house”, “stretching your legs” or “window shopping” do not count as essential.

Update, Apr 6: An earlier version of this list included Audio House, Best Denki and Japan Home, who had informed us and announced on their respective social media platforms that they would remain open. However, we have since received an update from Enterprise Singapore that these stores will have to be closed from Apr 7 to May 4, and have removed these shops from the list.

Capitol Optical: All stores open with new opening hours (11am-8pm). Stepped up disinfection and health check routines, including mandatory health and declaration forms for customers.

Owndays: All stores open with revised opening hours. All outlets open 11am-10pm, except for Ion Orchard (10am-10pm), Clarke Quay and JCube (11am-9pm), and Jewel Changi Airport (12-9pm Mon-Thur; 11.30am-10pm Fri-Sun).

Spectacle Hut: All stores to remain open, with precautionary measures taken to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Audio House: Remains open from 12.30-9pm. The store will implement safe distancing measures and temperature checks as well.

Best Denki: All stores remain open.

Japan Home: All stores open except for those in the CBD (Raffles Place, Tanjong Pagar)

Watsons: All stores, including pharmacies and its online store, will remain open, with crowd control measures in place.

Guardian: All stores and its online store will remain open.

7-Eleven: All stores remain open.

We are continually updating this list. Watch this space. -->