On 31 August 2020, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) issued an order requiring the operators of three food establishments to close their premises for failure to comply with the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020.
Details of the closure order are as follows:
Whimsical Bar
#01-13, 2 Science Park Drive, Singapore 118222
Closure Period:
With immediate effect until a food shop licence is obtained.
Create Kitchen
#01-14, 2 Science Park Drive, Singapore 118222
Closure Period: 2 Sep – 11 Sep 2020.
S-Tripes Hotpot
731 Havelock Road, S169650
Closure Period: 2 Sep – 11 Sep 2020.
2 SFA received feedback that Whimsical Bar (#01-13) did not implement safe distancing between tables and was serving alcoholic beverages after 10.30pm.
SFA officers inspected the premises and found that the operator had flouted various Safe Management Measures (SMMs). Tables were spaced less than one metre apart and groups of more than 5 people were allowed to sit together and mingle.
Consumption of alcoholic beverages after 10.30pm was also observed. We also found that Whimsical Bar was operating a food establishment without a valid food shop licence.
[CLOSURE OF FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS FOR FLOUTING SAFE MANAGEMENT MEASURES] On 31 August 2020, SFA issued an order…
Posted by Singapore Food Agency (SFA) on Monday, August 31, 2020
3 The adjacent unit, Create Kitchen (#01-14), which has a licence to operate as a restaurant, violated similar SMMs. In addition to the order to close, both Whimsical Bar and Create Kitchen were fined $1,000 for the offences.
4 SFA also received feedback that S-Tripes Hotpot, which was licensed as a restaurant, was serving alcoholic beverages after 10.30pm. SFA officers inspected the premises and found that the operator had flouted SMMs on multiple occasions.
Staff were not wearing masks or not wearing them properly in spite of reminders. Sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages was observed after 10.30pm, with the beverages transferred into teapots and empty green tea bottles before being served to avoid detection. S-Tripes Hotpot was fined $2,000 for the offences.
5 During Phase 2, sale and consumption of alcohol in all F&B establishments will be prohibited after 10.30pm daily.
This includes consumption at any outdoor refreshment area and/or tables/chairs owned or managed by such establishment.
Each group of customers must also be limited to 5 or fewer persons, with at least one metre spacing between groups. Gatherings or groups involving more than 5 persons in total are not allowed, and there should be no intermingling between groups.
6 Under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) Act 2020, first-time offenders will face a fine of up to S$10,000, imprisonment of up to six months, or both. Subsequent offences may face a fine of up to S$20,000, imprisonment of up to twelve months, or both.
7 Under the Environmental Public Health Act, no person shall operate a food establishment without a valid licence.
Offenders shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $2,000 and, in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding $100 for every day or part thereof during which the offence continues after conviction.
8 Please refer to the Annex for more details on SMMs.
Issued by the Singapore Food Agency
31 August 2020
*Read more at https://go.gov.sg/foodestabsclosure
