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SINGAPORE – Food and beverage establishments and diners who violate safe management measures will now be penalized for even the first offense, rather than receiving warnings when they first do so, the Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on Wednesday ( September 9).
This measure will take effect immediately, the Health Ministry said in a statement, given the risks associated with meetings at those locations.
Establishments have also been given enough time to adapt to the new measures.
During a press conference of the multi-ministry working group, Education Minister Lawrence Wong said that law enforcement agencies will also step up controls.
“Most of the people are complying with these measures, but there are still some infractions that we detect literally daily, and they usually happen in the most popular nightspots.
“You will see people drinking after 10:30 pm, finding all kinds of ways to disguise their alcohol … You will see people who are not wearing masks, you will see gatherings of more than five, or perhaps people at various tables intermingled,” he said. Mr. Wong.
This creates unnecessary risks for diners and is also unfair to most operators who are complying with the rules, he added.
Establishments that violate the rules will be fined or closed, depending on the severity of the violation.
For example, if multiple breaches of safe management measures are found anywhere, authorities will demand the closure of the facilities and will also present the case to the Attorney General’s office for possible prosecution, the Health Ministry said.
Since the start of phase two of Singapore’s reopening, about 20 food and beverage outlets have been suspended, the Health Ministry added.
This includes a bar and two restaurants that were fined and suspended by the Singapore Food Agency last week.
Enterprise Singapore also fined five establishments for failing to guarantee a minimum distance of 1 meter between groups of diners on Sunday.
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