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SINGAPORE – A total of 23 food and beverage outlets were captured for failing to comply with Covid-19 safe management measures during intensified checks by government agencies over the weekend.
Many of these infractions involved groups of more than five people sitting together or mingling between tables, in addition to serving and consuming alcohol after 10.30 p.m., the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE) said in a statement on Tuesday (15 of September).
Over the weekend, a total of 149 food and beverage establishments in known hot spots were inspected. Police officers also participated in the checks.
MSE said the agencies are reviewing the violations and that “appropriate enforcement actions will be taken, including the temporary closure of outlets and the issuance of fines.”
This comes after Education Minister Lawrence Wong, co-chair of the multi-ministries Covid-19 task force, said last Wednesday that enforcement agencies will intensify controls on food and beverage outlets that disobey the laws. Covid-19 rules.
He said that while most people are complying with these measures, “there are still some infractions that we detect on a daily basis and that usually happen in popular nightspots.”
Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu said in a Facebook post on Tuesday that Covid-19 remains a serious threat and that violating safe management measures is a serious crime.
“I urge F&B operators and customers to observe the measures for our collective security,” Ms Fu said.
Examples of violations include an F&B establishment in Chinatown, which accepted a reservation of 10 customers and seated them at two tables in a private dining room. When asked if the customers at the two tables knew each other, the store staff said no.
Another F&B outlet on Orchard Road was found to have served alcoholic beverages in metal kettles after 11 p.m. to 13 customers. Investigations found that the kettles contained beer and the beer bottles sold by the restaurant were hidden in the bottom of the refrigerator.
Also on Orchard Road, six people were caught drinking at an F&B establishment around midnight. Law enforcement officers had overheard loud conversations at the closed facility. They warned the F&B operator to open the door, but found no signs of drinks on the table.
Later, closed-circuit television footage showed customers and the owner removing glasses and hiding the alcohol bottle just before opening the door to allow law enforcement officers to enter.
Last Wednesday, Wong announced that food and drink establishments and diners who violate safe management measures will now be penalized for even the first violation, instead of receiving warnings when they do so for the first time.
The measure went into effect with immediate effect, the Health Ministry said in a statement the same day, as there has been enough time for food and beverage outlets and their customers to conform to the rules.
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