SINGAPORE — The management of Seoul Garden restaurant has assured customers that it has “taken every effort to observe and operationalise the safe dining and safe distancing measures” set by the authorities for food-and-beverage establishments.

This was its response to TODAY’s queries on Friday (Nov 27) after a man diagnosed with Covid-19 — the first community infection in more than two weeks — was said to have had dinner at the Seoul Garden outlet in Tampines Mall with 12 family members on Nov 21.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said that the family occupied three tables at the Seoul Garden outlet and there was mingling between the groups.

The infected man, a 32-year-old Singaporean, developed a fever and sore throat on the night of Nov 23 and the Covid-19 test came back positive on Nov 25. His case is not linked to any known cases as yet.

Seoul Garden's management said that it found out through media reports that a confirmed case had dined at its Tampines Mall outlet.

Mr Garry Lam, the general manager of Seoul Garden Group, asserted that the restaurant chain allows bookings or seatings for up to five people a table and does not allow diners to mingle between tables.

The restaurant’s staff members are also trained to remind customers to stay within their table and not intermingle with other diners, he added.

Mr Lam said that Seoul Garden Group was contacted by MOH on Nov 25, requesting information as part of contact tracing for a Covid-19-related case.

“We subsequently learnt from the media publications on Nov 26 of a confirmed case that dined in at Seoul Garden Tampines Mall outlet on Nov 21,” he added.

The Tampines Mall outlet was closed on Friday for cleaning and disinfecting by a specialised professional cleaning crew, guided by the National Environment Agency.

“Every effort has been made to assure our customers that the restaurant is safe for dining and to offer them peace of mind, when we reopen the outlet tomorrow,” Mr Lam said.

“As an infected person may remain asymptomatic, it is important that we continue to work with the authorities and government agencies in our national effort to curb the spread of Covid-19.”