With most of the vendors and shopkeepers in Ïewduh vaccinated, the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner has allowed all shops and stalls in the state’s biggest market to reopen three times a week, except the vegetable market.
In an order today, Deputy Commissioner Isawanda Laloo said the decision was taken based on the recommendation of the Incident Commander Zone-IV and the Syiem of Hima Mylliem.
Opening of the stalls and shops will be regulated so they don’t exceed the limit. The Syiem of Hima Mylliem will depute adequate police personnel and volunteers to strictly enforce all protocols while shopkeepers would be responsible for maintaining physical distance between the customers, and avoid crowding at all times.
The Market Committee under the Syiem of Hima Mylliem is authorized to levy fines on shop owners, people who does not adhere to the Covid-19 protocols and to ensure that regular sanitization of the markets are carried out before and after business hours.
The committee will also ensure that customers bring their own bags and avoid the use of plastic bags as much as possible to minimise the chance of spread of the virus, as it lasts longer on smooth and non-porous surfaces in comparison to porous surfaces like cloth.
The order also said that a customer should spend minimal time in a shop while symptomatic persons, persons from Containment Zones, senior citizens above the age of 60, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 should not visit the market.
Urging shopkeepers and hawkers to get vaccinated before being permitted to sit inside the market the Deputy Commissioner said all shops should display their vaccination status while those who are not willing to get vaccinated will have to produce the RT-PRC negative report on every 10 days.
Violation of the protocols will result in immediate shop-closure, the Deputy Commissioner said.
