MOH Investigating COVID-19 Infections Among Vietnamese Social Hostesses

Evident by your sibling’s annoying new home karaoke system, KTV lounges have been closed for what seems like a decade thanks to COVID-19.

KTV lounges are particularly dangerous because they’re indoors, have poor circulation, and it’s where patrons forcefully expel air from their mouths, increasing the risk of spreading respiratory droplets.

Due to the closure, KTV lounges and nightclubs have had to reinvent themselves, turning their spaces into food-and-beverage (F&B) outlets, among other things.

But it seems that the coronavirus still loves these visiting these places.

MOH Investigating COVID-19 Infections Among Vietnamese Social Hostesses

The Ministry of Health (MOH) is conducting an investigation into cases of coronavirus infection among Vietnamese social hostesses who had frequented karaoke lounges and clubs that are now operating as F&B outlets, as well as their social contacts.

The ministry will carry out a special testing operation for employees at three entertainment outlets here, namely:

• Supreme KTV at Far East Shopping Centre
• Empress KTV at Tanglin Shopping Centre
• Club Dolce at the commercial centre of Balestier Point

The testing operation will help “uncover any community infection cases”, it said.

Free COVID-19 Testing For Visitors as Well

The ministry is also offering free COVID-19 testing to members of the public who had visited the above premises between 29 June and 12 July.

Those who have visited other KTV lounges or clubs that are operating as F&B outlets as well as those who have interacted with Vietnamese social hostesses “in any setting” may also get tested for free, the ministry said.

It advised all visitors to the three premises listed above to monitor their health closely and minimise social interactions as far as possible for 14 days from their last date of visit.

Those who develop any COVID-19 symptoms should see their doctor immediately, it added.

MOH explained that it’s offering free tests to visitors and those who had interacted with Vietnamese social hostesses to “pre-emptively mitigate any potential risk of wider, undetected community transmission.”

How to Book an Appointment

Designated testing centres have been set up at several locations across the country. The ones that also test children aged 12 and below are:

• Fullerton Health Testing Centre located at Szechuan Court @ Raffles City Shopping Centre Level 3
• Kingsway Medical Clinic 

Another testing centre at Raffles Hospital allows testing for children aged 7 and above.

Besides these, there are five other testing centres where swabbing for children is not available.

They are:

• Former Da Qiao Primary School, 8 Ang Mo Kio Street 54
• Former Coral Primary School, 20 Pasir Ris Street 51
• Former Bedok North Secondary School, 20 Jln Damai
• Former Bishan Park Secondary School, 2 Sin Ming Walkd
• Former Shuqun Secondary School, 450 Jurong East Street 21

Head here to book an appointment at one of these five centres.

Featured Image: Facebook (Supreme KTV)