Federal Government has announced that all markets in states where a lockdown was imposed –Lagos, FCT and Ogun– will be allowed to open between 10:00 am and 2:00 pm daily.
The National Co-ordinator of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Aliyu Sani, said this on Wednesday during a briefing by members of the task force.
He said;
For markets, only shops and stalls selling food and groceries shall be allowed to open to customers between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm.
Meanwhile, for supermarkets and food stores, their opening hours must be between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm and all owners and managers have been warned to screen staff and customers before entry.
Sani stressed that;
On arrival, all staff must be screened for a high temperature and all those found to have a high body temperature above 38, will be denied entry and advised to seek immediate medical attention.
According to him, all deliveries for supplies and products for these supermarkets must be made between the hours of 5:00 am and 9:00 am.
He further stated that at any point in time, the total number of customers inside each store “must not exceed a third of the store’s total capacity.”
After their closure at 4:00 pm, Sani urged shop owners to ensure that all shelves, aisles and stores are cleaned and disinfected and by 6:00 pm, staff are conveyed back to their respective homes.
They should avoid long story and stick to total lockdown. Two weeks of no market will not kill anyone. Besides, a lot of people already stocked up, so no need. How would they be able to contain this virus if they allow market to reopen?