NEWS
SINGAPORE SHUTS BARS WHILE HONG KONG PLANS TO BAN ON-TRADE ALCOHOL SALE
By Siulan Law Mathews DipWSET
25-3-2020
Credit: David Mathews
Singapore’s Ministry of Health has ordered the closure of entertainment venues like bars, nightclubs, discos, cinemas, theatres and karaoke outlets effective from yesterday until 30 April.
The order also applies to conferences, exhibitions, festivals, concerts, sporting events and trade fairs.
“All events and mass gatherings...must be deferred or cancelled, regardless of size," the Health Ministry said as the number of cases in Singapore rose by 49 to reach 558, including two deaths.
The ban comes as the government imposed a limit on gatherings outside of workplaces and schools to a maximum of 10 people.
It said the measures will be in place until April 30 but may be extended if the situation does not improve.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government is planning to ban the sale of alcohol in restaurants and bars.
The government said it would amend the law to temporarily suspend the alcohol licenses issued to restaurants and bars in the city, but no specific date of its implementation has been announced yet.
Hong Kong is currently facing a second wave of Covid-19 spread mostly from residents returning from western countries, the number of confirmed cases spiking from 167 to 356 in just five days.
A number of new cases were linked with restaurants and bars in the Lan Kwai Fong area, the famous nightlife hub in Central district of Hong Kong.
The city’s hospitality sector has voiced opposition to the alcohol ban, but some Hong Kong medical experts even suggested the government to shut restaurants and bars to enforce social distancing.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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