SINGAPORE - Those hankering for a night out at karaoke outlets and nightclubs will have to wait, as pilot plans to allow for a limited number of nightlife establishments to open have been paused.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on Tuesday (Jan 19) that to prevent the formation of Covid-19 clusters in high-risk settings, and to minimise risk of further community transmission, plans to reopen nightclubs and karaoke outlets specifically will be deferred until further notice.
Three bars and pubs under a similar pilot will be allowed to continue to operate for now.
SINGAPORE (THE NEW PAPER) - Most 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 an underground scene appears to have taken root in some places where safe distancing is ignored and caution is cast to the wind.
Behind shuttered shop fronts in Golden Mile Complex, illegal gatherings of large groups partying have allegedly been going on since June.
Shin Min Daily News on Wednesday (Dec 15) reported on a party where about 30 people were crammed into a small bar on the second storey of the complex on Monday.
December 16, 2020
One of the illegal gatherings was a party of about 30 people crammed into a small bar in Golden Mile Complex. Customers were allowed to mingle freely without masks.
Shin Min Daily News
Most 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 an underground scene appears to have taken root in some places where safe distancing is ignored and caution is cast to the wind.
Behind shuttered shopfronts in Golden Mile Complex, illegal gatherings of large groups partying have allegedly been going on since June.
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Singapore While the rest of the country is still looking forward to being able to gather in groups of eight when Singapore enters Phase 3 of reopening on Dec 28, some people have allegedly been partying away for the past six months at Golden Mile Complex.
In the latest of these parties, which was held on Monday (Dec 14), around 30 people reportedly met in a small bar on the second floor of the complex, according to Shin Min Daily News.
The party was said to have been held by a 50-year-old woman for the birthday of her boyfriend and people were invited by word of mouth.
Scantily clad women were seen on a makeshift dance floor with loud music while patrons drank alcohol and socialised.
Shin Min cited a source who said that several bars and pubs in Golden Mile Complex have been operating illegally in such a manner since June. If you come on weekends, you ll see the bars here filled with people completely ignoring the pandemic, said the unnamed source. When the authorities show up, the operators will just pull down the shutters and continue operating illegally afterwards.
At least eight such bars were packed with people in the complex on Monday night, Shin Min reported.