As people continued to thronging shopping malls, markets, shops, footpaths for Eid shopping everywhere in the country, this may worsen the virus pandemic as both the shoppers and the sellers are not properly following the health rules in these crowded places.
Earlier the government has issued guidelines for reopening shopping malls, markets and shops which include installation of disinfection booths and thermal scanners, mandatory wearing of masks and gloves by both sellers and buyers, and maintaining social distancing. However, the guidelines are not being obeyed properly in these places.
Rubel Ahmed, a clothes trader from Sylhet, told Bangladesh Post that arrangements have been made to wash hands with soap, measure temperature and spray disinfectant before entering shopping malls. People are also being asked through loudspeaker to maintain social distancing. But after entering the market, the buyers are not maintaining social distancing.
Tamim, an employee of Taj Super Market at Jatrabari in the capital, told Bangladesh Post that no one is allowed to enter the market without wearing masks and gloves. The temperature is also being measured. Trading is going on in the market maintaining social distancing.
Preventive medicine specialist Dr Lelin Chowdhury told Bangladesh Post, “One of the few steps to prevent covid-19 is to maintain social distancing. It is not possible to stop crowd without enforcing the law strictly. We need to reduce the risk of infection by enforcing law. Otherwise, difficult time is waiting for us in the near future.”
According to the records of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), most of the coronavirus cases are in Dhaka city. From the very outset, the rate of infection has been highest in Dhaka.
Public health experts think that unless strict measures are taken, crowds will increase further on the roads and in the markets. This will increase the risk of virus transmission. They stressed the need to adopt stringent cautionary measures.
Meanwhile, business leaders told media that they are giving utmost importance regarding hygiene rules to prevent spread of coronavirus, and instructed the business organizations for taking measures to ensure safety for all.