Elderly man tears away plastic covering tables and seats in hawker centre

Singapore -- An elderly man was seen on Monday (April 13) ripping the plastic off tables  and seats in a hawker centre because he wanted to sit there. The four-minute video was shared on the Facebook page All Singapore Stuff. The man was later shown arguing with police officers and at least one cleaner. With circuit breaker measures in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19, cases of which had spiked recently in the country, the people cannot eat and drink at food establishments like hawker centres. They have been urged to buy food back and to stay home as much as  possible. In a further measure to prevent people from eating and drinking at food establishments, the tables and seats have been covered by long strips of plastic. However, it appeared as if this was not enough deterrence for the elderly man, who "really really wanted to sit", according to the video caption. https://www.facebook.com/allsgstuff/videos/1056779008050774/?v=1056779008050774 Among those commenting on the page was someone who highlighted the importance of such seats to some people. [caption id="attachment_195674" align="aligncenter" width="452"] Photo: FB screengrab / All Singapore Stuff[/caption] Another remembered how her late grandfather would go to the hawker centre three times a day. [caption id="attachment_195676" align="aligncenter" width="425"] Photo: FB screengrab / All Singapore stuff[/caption] Others called for the elderly to be treated with more patience because a change in their routine could be difficult for them. [caption id="attachment_195673" align="aligncenter" width="407"] Photo: FB screengrab / Patrick Tan[/caption] [caption id="attachment_195678" align="aligncenter" width="461"] Photo: FB screengrab / All Singapore stuff[/caption] Some felt that mental health could be an issue. [caption id="attachment_195675" align="aligncenter" width="410"] Photo: FB screengrab / All Singapore stuff[/caption] One man, noting that it was not easy for the elderly to stay at home, hoped that the man would understand the situation and the authorities would be patient but firm with him. [caption id="attachment_195677" align="aligncenter" width="408"] Photo: FB screengrab / All Singapore stuff[/caption] Meanwhile, there was more on the incident on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2556534144664255&id=100009230834010&hc_location=ufi Read related: http://theindependent.sg/no-place-for-meal-so-elderly-cabby-eats-on-taxi-boot/