Targeted raid at Sleepin

Dear Editor,

I have read of a report in another media of a COVID taskforce raid at the Sleepin Hotel bar on Sunday evening, January 17. Firstly, I welcome enforcement of rules relating to COVID-19; it protects my health.
I was told that the curfew for COVID at public restaurants is 10:30pm not 6:30 PM. Thus, I was shocked to read that a raid occurred at 6:30. If it was to enforce social distancing and mask- wearing, it is welcome. PS: I passed at the seawall around 6:00 on Sunday night. There were hundreds of people close to one another ‘partying’ with many not wearing masks and very close to one another. There was no anti-COVID raid there.
I frequented the Sleepin bar almost daily over the last week, meeting guests and or entertaining friends. I did not notice violations of the COVID rules on social distancing and wearing masks. Everyone I saw had on a mask. Because of the nature of a bar, it is expected that not all the time people would observe social distancing of six feet. Drinks and or snacks have to be served. Everyone had a mask except when sipping drink or eating something.

Sleep in is a hotel. The proprietor is expected to serve drinks and meals to guests. The public is discouraged from patronising indoor public restaurants and bars. Guests have to eat and drink. The Sleepin bar and restaurant is outdoor; outdoor dining has not been ‘outlawed,’ although there are restrictions . It is not enclosed. The tables are spaced out as per requirements of social distancing. The risk of infection is minimised under such conditions.

No doubt the owner of Sleepin must have recognised the serious threat to health posed by COVID. And I am sure the proprietor took the above measures to mitigate the threat to staff and to guests. The hotel must address the needs and demands of guests in order to retain their business, or else they would go somewhere else. As best as I know, no one’s health has been threatened at Sleepin. It is hoped that the hotel was not targeted. Have other hotels been raided? It is the same hospitality business; they must address the demands of guests without posing a threat to public safety

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram

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