KTV lounges have gotten a bad rap lately, thanks to latest outbreak of COVID-19 infections in the community.
Some of those who visited these lounges recently, which are now operating as food and beverage establishments, have tested positive for the coronavirus, as have hostesses who frequented the outlets.
The outbreak has sparked cries from the public for tighter rules and enforcement in these establishments, due to the nature of the interactions which often take place there.
Some KTV outlets are not too pleased at having their establishments lumped into this category, however.
Family-Friendly KTV Outlets Such As Teo Heng Petition to Separate from Those KTV outlets with Hostesses
In fact, a group of family-friendly KTV businesses have started a petition to separate themselves from nightclubs and KTV with hostesses.
Their petition, titled “Separate family karaoke from nightclubs and KTV[s] with hostess[es] and allow us to operate safely”, has garnered 2,047 signatures, a few hundred off from their target of 2,500.
The petition has been signed off by 9 KTV outlets, namely:
- 7th Heaven KTV & Café
- Sing My Song Family Karaoke
- K Voice Family Karaoke
- Teo Heng KTV
- 8 Degree Lounge
- Major 99
- HaveFun KTV
- K Star
- Cash Studio
The group noted that when the government announced last month their plans to open up and lift more restrictions, KTV businesses were encouraged.
After all, it’s been nearly a year and a half since they were ordered to shutter to curb the spread of COVID-19.
“We have been waiting very patiently all these while, even though we have been suffering huge losses every month with no end in sight,” the petition said.
However, the recent growing KTV cluster involving KTV lounges with social hostesses has “trashed our hopes” of reopening, the petition said.
“There is a need to separate us from nightclubs and KTVs with hostess[es]. We are not the same. We do not have hostess[es]; we are not primarily night-time businesses or adult only venues. Our clientele are mainly youth and families, and daytime hours form the bulk of our operating hours.”
“Our layout is also different, consisting of mainly small rooms whose occupants never inter-mingle. This layout is highly compatible with safe distancing”, it added.
“Lumping us together in the overly broad nightlife category is not justifiable.”
The group urged the government to create a new Family Karaoke category, which would allow these outlets to resume business sooner.
In addition, they also suggested several safety measures for when they finally reopen, such as limiting sessions to fully vaccinated residents or those who have undergone pre-event testing.
“We, the Family Karaoke, have tried all ways to keep our business afloat. F&B, work and study rooms, private cinema, gaming, we have tried them all but it’s barely enough to pay rent and keep the lights on,” it said.
“It would be painful and ruinous to have to close up shop and tear down our karaoke and the chance of this happening is high if we are still not allowed to prove that we can operate safely. We are merely trying to preserve our business and save jobs.”
Featured Image: Change.org
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