Coronavirus: Ministry of Health publishes new Covid-19 guidelines for crowded markets

With an increase in the influx of people in the markets as people are leaving for their daily needs, food, shopping or other sources of entertainment, the chances of transmission of the coronavirus are also likely to be greater. In order to curb the potential spread of the deadly viral infection, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has drawn up some guidelines for these markets. The ministry has produced some additional guidelines as a preventive measure for all larger markets, shopping malls and other supermarkets outside of the containment zones. It should be noted that markets cannot be opened in buffer zones. The guidelines for the markets are listed below.

COVID-19 Preventive Guidelines for Markets

• Discussing the general measures, the MoHFW said that people must strictly follow all measures to maintain respiratory and hand hygiene. This means frequent use of hand sanitizers and covering your mouth and nose with face masks and masks.
• People have to adhere to maintaining social distance, at least 6 feet whenever possible.
• Spitting is not allowed in public areas.
• It is advisable not to go out to people belonging to the vulnerable category, over 65 and under 10 years old, pregnant women and people with comorbidities.
• Traders have been asked to maintain hygienic conditions inside their stores.
• The interior of the stores must be disinfected every day before the work begins. All the places that are touched often, such as door handles and knobs, elevator buttons, handrails, and more, need to be disinfected frequently.
• All stores must provide hand sanitizers that are put on and the temperature of visitors must be recorded at the entry and exit points.
• Public service areas, as well as open spaces, should be disinfected with 1% sodium hypochlorite.
• Solution on a regular basis.
• Toilets, hand washing stations, and drinking water are expected to be thoroughly cleaned at least 3-4 times a day.
• Apart from this, the government has asked people to form a committee on a market that ensures that all guidelines are strictly followed. A fine may be imposed if someone is found without a mask.
• Stores are also asked to provide mask dispensing kiosks at the entrance or to provide free masks to those who cannot afford them.
• Stores can also put up posters, banners, and other means, such as audiovisual media, that guide people about the viral infection.
• All places should maintain air conditioning / ventilation by setting all air conditioning devices in the range of 24-30 degrees Celsius and ensure relative humidity in the range of 40-70 percent.

Preventing overcrowding by any means and taking all preventive measures are the only ways in which the transmission of COVID-19 infection can be slowed. As economic activities resume, everyone should be more careful about their activities.

For shopping malls and supermarkets, the government had previously published Covid guidelines; those guidelines will remain in effect. For restaurants within markets, the above guidelines issued by the government will apply.