Nightlife establishments that SLOTXO were allowed to temporarily pivot to food and beverage operations must pass inspections and receive a conditional permit from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) before they can resume operations.

Operators of these establishments will also be required to put in place additional safe management measures on top of existing ones for the F&B sector, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and MTI on Saturday (Jul 31).

All nightlife establishments that pivoted to F&B amid the COVID-19 pandemic had to suspend operations for two weeks from Jul 16 after the emergence of a cluster linked to former KTV lounges and nightclubs.

As of noon on Friday, 250 cases are linked to the cluster at KTV lounges and clubs.

About 50 pivoted nightlife establishments have committed safe management measure breaches since October 2020 and will not be allowed to reopen, the ministries added.

“Establishments must remain closed, including for takeaway operations, until they pass the checks and receive written approval to reopen,” said the media release by the ministries.