SUSPENDED PREMISES IN MANDARIN ORCHARD HOTEL TO BE LIFTED TODAY AFTER MEETING REQUIRED STANDARDS

            The National Environment Agency (NEA) will be lifting the suspension on the banquet kitchen serving the Grand Ballroom at Mandarin Orchard Hotel at 333 Orchard Road as it is satisfied that the measures required to rectify the lapses detected have been implemented, and operations can resume together with the reopening of the Grand Ballroom. This comes after the conclusion of joint investigations by the Ministry of Health (MOH), NEA and Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) into a norovirus outbreak that happened between 1 to 3 December 2018, traced to five separate events held at the Grand Ballroom at Mandarin Orchard Hotel. To protect consumers from public health risks, NEA had suspended the banquet kitchen serving the Grand Ballroom for a total of 55 days from 5 December 2018 to 28 January 2019. The hotel was also instructed to conduct thorough cleaning and disinfection of the Grand Ballroom, which has remained closed since 5 December 2019.
 
Causes of Outbreak 
 
2         The outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis involved 333 cases who reported gastroenteritis symptoms after attending events held at the Grand Ballroom at Mandarin Orchard Hotel from 1 to 3 December 2018. 14 of the cases were hospitalised and have since been discharged. 
 
3          There was strong evidence of severe contamination of the Grand Ballroom with norovirus from poor environmental and personal hygiene practices, including improper cleaning of vomitus from an incident in the Grand Ballroom prior to 1 Dec 18. Norovirus was detected from the stool samples collected from 26 affected cases, three food handlers and 51 service staff, including banquet servers who reportedly continued working while they were ill. Environmental swabs collected from the Grand Ballroom also detected norovirus from wall panel, carpet, table tops, chairs, unused table cloths, cutlery, and drinking glasses from the Grand Ballroom.
 
Measures Taken by Mandarin Orchard Hotel 
 
4           During the suspension period, the licensee had complied with the following measures stipulated by NEA, such as disposing all ready-to-eat food, thawed food and perishable food items; and cleaning and sanitising the premises.
 
  
5            The licensee had submitted their plans on enhanced food safety and cleaning regimes. These include plans and systems to ensure that their staff practise good food and personal hygiene at all times and not work while sick. All food handlers have since reattended and passed the Basic Food Hygiene course. Under the enhanced Food Hygiene Officer (FHO) scheme announced in December 2018, if the licence of a food establishment is suspended, all its Food Hygiene Officers are required to re-attend the WSQ Conduct Food and Beverage Hygiene Audit course, and the premises must have a trained FHO before it resumes operations. The Food Hygiene Officer (FHO) at the implicated premises in Mandarin Orchard Hotel has undergone retraining and passed the WSQ Conduct Food and Beverage Hygiene Audit course.
 
Keeping Close Checks on the Premises’ Reopening 
 
6             NEA is currently reviewing the findings of the investigations and will take appropriate action against the licensee for the lapses found. Following the lifting of its suspension, NEA will also place Mandarin Orchard Hotel under close surveillance to ensure that the licensee adheres to what they have submitted in their plans. 
 
Public Advisory
 
7             We would like to remind members of the public to seek medical attention early if they experience any gastroenteritis symptoms (i.e, diarrhoea, vomiting, fever or abdominal pain).   Those infected with norovirus can transmit to their family members and close contacts, hence maintaining personal hygiene is important. 
 
8             To protect against norovirus, individuals should wash hands with soap and water before handling ready-to-eat food, before eating and after going toilet. Raw food should be cooked thoroughly (especially filter feeders such as oysters and shellfish). Wash contaminated clothing immediately and clean contaminated surfaces with diluted bleach. Infected individuals should also avoid preparing food for others when feeling unwell. 
 
9              For health related queries, members of the public can contact MOH at 1800 – 2254122. For feedback on any hygiene lapses, the public may contact NEA at the 24-hr hotline 1800-2255 632.