Eatery Staff To Be Subject To More Frequent Testing

The government on Friday announced it is tightening testing arrangements for staff who work at restaurants under the Type B mode of operation, saying those who're unvaccinated need to undergo testing every seven days, instead of every two weeks.

Restaurants that operate under this category are currently allowed to stay open until 10pm and run at half capacity.

A spokesman from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said from August 19, these workers will be subject to more frequent testing in view of the risks posed by mutant strains of the coronavirus.

Workers who are fully inoculated, however, will be exempt from the requirement.

Officials stressed the change in rules are necessary to ward off the spread of the virus, as customers do not wear masks when they're dining.

The department also called on restaurant workers to get vaccinated as soon as possible.