More food and beverage outlets in Singapore have been ordered to temporarily close for breaching Vaccination Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS), the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) said in a release on Aug. 27, 2021.

This was following stepped-up enforcement over the past week where agencies checked nearly 700 premises and over 2,500 individuals for adherence to VDS.

A total of 10 establishments have been ordered to close for breaches of Covid-19 regulations, while one F&B outlet and 10 individuals were fined for breaching safe management measures (SMMs).

Details of three premises ordered to close due to VDS breaches

Three premises were ordered to close as they had failed to check the vaccination status of customers before granting them entry, and allowed individuals without a cleared status to dine in.

1. No Name Bar (76 Prinsep Street #02-01) delayed the entry of enforcement officers into its premises, failed to ensure customers within the premises adhered to the permitted group size, failed to check the vaccination status of customers before granting them entry and did not implement SafeEntry for customers.

For the multiple breaches, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from Aug. 26 to Sep. 4 (both dates inclusive).

2. Authentic Mun Chee Kee King of Pig’s Organ Soup (207 Jalan Besar Road) failed to ensure that individuals without a cleared status did not enter or remain within their premises. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from Aug. 23 to Sep. 1 (both dates inclusive).

3. Bigg Boss (40 Clive Street) failed to ensure that individuals without a cleared status did not enter or remain within their premises. STB has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from Aug. 26 to Sep. 4 (both dates inclusive).

Details of seven premises ordered to close due to SMM breaches

Seven other premises were ordered to close for SMM breaches, such as playing music in the premises, failing to minimise interaction between staff and customers, allowing the sale and consumption of alcohol after 10:30pm, and failing to ensure a safe distance of at least 1m between groups of customers.

1. Bar-beque (46 Prinsep Street #02-01) failed to ensure customers within the premises adhere to the permitted group size. URA has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from Aug. 26 to Sep. 4 (both dates inclusive).

2. Haru (3 Magazine Road #01-01) delayed the entry of enforcement officers into its premises and provided false information that there were no customers in its premises. As it is a repeat offender, URA has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 30 days from Aug. 27 to Sep. 25 (both dates inclusive).

3. Beer Belly Lok Lok Bar (11, Irving Place #03-01, Tai Seng Point, Singapore 369551) was found to have allowed the sale or consumption of alcohol after 10:30pm and played music. The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 20 days from Aug. 25 to Sep. 13 (both dates inclusive).

4. Chips Café and Bar (#01-02, 21 Cuscaden Road, Ming Arcade) failed to ensure safe distancing of at least 1m between seated customers. As the establishment is a repeat offender, STB has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 20 days from Aug. 21 to Sep. 9 (both dates inclusive).

5. Glassy Junction Pub & Restaurant (37 Sam Leong Road) failed to minimise interaction between staff and customers, and was found playing music in the premises. As the establishment is a repeat offender, STB has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 30 days from Aug. 21 to Sep. 19 (both dates inclusive).

6. Lotus@Norris (20 Norris Road) failed to ensure group gatherings were within the permitted group size. It also did not ensure SafeEntry and temperature checks for individuals entering the premises, prior to the lifting of the temperature screening requirement. STB has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from Aug. 22 to 31 (both dates inclusive).

7. Thalappakatti Restaurant (195 Kitchener Road) failed to minimise physical interaction between seated customers. STB has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from Aug. 27 August to Sep. 5 (both dates inclusive).

Details of composition fines issued

Another premise and 10 individuals were issued composition fines for SMM breaches, such as gathering in groups larger than the permitted group size while dining at F&B outlets, failure to ensure a safe distance of at least 1 metre between seated customers, and failing to wear a mask when not eating or drinking.

TCC (360 Orchard Road, #01-01, International Building) was fined S$2,000 for failing to ensure at least 1m safe distancing between seated customers. This is their second offence.

Enforcement checks will continue to be stepped up to guard against community transmission in higher risk settings, such as F&B premises, even as Singapore continues to reopen gradually.

Top photos via STB