Singapore
By Jalelah Abu Baker 16 Jul 2021 05:45PM (Updated: 16 Jul 2021 05:59PM )
SINGAPORE: All nightlife establishments that had pivoted to operating as food and beverage outlets will be suspended for two weeks from Friday (Jul 16) after a rise in COVID-19 cases, many of them linked to a growing KTV cluster.
The suspension affects more than 400 such businesses, said the Ministry of Health (MOH), adding that they will be individually notified about the decision.
“During this period, we will test all the staff of these establishments. We will also inspect the safe management measures protocols in these establishments, and ensure these are properly implemented before they are allowed to resume F&B operations,” said the ministry.
The KTV COVID-19 cluster, which was first reported on Jul 12, has 120 cases linked to it as of Friday. This is up from 88 infections on Thursday.
Nightlife establishments have not been allowed to operate since October last year, MOH noted. But they were given the green light to switch to operating as F&B venues.
“Regrettably, several errant establishments have abused the system by operating clandestine and illegal activities. Three such F&B establishments have since had their licences to serve food revoked by the Singapore Food Agency,” said the ministry.
"We will continue to take strict enforcement actions against all F&B operators who breach the safe management measures."
"RINGFENCING" CASES
To mitigate the risk of wider undetected community transmission, authorities will "aggressively ringfence" cases emerging around the KTV cluster, through the use of SafeEntry data, said the Health Ministry.
People who were identified to have visited hotspots at the same time as a COVID-19 case will receive "health risk warning" by SMS. They will be required to get swabbed at a designated testing centre and self-isolate until they receive a negative test from their first polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
“As such individuals who test negative could still be incubating the virus, they should still limit their interactions with others as an added precaution for 14 days from their last exposure and only undertake essential activities during this period,” MOH said.
They will also be issued self-test kits and are required to administer the Antigen Rapid Test (ART) on the 7th day from the last exposure to confirm that they are not infected.
Around the 14th day from their date of last known exposure, they will be required to undergo another PCR test at a designated testing centre.
“If these individuals should develop any acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms, such as cough, runny nose, or fever, they should see their doctor immediately,” MOH said.
HEALTH RISK ALERT
Another category of SMS - "health risk alert" - will be sent to people who visited
"Unlike 'health risk warning', these individuals are not subject to actions required by the law. However, they should monitor their health and limit their interactions with others for 14 days from their last exposure as an added precaution," said MOH.
The ministry urged people who recently visited such nightlife establishments or who had interacted with social hostesses in any settings between Jun 29 and Jul 15 to step forward for a free swab test.
They may also go to a private clinic and pay for tests, MOH added.
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Source: CNA/ja(gs)
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All nightlife businesses that pivoted to F&B to be suspended for 2 weeks as KTV COVID-19 cluster grows
Club M at 114 Middle Road. (Photo: Gaya Chandramohan)By Jalelah Abu Baker 16 Jul 2021 05:45PM (Updated: 16 Jul 2021 05:59PM )
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SINGAPORE: All nightlife establishments that had pivoted to operating as food and beverage outlets will be suspended for two weeks from Friday (Jul 16) after a rise in COVID-19 cases, many of them linked to a growing KTV cluster.
The suspension affects more than 400 such businesses, said the Ministry of Health (MOH), adding that they will be individually notified about the decision.
“During this period, we will test all the staff of these establishments. We will also inspect the safe management measures protocols in these establishments, and ensure these are properly implemented before they are allowed to resume F&B operations,” said the ministry.
The KTV COVID-19 cluster, which was first reported on Jul 12, has 120 cases linked to it as of Friday. This is up from 88 infections on Thursday.
READ: First reported COVID-19 case of KTV cluster entered Singapore via familial ties lane: ICA, MOM
Nightlife establishments have not been allowed to operate since October last year, MOH noted. But they were given the green light to switch to operating as F&B venues.
“Regrettably, several errant establishments have abused the system by operating clandestine and illegal activities. Three such F&B establishments have since had their licences to serve food revoked by the Singapore Food Agency,” said the ministry.
"We will continue to take strict enforcement actions against all F&B operators who breach the safe management measures."
READ: F&B licences of 3 former nightlife venues revoked over COVID-19 breaches
"RINGFENCING" CASES
To mitigate the risk of wider undetected community transmission, authorities will "aggressively ringfence" cases emerging around the KTV cluster, through the use of SafeEntry data, said the Health Ministry.
People who were identified to have visited hotspots at the same time as a COVID-19 case will receive "health risk warning" by SMS. They will be required to get swabbed at a designated testing centre and self-isolate until they receive a negative test from their first polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test.
“As such individuals who test negative could still be incubating the virus, they should still limit their interactions with others as an added precaution for 14 days from their last exposure and only undertake essential activities during this period,” MOH said.
They will also be issued self-test kits and are required to administer the Antigen Rapid Test (ART) on the 7th day from the last exposure to confirm that they are not infected.
Around the 14th day from their date of last known exposure, they will be required to undergo another PCR test at a designated testing centre.
“If these individuals should develop any acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms, such as cough, runny nose, or fever, they should see their doctor immediately,” MOH said.
HEALTH RISK ALERT
Another category of SMS - "health risk alert" - will be sent to people who visited
"Unlike 'health risk warning', these individuals are not subject to actions required by the law. However, they should monitor their health and limit their interactions with others for 14 days from their last exposure as an added precaution," said MOH.
The ministry urged people who recently visited such nightlife establishments or who had interacted with social hostesses in any settings between Jun 29 and Jul 15 to step forward for a free swab test.
They may also go to a private clinic and pay for tests, MOH added.
BOOKMARK THIS: Our comprehensive coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic and its developments
Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
Source: CNA/ja(gs)
Continue reading...