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More COVID measures in Little India ahead of Deepavali, 24 F&B outlets punished

Mama Chin (41 Circular Road) allowed intermingling between different groups of customers and failed to ensure safe distancing of at least 1 metre between seated customers. The Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has issued an order requiring the operator to close for 10 days from 15 to 24 October. (PHOTO: URA)
Mama Chin at 41 Circular Road was caught violating safe management measures. It was orderd to close for 10 days from 15 to 24 October. (PHOTO: Urban Redevlopment Authority)

SINGAPORE — Additional COVID-19 measures have been imposed in Little India as more visitors are expected in the run-up to Deepavali next month, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment on Friday (22 October).

These include switching off the popular pedestrian crossing at the junction of Campbell Lane and Serangoon Road, redirecting pedestrian traffic to two other crossings at Sungei Road and Dunlop Street, and ensuring that businesses do not extend their wares onto the pedestrian walkways, in order to prevent crowding.

The pedestrian crossing will be switched off between 6pm and 1am from 29 to 31 October, and 6pm on 3 November till 2am on 4 November.

Some businesses in Little India are extending their operating hours to allow shoppers to spread out their visits and prevent overcrowding. Relevant agencies will step up their enforcement presence in Little India.

Separately, MSE said that 15 F&B outlets have been ordered to close, and another nine fined for breaches of COVID-19 rules. The breaches included failing to ensure customers adhered to the permitted group size, failing to ensure a safe distance of at least a metre between groups of customers, allowing verbal exhortation of goodwill such as singing and toasting, and allowing music to be played within its premises.

The closure orders ranged from 10 to 20 days, while fines of between $1,000 and $2,000 were imposed. Outlets that have been shuttered include Canton Paradise at NEX, KPO along Killiney Road, and Mama Chin at Circular Road while the likes of Concorde Hotel and Shopping Mall and Texas Chicken in Vivocity were fined.

A total of 24 individuals have also been fined for breaching vaccination-differentiated measures.

Between 8 and 17 October, agencies checked more than 1,000 premises and over 3,700 individuals.

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