Hostel ordered to suspend operations; 5 food and beverage establishments, 16 people fined for violating COVID-19 safety rules

SINGAPORE: A hostel allowing guests to stay for “leisure purposes” was ordered to suspend operations for 30 days, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said on Sunday (October 18).

Five other food and beverage outlets (F&B) have also been fined S $ 1,000 each for violating COVID-19 safe management measures, the agency added in a press release.

In addition, 16 people have been fined for not wearing a mask.

READ: Three food and drink establishments ordered closed for violating COVID-19 safety rules, including a restaurant that served beer in kettles

According to STB research, Hawaii Hostel has allowed more than 260 guests to check-in for leisure purposes since September 17.

Hostels are currently only able to accept guests if their home environment is not available or accessible, or if their residence is not suitable due to working or domestic conditions.

The hostel, located at 171A Bencoolen Street, also made false statements to safe distance ambassadors that its clients were long-term guests rather than guests on leisure reservations, STB said.

In addition, the hostel did not record the purpose of the guests’ stay, as required by the COVID-19 Act (Temporary Measures).

“Since shelters are gated communities where unrelated people are likely to come into close contact with each other in closed spaces and for prolonged periods of time, there is a high risk of virus transmission associated with the physical environment,” STB said.

Hawaii Hostel will suspend operations from October 11 to November 9 and is not allowed to accept new reservations or registrations during this period.

FIVE F&B STORES FINED FOR BREACHING SECURITY RULES

A total of five F&B outlets were also fined S $ 1,000 each from October 8 to October 13 for violating COVID-19 security measures, STB said in the statement.

Bagus Sio Good at Far East Plaza, Chuan Yang Ji Mutton Soup Steamboat on South Bridge Road, The Hot Gathering on Upper Cross Street and Komala’s Restaurant on Serangoon Road failed to guarantee a safe distance of 1 meter between seated customers, the authority said.

READ: Woman who repeatedly violated COVID-19 collection rules fined S $ 4,000

Another restaurant, Beauty in a Pot at The Centrepoint, accepted a reservation of more than five people, STB said. Law enforcement officers had discovered that the restaurant allowed a group of six to sit at the same table.

Between October 6 and October 14, STB said it also issued fines, ranging from S $ 300 to S $ 1,000, to 16 people who did not wear a mask.

STB added that two other establishments were also under investigation for conducting business even though they were not authorized to do so.

One of them, a bar located in the Concorde shopping center, opened on October 9 despite not having a valid grocery store license, STB said.

The bar, 72 Mad Monk, allowed patrons to play pool and drink alcohol after 10:30 p.m. Under COVID-19 regulations, establishments cannot offer games unless they have an amusement center license.

On October 10, two people were also found consuming alcohol in Kris Bollywood at the Concorde Hotel after 10:30 p.m., STB added.

“The establishment is not allowed to operate because it is classified as a public entertainment venue and does not have a valid grocery store license,” the agency said.

First-time offenders could face a fine of up to S $ 10,000 for violating COVID-19 measures.

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