Singapore shuts entertainment spots including bars, cinemas in virus fight

Sharon See

Published Tue, Mar 24, 2020 · 09:50 PM

Singapore

SINGAPORE authorities are shutting down all bars, entertainment venues and tuition centres, and cancelling all events among a series of tightened measures to minimise further spread of the novel coronavirus.

This applies to night clubs, discos, cinemas, theatres and karaoke outlets, where the risk of transmission is deemed high due to "sustained close contact over a period of time", Lawrence Wong, National Development Minister and co-chair of a multi-ministry task force set up to deal with the coronavirus, said at a press conference on Tuesday evening.

They will be closed from Thursday, March 26, 11.59pm, till April 30 for now.

Other public venues such as retail malls, museums and attractions where contact is transient may remain open, Mr Wong said, but they have to reduce operating capacity and ensure t…