Customers praise preventive measures at Al Sailiya Market
Preventive and precautionary measures to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) have been strictly implemented at Al Sailiya Central Market which reopened on Wednesday after nearly three months of closure.
Local Arabic daily Arrayah reported that both sellers and customers have shown considerable commitment to such procedures and expressed confidence that they feel more secure when shopping.
Stickers were placed on the floor of the market to indicate proper physical distance between individual shoppers and every shop designated two selling points to avoid any unsafe proximity among customers.
The body temperature of each customer is checked before being allowed into the market and each one has to display the green healthy code on the Ehteraz app on their smartphones, and wear face mask and gloves.
There is also a thermal camera at the entrance of the market to detect any abnormal rise in temperature of the shoppers and children under 12 are not allowed. Besides, sellers and workers at the market are checked on daily basis before being allowed to start their work and wear face masks and gloves all time. Each shop has sanitisers at its entrance for the use of customers.
The market is kept under the strict control of the authorities concerned to check the safety of the products on display regularly. There are also an adequate number of volunteers who assist and guide customers and help them maintain proper physical distance.
A number of customers and sellers highlighted their satisfaction at such procedures during the past few days and said that the volunteers immediately interfere at the slightest hint of any crowding and people are asked to follow the rules and avoid such conduct.
Prices were reasonable for many customers and the quality of the goods excellent too.
Speaking to the daily, Mubarak Rashed al-Sahouti, executive director of external relations at Hassad Food Company, said that in co-operation with the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and the Ministry of Municipality and Environment all the applicable precautionary and preventive measures have been taken for the protection and safety of both customers and workers at the market. He pointed out that workers too have to display the green healthy code in the Ehteraz app before being allowed to enter. He said that the market works currently with only 30% of its total capacity to avoid any crowds. When the parking slots at the market are full, entry is blocked until some of them are available again. The market is being cleaned and sanitised twice a day before the goods are allowed in and after the end of the business day.