Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was only one neighbourhood in Singapore with a bad reputation.

I don’t think I have to tell you which neighbourhood this is. 

For example, if a friend came to your house and started petting your cat, and later revealed that he was from Yishun, you would hide all the sharp objects in the house and hold the cat close to your chest.

In recent years, however, Yishun seems to have shaken off its bad reputation.

Now, we avoid places where the coronavirus enjoys interacting with residents. And in the last month or so, that place has been Bukit Merah View.

Unfortunately, if you happen to live in that area, there are some places that will straight up deny entry to you.

Bukit Batok Driving Centre Temporarily Bars Students Who Live in the Bukit Merah View Area From Taking Lessons

Are you a customer of Bukit Batok Driving Centre (BBDC)?

Well, if you live in the Bukit Merah View area, you will be temporarily barred from entering the centre, and consequently, taking lessons there.

BBDC explained on its website that the move was prompted by the discovery of yet another COVID-19 cluster in the Bukit Merah View area.

To ensure the safety of their customers and staff, residents in the affected area will be temporarily denied entry into BBDC’s premises from today (28 Jun).

“The affected customers will receive an SMS from us. Customers with existing lessons, please cancel your lesson immediately,” it said.

Those taking theory or practical tests should not cancel their sessions, however, as BBDC will be contacting them.

“As we are expecting a high volume of calls, please monitor our website for the latest information on when you are allowed to attend your lesson,” it added.

Those Who Cancel Lessons in Advance Will Be Refunded

Speaking to The Straits Times, BBDC general manager Ang Koh Kwee explained that the precautionary measure was necessary as it has a group of customers from Bukit Merah View.

“We have big groups of customers and staff on our premises, and lessons are conducted one-to-one, so we didn’t want to take the risk of infection and advised them to temporarily cancel their lessons instead,” he said.

Fortunately, those who cancel their lessons in advance will be refunded their lesson fees.

He said the centre cannot confirm when it will resume lessons for affected customers, but will reconsider its decision in a week’s time, depending on the daily COVID-19 case count.

Not all driving schools are denying entry to Bukit Merah View residents, however.

The Singapore Safety Driving Centre said it will be allowing entry to customers residing in Bukit Merah View as long as they present a negative COVID-19 test result prior to lessons.

Feature Image: Google Maps