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SINGAPORE – People line up to buy bubble tea with safe distance markers at a shopping mall. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah / Getty Images)
SINGAPORE – Boba’s joy for bubble tea lovers will have to wait, as bubble tea shops will not be allowed to resume business when selected breaker measures are eased on May 12.
At a virtual media conference on Saturday (May 2), the coronavirus multi-ministries task force announced that certain breaker measures will be facilitated, including for some food and beverage (F&B) stores to restart operations.
When the circuit breaker measures were first tightened on April 21, long lines formed at bubble tea shops across the island as customers rushed to get their fix on the popular drink before the stores they had to cease operations at 11:59 pm that day.
In a statement issued after the task force announcement, Enterprise Singapore (ESG) clarified that independent stores, excluding those in street vendor centers, food courts, and coffee shops, that primarily sell beverages should remain closed during the period of the current circuit. Examples of stores that primarily sell beverages include those that offer bubble tea, fruit juice, smoothies, soy, coffee and tea, and alcoholic beverages such as spirits, wine, and beer.
Online sales of these products are permitted, provided they are made from the authorized central kitchen of an F&B store.
Food and beverage outlets, including food vending machines, in parks must be closed. However, street vendor centers located in parks are exempt.
F&B establishments that can resume operations on May 12 include those that sell packaged and loose snacks, such as nuts, chips, popcorn, bak kwa, and cheese. Dessert shops, such as those offering red or green bean soup, herb jelly, ice cream, yogurt, cakes, muffins, waffles, chocolate, cookies, sweet cakes, and donuts, can also resume operations.
All F&B establishments that are allowed to continue operations can only do so to carry and / or deliver during the circuit breaker period. Eating in the restaurant is still prohibited.
List of F&B establishments affected by breaker measures. (Table: Enterprise Singapore)
Reinforced application
Open F&B locations must implement contact tracking using the SafeEntry app by May 12. This is to facilitate efficient collection of visitor information so that contact tracking can be done in a timely manner, ESG said.
ESG added that government agencies will increase the application of these safe distancing measures. Under COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) passed in Parliament on April 7, first-time offenders will face a fine of up to $ 10,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both. Subsequent offenses may face a fine of up to $ 20,000, imprisonment of up to 12 months, or both.
Companies that do not implement or comply with government safe distancing warnings may also not be eligible for grants, loans, tax refunds, and other government assistance.
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