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SINGAPORE: Thirty-two diners have been fined S $ 300 each for disobeying COVID-19 safe handling measures, such as not wearing a mask immediately after eating or drinking at food and beverage outlets, said the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment MSE) on Tuesday (September 29).
Additionally, eight more establishments, including Brewerkz at Riverside Point and Siam Square Mookata at The Punggol Settlement, were ordered closed for breaking the rules.
Fourteen outlets were also fined for a variety of infractions, including admitting and seating groups of more than five and allowing people to mingle between tables.
On September 12, 2020, eight people were found sitting at two tables inside the Brewerkz at 30 Merchant Road and intermingling at 8.45pm (Photo: Urban Redevelopment Authority)
EIGHT F&B SOCKETS ORDERED TO CLOSE
The eight establishments that have been ordered to close for 10 days each are: Brewerkz in Riverside Point, Siam Square Mookata in Punggol Point, Chicken Up and Ggang Tong in Tanjong Pagar, a drinks stand in New Upper Changi and Jalan Membina, Jamboree Bar & Café at Orchard Towers and Muse’s Café at Shaw House.
On September 25, 2020, multiple people mingling with different groups of customers were found sitting at different tables at Jamboree Bar & Cafe in Orchard Towers. (Photo: Singapore Tourism Office)
At Brewerkz, Ggang Tong, Chicken Up, operators had allowed eight to 12 diners to sit at two tables and mix, MSE said.
At the Jamboree, officers saw people mingling with different groups of patrons at different tables.
On September 16, 2020, customers at two tables were found consuming alcohol at Siam Square Mookata Pte Ltd at The Punggol Settlement at 10:45 pm (Photo: Singapore Food Agency)
On September 16, 2020, 12 people were found sitting at two tables at Ggang Tong, 62/64 Tanjong Pagar Road at 9.05 pm (Photo: Urban Redevelopment Authority)
Siam Square Mookata was ordered closed after officers spotted customers at two tables drinking alcohol at 10:45 p.m.
The beverage stand at a coffee shop at 59 New Upper Changi Road was also ordered to close after four tables of people were seen drinking alcohol in the outdoor refreshment area at 10.50 p.m.
Similarly, in Block 26 Jalan Membina, a beverage stall was ordered to close after a customer was seen drinking alcohol in the outdoor snack area at 11:20 p.m.
An individual was observed consuming alcohol at 11:20 pm in the outdoor snack area at a cafeteria at Blk 26 Jalan Membina. (Photo: Singapore Food Agency)
At Cafe de Muse, officers saw groups of people queuing at the entrance not observing a safe distance of 1 m.
They also observed that the climate control for customers was not in place and that the seats between customers were separated by less than 1m.
On September 25, 2020, Cafe de Muse at Shaw House was ordered closed for not taking the temperature of customers entering its facilities and for not guaranteeing a safe distance between customers. (Photo: Singapore Tourism Office)
Additionally, 14 other food and beverage establishments, including one repeat offender, were also fined for violating safe management measures.
These included admitting and seating groups of more than five together, allowing groups to mingle between tables, seating groups of customers less than 1 meter apart, and not ensuring that food handlers wear their masks correctly.
Thirteen of the outlets were fined S $ 1,000 and one store was fined S $ 2,000 for repeat offenses, MSE said.
CNA asked MSE for more information on the 14 points of sale.
Separately, inspections at 240 food and beverage establishments at “known access points” on September 25 and 26 found that 15 of them had also violated COVID-19 regulations.
“Agencies are reviewing violations and appropriate enforcement actions to be taken, including the temporary closure of outlets and issuance of fines,” MSE said.
READ: 23 food and beverage establishments violate COVID-19 safety rules, including restaurant serving beer in kettles after 11pm
On September 25, 2020, two customers were fined S $ 300 each for not wearing their masks when talking to each other at an F&B establishment in Orchard at 2.50am, even though they had finished their meal and their table had been been cleared. (Photo: Singapore Tourism Office)
32 PEOPLE FINED FOR BREACHING SAFE MANAGEMENT MEASURES
A total of 32 people will also be fined S $ 300 each for failing to observe safe handling measures at food and beverage outlets, MSE said.
These gaps involved meeting and sitting in groups of more than five and mingling between tables.
Two diners were also fined for not wearing their masks when talking to each other at an F&B establishment in Orchard, after they had finished their meal and their table had been cleared.
“While the majority of users observe (safe management measures), there is still a minority who continue to violate them,” MSE said.
“The government will continue to intensify compliance controls at Singapore’s food and beverage outlets to ensure that they remain safe spaces for all.
The ministry urged clients to be socially responsible and observe regulations, saying agencies will not hesitate to take enforcement action against both clients and facilities that violate security measures.
READ: 3 more food and beverage outlets ordered to close for violating COVID-19 rules
Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu urged diners on Tuesday to cooperate with F&B operators.
“The number of community cases has remained low, thanks to our collective efforts to adhere to COVID-19 measures,” he said.
“It has not been easy to make the necessary adjustments to reduce transmission risks, but we must remain vigilant as more people return to workplaces.
“By preventing a new wave of infections, we will be able to continue meeting and catching up with our friends and family on this new normal.”
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