Seoul Garden in Tampines Mall closed for disinfection after visit by customer later found to have Covid-19 - The Straits Times

SINGAPORE - The Seoul Garden outlet in Tampines Mall, which was visited by Singapore's latest Covid-19 case in the community, has been closed until further notice.

When The Straits Times visited the restaurant at about 10.50am on Friday (Nov 27), a Seoul Garden employee was putting up a notice that read: "We are closed. Sorry for the inconvenience caused."

The worker told ST it will be closed until further notice, as the restaurant was preparing for disinfection. It was last open on Thursday.

ST understands that it was waiting for an external company to disinfect the premises, and that an officer from the National Environment agency had spoken to the restaurant's staff.

Around noon, two staff from professional cleaning firm Clean Solutions arrived at the outlet, carrying a high pressure jet cleaner and containers of cleaning solutions.

After decking themselves in full protective gear, masks and goggles, they disinfected the food counters, windows, tables and pillars in the restaurant with the high pressure jet cleaner. They also wiped down the cashier's counter, and items such as credit card terminals. The two Clean Solutions staff left the outlet after about an hour.

"After disinfection, we will wash the crockery again, wipe the tables, sweep and mop," said the restaurant's manager.

Some customers arrived just before lunch at Seoul Garden, but they walked off after seeing the notice.

On Thursday night, the Health Ministry (MOH) said that a Singaporean, who works as a service engineer, had dinner with 12 family members at Seoul Garden last Saturday before he developed a fever and sore throat on Monday. That was when he was tested for Covid-19.

The Master Systems Marine employee's job entails going on board vessels docked at Marina South Pier and West Coast Pier for servicing and maintenance of ships' navigational systems.

He became Singapore's first locally transmitted Covid-19 case in 16 days.