Many shoppers of commercial complexes and malls have expressed their satisfaction with the procedures regarding “safe distance between customers” that are being implemented in many places.
They said that it is an important step implemented by many commercial complexes, such as Lulu Hypermarket, Al Meera and others and through this arrangement people can contain the spread of infection in community.
“In order for this initiative to succeed and have a positive impact, it is necessary to prevent people in groups to enter markets because the accompanying people are causing crowd at markets. And when crowd increases, it is difficult for shoppers to adhere to specific distance. Some people bring two or three people with them to the market and this is unnecessary,” said a resident Khalifa.
He also said that safe distancing was a good step and will prevent from spreading the infection without a doubt.
For her part, Nassira pointed out that it was very important to practise social distancing. “Floor stickers on safe spacing remind us of taking precautionary measures while we are in the market, and also alerts others of the need to take sufficient distance from others.”
“We demand that children be prevented from entering the hypermarkets in this period because they will neither adhere to the guidelines nor implement them and their presence is unnecessary,” she added.
Many stressed the importance of publishing such social distancing stickers in other Asian languages so that everyone can understand them because English language is not understood by everyone. They suggested that they must also be written in Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and other languages.
In line with the preventive and precautionary measures taken by Qatar to limit the spread of coronavirus, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has obligated retail shops to implement social distancing in outlets.
The Ministry obligated the shops in the country to apply the requirement of a safe distance between customers with a minimum of 1.5 metres by placing signs on the ground to guide the customer, including at waiting queues for the payment and reception.
This was implemented from March 23. The Ministry noted the necessity for the outlets to comply with the circular, and it will work to intensify its inspection penalising anyone who violates the laws.
Recently Al Meera Consumer Goods Company announced the banning of the entry of children below the age of 12 to its branches as part of its preventive measures to curb the spread of COVID-19.
“As these children may catch the virus, carry it without showing signs of disease, and possibly is high to pass it on to the elderly. This is the reason why we urged the customers to not take children when they shop,” said Al Meera in a statement.
