STREETS DESERTED AS SHOPS DOWN SHUTTERS
As precautions and recommendations against direct contact of people mount, all the usually bustling streets of Ruwi, Muttrah, Seeb and other places wore a deserted look on Tuesday.
On Monday the Supreme Committee issued a decision to close all shops except those selling essentials to help curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s not knowing how long this will last as there is no letup in the number of cases. I pray it does not end up in total lockdown. We were not confronted with such a severe situation in the past,” said Nasser al Wahaibi, a real estate developer in Ruwi.
All the shops, ordered to be closed, like money exchange houses, jewellery and garment stores, and shops selling electrical and electronic appliances downed their shutters.
Also closed were public venues like parks, cinema halls, malls, events and wedding halls have also been closed until further notice.
“It is not only complying with the official orders, but also help prevent the spread of the disease,” said Faisal Mohammed, a mobile shop owner.
Still a building material shop owner lamented that what would happen if the coronavirus is not contained soon.
“We have stockpiled a lot of items to be supplied to different clientele. If I cannot supply them, it will seriously impact the business. We’ll end up with an economic crash more than the scale of 2008,” said Haris Chirayil, a retailer in building materials.
At the same time, the Ruwi taxi stand looked like as if the passengers have abandoned the downtown location for local and distant transportation.
“People are afraid of travelling in taxis. They are staying at homes to avoid the spread of the virus. But what I fear about is my loan with the bank”, said Hameed al Balushi, a taxi driver.
Adding to their woes is the ministry guidelines on the number of passengers in the taxis.
The guidelines stipulate that the number of persons in a taxi should not exceed four including the driver with one vacant between two passengers. They should also disinfect and clean seats at the start and end of every trip.
At the same time, flouting the orders of both ministries of manpower and commerce and industry, people were seen crowding at the supermarkets to pick up essentials in bits and pieces.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry urged consumers to avoid shopping in groups and purchase necessary items and avoid stock piling.
“Commercial centres and super markets should advise consumers not to crowd or turn out in large numbers. Shop owners should ensure a twometre physical distancing between one consumer and another at the counter area, and disinfect and sterilise shopping carts, hand rails, and other high-touch common areas, as well as providing consumers with sanitizers”, the advisory from the ministry says.