We’ve got some sad news, party people. With rising community cases, a pilot for the reopening of certain nightlife businesses – karaoke lounges and nightclubs – will be put on hold.
The programme was supposed to start this year, in January, where selected businesses and venues would have been allowed to open their doors once more – with strict safe distancing measures in place, of course.
But amid rising numbers in recent times, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Trade and Industry announced that plans will be deferred indefinitely.
In a media release, the ministries said that: “To prevent the risk of further community transmission and formation of clusters in high-risk settings such as nightclubs and karaoke outlets, which entail people coming into close contact for prolonged periods of time and in enclosed spaces, the pilots have been deferred until further notice.”
While those itching to hit the dance floor, or belt out some tunes will have to put their plans on hold, the pilot for bars and pubs, will continue for now. The three reopened bars – Bar Kiharu at Orchard Plaza, Bell Bar at Cuppage Plaza, and Skinny’s Lounge at Boat Quay – can still operate as the ministries continue to monitor the ongoing situation.