The Orange Ballroom to Close for 20 Days for Hosting 3 Wedding Receptions With 275 Guests

There’s a list of things you know you shouldn’t do or partake in, like murdering someone or using your own body to chope a parking lot (yeah, that really happened). But in times of a pandemic, gathering in large groups is also on the list.

Especially at a wedding reception, we all know there’s going to be tons of aunties and uncles, grandmas and grandpas, all of whom could very easily fall ill.

Orange (ha) you glad you’re not being socially irresponsible?

Shut Down for 20 Days

Nevertheless, the Orange Ballroom hosted a wedding reception of nearly 300 people on 30 January 2021.

The venue, located on the third floor of Tanjong Katong Complex in Geylang, has been shut down yesterday and will remain closed till 10 April.

Under the COVID-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations 2020, a couple is allowed to host only one wedding reception with no more than 100 attendees, including themselves.

The Orange Ballroom had also been forced to close last year when it was reported to be a COVID-19 cluster. Oof.

Held Three Receptions At Different Times

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said that its safe-distancing ambassadors had discovered that a couple held two receptions—one at 1:30pm and another at 4:30pm—while conducting a check at the Orange Ballroom.

Further investigations revealed that not two, but three receptions had been held on the same day, hosting a total of 275 people.

Investigations are currently ongoing for potential breaches under the Covid-19 (Temporary Measures) (Control Order) Regulations.

“Agencies take a serious view of any breach in safe management measures by wedding organisers, venue operators and individuals,” SLA said.

“We remind all companies involved in wedding events, as well as couples planning their weddings, to be fully aware of and strictly adhere to the prevailing measures to ensure the health and well-being of the community.”

Such actions could result in fines, suspension of operations, and prosecution for serious cases.

Not the First (…Of Course)

You also probably remember a couple of notable figures who broke such rules last year.

One such incident was Ah Boys to Men actor Maxi Lim, who was investigated for alleged breaches of COVID-19 safe management measures during his wedding.

Several people were spotted performing and playing games onstage without wearing masks or face shields.

This year, actor Terence Cao Guohui has also been charged in court for flouting safe distancing regulations that were put in place during Phase Two of Singapore’s reopening.

He allowed 12 people to come into his house for fellow actor Jeffrey Xu’s birthday party during Singapore’s Phase Two, during which a household was permitted to have a maximum of five visitors.

Just yesterday (22 Mar), the police said that 83 people are being investigated for singing, drinking, and socialising at offices or shophouse units without a valid license.

Feature Image: Google Maps (Rahim Yusof)