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Most of the people in Singapore have been disciplined in the fight against Covid-19 by observing safe distancing measures and adapting to changes amid the new normal.
But a clandestine scene seems to have taken root in some places where safe distancing is ignored and caution is thrown to the wind.
Behind the facades of closed stores in the Golden Mile complex, illegal gatherings of large party groups have allegedly occurred since June.
Shin Min Daily News reported yesterday on a party in which about 30 people crowded into a small bar on the second floor of the complex on Monday.
The Chinese-language newspaper said a 50-year-old woman had organized the party for her boyfriend’s birthday, and attendees were invited by word of mouth.
NO SECURE ENTRANCE
Reportedly, the bar did not implement SafeEntry or temperature tapping, and patrons could freely mix without masks.
Scantily clad women were seen on a makeshift dance floor to loud music while patrons drank alcohol and socialized.
Shin Min quoted a source as saying that several bars and pubs in the Golden Mile Complex have been operating illegally in this manner since June.
“If you come on the weekends, you will see the bars full of people who are completely ignorant of the pandemic,” said the unidentified source.
“When the authorities show up, the operators will just lower the blinds and continue to operate illegally afterward.”
At least eight of those bars were packed with people at the complex on Monday night, Shin Min reported.
Police have raided the Strata Mall and arrested people for allegedly disobeying safe distancing measures.
In August, six men and four women were fined between $ 4,000 and $ 8,000 for violating Covid-19 measures by having an illegal social gathering at a store in Golden Mile Tower.
Last month, 30 women were arrested after police raided the Golden Mile complex and other locations. Eight of them were investigated for breaching safe distancing measures.
Joseph Ong, president of the Singapore Nightlife Business Association (SNBA), told The New Paper that he had heard of illegal parties hosted by roving nightlife operators, but thought they were isolated incidents.
“I didn’t know they were so cheeky in Golden Mile. It seems like the place has become a kind of beehive,” he said.
He urged operators to approach the SNBA to find a solution that helps their businesses rather than disobey the rules and put the community at risk.
“It took us so long to get to phase three, with all the nightlife businesses coming together,” he said.
“It would be a waste if this small group of operators destroyed the hard work done by the more than 2,000 nightly sales points for almost a year.
“Operating illegally and clandestinely is definitely not right and risky for the public,” added Ong, who noted that contact tracing would be difficult if clusters were to develop.
In May, South Korea struggled to deal with a massive outbreak that originated at a nightclub in Itaewon. The group saw more than 200 linked cases and thousands that need to be evaluated.
Emphasizing that steps must be taken to prevent a similar situation from occurring here, Mr. Ong said: “The penalties must be severe for those involved.”
Anyone convicted of violating safe distancing measures can be fined up to $ 10,000 and / or jailed for up to six months. Penalties can be doubled for repeat offenders.
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