Plastic screens installed around podiums in Parliament for safer speaking

Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan Jin revealed earlier today (4 June) that the Parliament team has set up plastic screens around podiums with the intention to create a safer speaking experience.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA_8madFN-S/

Mr Tan shared a photo on his Instagram, showing that the transparent perspex screens were installed since late May. He also thanked the Parliament team for this gesture.

“Installed perspex screens around the podiums in Parliament to facilitate safer speaking. Thanks to @parl_sg team for setting this up.”

The new plastic screens were first seen at Thursday’s sitting, as an addition to the series of precautionary measures.

This move was intended to make Parliament sittings safer amid the COVID-19 pandemic by cutting down the spread of the virus via respiratory droplets.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus in Singapore, Members of Parliament (MPs) have been wearing face masks in the House, only taking them off when they needed to speak.

Apart from donning masks, the MPs were also seen wiping and disinfecting the microphones and podiums after speaking, as mentioned on the Straits Times.

Besides, the MPs have been sitting further apart since 25 March. It was also reported that the MPs have to take breaks in separate groups and use separate restrooms to cut down on mingling, in hopes to reduce the risk of transmission.

At the end of May, four other locations – Arts House, The Treasury, Civil Service College, and NTUC Centre – were approved for Parliament sittings until 20 November. This decision was approved by President Halimah Yacob.