Closely monitor karaoke establishments during the epidemic season

Secretly open the door to welcome guests

Although social distancing was in effect according to Directive 16, at around 11:30 p.m. on August 25, the Quynh Luu District Police Working Group received a report from the public that a group of young people were gathering.sing at Anh and Em Pro karaoke bar (in hamlet 3, Quynh Yen commune).

The Quynh Luu District Police Task Force quickly arrived at the scene to investigate and handle the situation. However, when the authorities arrived to investigate, the karaoke establishment owner quickly turned off the lights, closed the door, and took the group of young men into the bedroom to hide in order to deal with the authorities.

Group of young people gatheredThe singers at Anh and Em Pro karaoke bar were taken to the commune police headquarters to give their statements. Photo: Thanh Toan

Using professional measures, the Quynh Luu District Police Working Group asked the karaoke establishment owner to open the bedroom for inspection and discovered 6 young men hiding inside along with 3 motorbikes belonging to the subjects.

On August 28, 2021, Mr. Nguyen Van Thuong - Vice Chairman of Quynh Luu People's Committee signed a decision to fine Mr. Ho Huu T. (born in 1979), residing in Hamlet 4, Quynh Luong Commune, owner of Anh and Em Pro karaoke bar, 20 million VND for not temporarily suspending business activities to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic as prescribed.

In addition, the Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Luu district also signed a decision to fine 7 people, including 1 manager and 6 customers at Anh and Em Pro karaoke bar. Each person was fined 15 million VND for not implementing the decision to apply measures to limit mass gatherings.

At the time of inspection, the karaoke bar in Truong Thi ward had 13 customers singing. Photo: Quang An

Previously, on the afternoon of August 14, 2021, the authorities of Truong Thi Ward (Vinh City) said that the locality had drawn up a record of fines for the karaoke bar owner and the guests who sang at this bar for not complying with regulations on epidemic prevention. Specifically, when a member of the Covid-19 community team of block 15, Truong Thi Ward, while passing by karaoke bar No. 82, Phan Dang Luu Street, heard loud sounds coming from the bar's singing room, they reported it to the local authorities.

Through a surprise inspection, the working group caught this karaoke bar opening its doors to welcome guests to sing directly at the bar, even though this is a service that Vinh City is banning. At the time of the inspection, there were 13 guests in the bar drinking beer, singing, not maintaining distance, seriously violating regulations on epidemic prevention, the guests were mainly from Ha Tinh province. Truong Thi Ward has drawn up a record of fines for the karaoke bar owner and the guests singing at the bar.

Similarly, on the morning of July 21, 2021, the People's Committee of Nghi Loc district issued a decision to administratively sanction Ms. TTH (born in 1969), residing in Nghi An commune, Vinh city, for violating epidemic prevention measures.

Penalty decision of Nghi Loc District People's Committee. Photo: Nhat Tuan

Previously, at 11:20 p.m. on July 14, 2021, the working group of Nghi Loc District Police coordinated with Nghi Phong Commune Police to inspect the Sinh Vien Karaoke bar in Hamlet 1, Nghi Phong Commune, Nghi Loc District, managed by Ms. TTH. At the time of the inspection, the working group discovered that in room 103, there were 5 people (including 3 men and 2 women) singing karaoke. Although it had received a notice of temporary suspension of operations to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic, the Sinh Vien Karaoke bar was still open for customers to sing late at night.

While the entire political system is struggling to fight the Covid-19 epidemic, the violations of regulations on suspending non-essential business activities and non-compliance with the 5K by karaoke establishments are highly condemnable and need to be strictly handled.

Increased monitoring

Opening karaoke establishments to welcome guests during the epidemic season poses many risks of spreading the disease in the community. In fact, in Nghe An, there was a case of a karaoke bar owner who had been operating illegally contracting Covid-19, infecting many female employees.

Like the case of Ms. TTH - Owner of a karaoke bar, who was fined 15 million VND by Nghi Loc district authorities for not implementing the decision to apply measures to limit mass gatherings or temporarily suspend business operations.

It is known that the karaoke bar owned by Ms. H. has repeatedly disobeyed Covid-19 prevention regulations and secretly operated during the epidemic season. Ms. H. often went to Quang Trung market to buy food. On August 15, 2021, she had symptoms of fatigue and fever, so she went to the hospital for testing and the result was positive. After tracing all F1, in addition to the 4 employees of the karaoke bar, Ms. H.'s biological mother and a friend in Nghi Truong commune (Nghi Loc) also tested positive for Covid-19.

Truong Thi Ward has drawn up a record of the karaoke bar violating epidemic prevention regulations. Photo: Quang An

According to statistics from the Department of Culture and Sports, there are currently nearly 500 karaoke service establishments in the province (nearly 100 establishments in Vinh City alone). In addition to the number of establishments that comply with epidemic prevention regulations, there are still some owners who violate them.

According to the authorities, the current period is a very important time in preventing the spread of Covid-19 in the community. If any service business establishment is found to be deliberately violating the regulations on disease prevention, the authorities will resolutely record and strictly handle it to educate and deter in order to resolutely prevent the disease.

At Point c, Clause 3, Article 12 of Decree No. 117/2020/ND-CP dated September 28, 2020 of the Government stipulating administrative sanctions in the health sector, the act of "not implementing the decision to apply measures to limit mass gatherings or temporarily suspend business and service activities in public places" is subject to: A fine of VND 10,000,000 to VND 20,000,000

According to the provisions at Point 1.3, Section 1 of Official Dispatch 45/TANDTC-PC dated March 30, 2020 of the Council of Judges of the Supreme People's Court on the trial of crimes related to the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic; Article 295 of the Penal Code 2015 (amended and supplemented in 2017):

Business owners and managers of service business establishments (such as bars, dance clubs, karaoke bars, massage services, beauty salons, etc.) who conduct business activities when there is a decision to temporarily suspend business activities to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic, causing damage of VND 100,000,000 or more due to costs of disease prevention and control, will be handled according to Article 295 of the Penal Code, with a prison sentence of up to 12 years and may also be fined up to VND 50,000,000, banned from holding positions, practicing a profession or doing certain jobs from 01 year to 05 years.

In addition to organizing business owners to sign a commitment to strictly comply with legal regulations on Covid-19 prevention and control; strengthening inspection and strictly handling violations. Localities need to effectively promote community monitoring teams, mobilize the masses to raise the spirit of self-awareness to detect and denounce violations.