Covid-19 rules breach: 56 businesses, 360 people caught; authorities taking extra precautions at Chinatown

SINGAPORE — Fifty-six businesses have been ordered to shut or have been fined for breaking Covid-19 rules since the start of the year, including a food-and-beverage (F&B) outlet that allowed customers, who later tested positive for the coronavirus, to sing karaoke. 

The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) said in a statement on Friday (Jan 28) that of these businesses — which included F&B outlets, hotels and malls — 27 were ordered to shut and 29 issued fines.

They were found to have broken various rules including failing to minimise interactions between staff members and diners, ensuring that groups of patrons did not exceed the maximum permitted group size and checking patrons’ vaccination statuses.

Among them was Candy K-Bar, an F&B outlet at Somerset, which was ordered to close for 20 days from Wednesday for allowing a social gathering above the permitted group size and for serving alcohol after 10.30pm.

It also allowed customers to sing karaoke and play darts. The customers, who were colleagues at another F&B establishment, later tested positive for Covid-19 and infected at least 10 other co-workers who did not attend the gathering that night. 

MSE said that further investigations are ongoing. It did not specify how many people were part of that group.

Since the year started, 341 people have been fined for flouting infection controls measures such as gathering in groups larger than the permitted size and mask-related offences.

The National Parks Board will also be taking “appropriate enforcement action” against another 19 people who were found on Jan 23 to be gathering in groups larger than five at public parks and beaches. 

Among them was a group of 11 people at Toa Payoh Town Park, MSE said.

PRECAUTIONS FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR

The ministry said that during the upcoming Chinese New Year period, government agencies will be stepping up enforcement at hot spots such as F&B outlets, markets, malls, supermarkets and parks. 

It reminded the public that they are not allowed to book multiple tables at eateries for groups larger than five, unless the diners are from the same household. But even so, intermingling across different tables is strictly prohibited. 

The ministry added that lo hei, or the traditional tossing of raw fish salad, should be done without any shouting of auspicious phrases. Diners must also be masked while tossing.

The authorities will also be introducing more safety measures at Chinatown to prevent crowding on Chinese New Year, which begins on Feb 1.

Vehicles will not be allowed to enter Temple Street from 12pm on Jan 31 to 2am on Feb 1. 

More safe distancing personnel will also be deployed at the market and hawker centre in Chinatown Complex. At the market, only 300 patrons will be allowed in at a time. 

MSE said that patrons should enter during non-peak hours and that seniors should refrain from visiting the markets altogether during this period.