<![CDATA[Coronavirus: Singapore millennials bond over food on Instagram during stay-home notices in hotels]>

When Singaporean Denvy Lo, 38, learned she would have to serve a stay-home notice for 14 days after returning from San Francisco, she was filled with dread.

The recruiter has claustrophobia, a condition which can trigger anxiety or panic attacks when she is in an enclosed area, and she was worried about having to stay in an unfamiliar place which was not first carefully selected by her.

"As someone with claustrophobia, whenever I travel ... I tend to pick hotels that don't have closed windows or opt for a seat with more space when flying," said Lo, who arrived back on March 27 as part of the first batch Singaporean returnees. "But this was something I couldn't control because of the Covid-19 situation."

"I started using social media, partly to kill time, but also for my friends and family who were very worried," said Lo, who is staying at the Grand Park Hotel. "Because I am among the first batch of people who has to serve their quarantine order in a hotel, they were especially worried for me."

A food photo shared on Instagram by Denvy Lo. Photo: Handout alt=A food photo shared on Instagram by Denvy Lo. Photo: Handout

With an increasing number of regions in Europe and North America under lockdown over the coronavirus crisis, the city state is anticipating a surge of Singaporeans returning from abroad, especially from Britain and the United States " which both account for the largest share of Singapore's imported cases.

To prevent the potential spread of infection from these returnees, the Singapore government has been working with hotel operators to provide dedicated facilities for them to serve their stay-home notices " a two-week period of isolation that all arrivals to Singapore must serve.

Individuals serving stay-home notices are not allowed to leave their place of residence, even to buy food and essentials, and are to check their temperatures twice a day, among other rules. Those who do not comply with the terms risk a fine of up to S$10,000 (US$7,000) and/or face six months in jail.

A photo of one of Denvy Lo's meals at the Grand Park Orchard. Photo: Handout alt=A photo of one of Denvy Lo's meals at the Grand Park Orchard. Photo: Handout

The period would see the government picking up the tab for hotel stays, transport and meals. The authorities said last week there were 38,000 people serving out stay-home notices, and their numbers would rise as more people, especially students, returned from abroad.

National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said earlier that some 200,000 Singaporeans were currently abroad and expected to return, with about 1,200 Singaporeans coming back daily.

To overcome the social isolation, some returnees have taken to social media to connect with each other remotely and document their experiences, with Instagram pages such as SHN.makan and RatemySHN created for the Singaporeans to bond over the national pastime " food.

A post shared by Stae Hortel Notis (@ratemyshn) on

Dylan Goh, 26, was among those who contributed to the RatemySHN Instagram account, which posted his photo of an "applaudable" biryani meal he had at the Village Hotel Sentosa on April 1.

"The crispy okra was actually crispy, and the butter chicken reminded me a little bit of the Indian takeaways from the UK," Goh said in the accompanying caption.

But he found the meat a tad disappointing. "The garlic fish was a slight letdown, with scant taste of garlic, with the texture of fried frozen fish fillets. Dessert of galub jamun was cloyingly sweet, but much appreciated. Overall would eat again 7.5/10," he said.

The Newcastle University student said sharing such posts on social media was a way to speak to others in isolation.

"Culturally, as a Singaporean, I connect with others over food," Goh said. "It's not really a contest of who has the best or worst meal, but almost a conversation starter of sorts. With other friends in other hotels, you get a glimpse of what it's like elsewhere."

Tan Yu Nuo, who works at a London digital agency, is serving a stay-home notice at the Conrad Hotel in Singapore: Photo: Instagram/Tynnosaur alt=Tan Yu Nuo, who works at a London digital agency, is serving a stay-home notice at the Conrad Hotel in Singapore: Photo: Instagram/Tynnosaur

Tan Yu Nuo, 25, a returnee from London, is also sharing her experience on Instagram, where she has 3,800 followers.

In a video broadcast from the Conrad Hotel, she shared some scenes such as encounters with hotel staff, the rules she has to abide by over the two weeks, and the food she was enjoying.

"It's only been one-and-a-half days, but it's been amazing so far," Tan said on Thursday. "The food is really good. I was given a menu of three choices for lunch and dinner to pick from on the first day I arrived, and there was just a wide variety of different food."

Tan said her social media posts have made some of her overseas-based Singaporean friends feel less anxious about returning to serve their stay-home notices. "Since I posted the video, I've had friends living overseas who are now more keen to come back to Singapore, and a lot of Singaporeans are showing their appreciation for the government more."

With the city state's borders shut during the pandemic, experts say the use of hotels to house returnees is a boost to the industry.

"Given the current strict border controls, there are zero tourists coming into Singapore. As a result, the hotels have only the domestic market to draw from," said Sheryl E. Kimes, emeritus professor of operations management from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.

"Singapore, like Hong Kong, is such a small country that there's not much in the way of local tourism other than perhaps some staycations," she said.

Singapore's hotel industry has been reeling from strict border controls enforced amid the coronavirus crisis. Photo: STB via dpa alt=Singapore's hotel industry has been reeling from strict border controls enforced amid the coronavirus crisis. Photo: STB via dpa

Kimes, who is also a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore's analytics and operations department, added that the move provided hotels with a much-needed revenue source to offset some wage costs, which could result in fewer lay-offs.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Hotel Association (SHA) said hospitality remained a priority for the sector in spite of the coronavirus crisis.

"It is our commitment to protect the interests of our stakeholders while doing our part in safeguarding Singapore's public health protocol," said Kwee Wei-Lin, the president of SHA.

"Being hoteliers, it is in our nature to be natural hosts and extend genuine care like a family," she said. "The guests can serve their 14-day notice in total comfort with peace of mind while being compliant with public health measures."

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

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