Bad news, bubble tea fans.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) has updated the list of essential food and beverage outlets after the Multi-Ministry Taskforce press conference on Apr. 21.
A number of food manufacturers and food outlets, mostly snack and dessert-based, will no longer be considered essential services.
Food manufacturing is considered essential, except for:
- Manufacture of chocolate and chocolate products
- Manufacture of chips, crackers and other titbits
- Manufacture of ice-cream
- Manufacture of cocoa and chocolate powder from beans
- Manufacture of non-chocolate confectionery
- Manufacture of cakes and confectionery
Food and beverage (F&B) outlets are considered essential, except for:
- Predominantly beverage outlets
- Predominantly packaged snack outlets
- Confectionery and dessert stores
- All F&B outlets in parks
While not explicitly stated, "predominantly beverage outlets" should refer to bubble tea stores, as they sell predominantly... beverages.
The only exception is Pulau Ubin.
You can check the list here. The measures will kick in at 23:59hrs, Apr. 21. Said MTI:
"For example, within the F&B sector, standalone outlets (excluding those in hawker centres, food courts and coffeeshops) that sell only beverages, packaged snacks, confectioneries or desserts will be required to close their outlets. All other F&B outlets that sell meals can continue to remain open for takeaway and delivery services only.
Hairdressing and barber services will be required to close their outlets.
The list of activities that will be allowed to continue to operate will be updated at https://covid.gobusiness.gov.sg/essentialservices
Earlier during the press conference, National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said that the list of essential F&B outlets would be tightened.
This is intended to help fight the spread of Covid-19.
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Top image by Frank Zhang via Unsplash.