In a matter of a few days, thousands of people have been caught flouting "circuit breaker" measures intended to arrest the spread of Covid-19 in Singapore. 

With stern warnings issued by the authorities seemingly ineffective in ensuring compliance, the Government has announced that anyone not abiding by the measures will be fined S$300 for their first offence, instead of being issued with a warning.

Repeat offenders will face higher fines or prosecution in court for egregious cases.

Ignoring circuit-breaker and safe-distancing measures is irresponsible but not unique to Singaporeans, as seen from numerous examples in countries or cities that have instituted lockdown requirements for non-essential activities. 

Internet users have even taken to social media to invent hashtags such as #Covidiots to describe people who carry out such inconsiderate acts. 

While the Government has already swiftly passed the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) Act to take legal action against offenders, it may not be practical to haul repeat offenders to court should there be a sizeable number of them. 

The aim should be to create a strong deterrent against flouting the rules in the first place.

I would suggest that the authorities consider complementing the new law with an additional name-and-shame scheme.

For example, second-time offenders should have their names and where they live (up to the street-level) published on a central website that the public can access.

For third-time offenders, besides charging them in court, their pictures should also be posted online for all to see. 

The fear of "losing face" and public backlash could well be stronger deterrents than fines, and could go some way towards boosting compliance with the circuit-breaker measures so that there is no need for the Government to extend the month-long shutdown of non-essential workplaces.

Such a scheme could also reduce the propensity by private citizens to take it upon themselves to post or forward pictures or videos of such offenders on social media, thereby increasing the risk of doxxing by others.

Have views on this issue or a news topic you care about? Send your letter to voices [at] mediacorp.com.sg with your full name, address and phone number.