Retail chains: adult ‘green corridor’ increases risk of Covid infection



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Retail chains:

Unlike the government, large retailers do not believe that introducing a “green corridor” for adult shopping is a viable measure that will limit the spread of Covid. On the contrary, hypermarkets warn that it generates crowds and increases the risk of contracting the virus. For this reason, on Wednesday, the Association for Modern Commerce, which groups together the 12 largest retailers in the country, spoke out against the “green corridor” and asked the Ministry of Health to carry out a joint awareness campaign to refrain from buying. between 8 and 10 in the morning. people under 65 years of age.

In this way, everyone will be able to voluntarily exercise social responsibility following the recommendation, without being obliged to do so, regardless of their age and according to their personal daily routine, and in case of impossibility or urgent need they will be able to make their purchases without restrictions ”., believe the hypermarkets.

Queues and accumulation of risk of people

Introduced the “green corridor” for purchases by people over 65 from 13:30 to 16:30. causes more stress than solutions in a pandemic and increases the risk of Covid-19 infection “, are categorical of the association.

Observations from hypermarkets show that the measure generates queues and risk meeting people in front of stores at the beginning and end of the “aisle”.

Another argument of hypermarkets about the ineffectiveness of the measure is that there is no way to protect vulnerable people because they have the right to choose shopping hours outside the advertised corridor.

Merchants even consider the government measure, in fact is impractical in practice.

“The measure is practically unfeasible because the employees of the chains or security companies have to determine the age of the clients by external characteristics, which is a reason for conflict. By law, they do not have the authority to request and verify personal documents., specified by the Association for Modern Commerce.

And they add that during its implementation there are k permanentConflict situations that endanger the health of employees and the safety of sites and create a cascading infection risk for employees. and inability to perform their official duties.

“It just came to our knowledge then the lack of equipment and the inability to service and operate the sites“, they say from there.

The rights of people under 65 are violated

Additionally, the “green corridor” restricts the rights of workers over 65, who were unable to take advantage of the opportunity to shop in the planned corridor, merchants say.

“The measure also violates the rights of people under 65 years of age. It makes it difficult for them to shop and confuses their daily routine. The wide three-hour interval restricts them even more, as parents of students and young children are busy taking care of and helping them. in the mornings in the organization of their online training, and adults who telecommute have to buy after 16:30 due to the ban on buying in the green corridor “, indicated by SMT.

From there they add that the result of this is that in this way additional and artificial preconditions are created for accumulations and non-observance of anti-epidemic measures by social distance.

Why only for supermarkets and pharmacies and not for public transport?

SMT notes that the restrictions are only for supermarkets and pharmacies. Other sites, which can also be crowded, remain out of reach. This makes it pointless to have such a time slot in stores where the stay is for a much shorter time. There are also no “corridors” in public transport. Mediapool saw queues and crowds in front of the pharmacies in Mladost and Druzhba in the capital, right along the green corridor.

The Association for Modern Trade recalls that retail chains invest significant funds to ensure a safe environment for consumers and equipment: for periodic disinfection, for protective equipment, Plexiglass barriers, information materials, etc.

BIA supports the abolition of the “green corridor”

The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce said on Wednesday that it supports the Association for Modern Commerce to eliminate the “green corridor”.

“We share the opinion that the measure is not working, it does not generate real benefits for older customers, but at the same time, it creates the conditions for crowds of citizens of all ages in and in front of the retail chains, which generates additional risks for your health, including for the health of people over 65 “, point from there.



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