The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on the preventive and precautionary measures to be followed to contain the spread of COVID19 in the country. These are as follows:

1. Background

The Health Ministry in recognition of the fact that marketplaces are visited by a large number of people for their daily needs, shopping, entertainment, and food has designed a protocol to contain the spread of COVID-19. Amid the COVID pandemic, with the gradual opening of economic activities, markets are witnessing high footfalls. Such large gatherings, without observance of COVID19 appropriate behavior, have the potential to spread Coronavirus disease.

2. Scope

This document outlines various generic precautionary measures to be adopted in addition to specific measures to be ensured at marketplaces to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These guidelines shall be applicable to both retail and wholesale markets. Some of the bigger markets may also have malls/ hyper/ supermarkets in them.  
 

Similarly, for offices, religious places/places of worship, training institutes, yoga institutes and gymnasiums, cinema halls/theatres and any other specific activities which are part of these markets or are situated within the market complex, specific guidelines issued from time to time by the Ministry shall be applicable.

Market places in containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.

3. Protecting vulnerable populations

Persons above 65 years of age, persons with comorbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 years are advised to stay at home, except for essential and health purposes. Market Owners Associations shall be advised accordingly.

Employees who are at higher risk i.e. older employees, pregnant employees, and employees who have underlying medical conditions must take extra precautions. The Market Associations shall be advised that such persons should not be exposed to any front-line work requiring direct contact with the public.

4. Promoting COVID Appropriate Behaviour

Simple public health measures are to be followed to reduce the risk of COVID-19. These measures need to be observed at all times by shop and establishment owners, visitors, and workers.

5. Maintaining a healthy environment

In normal times, markets are usually crowded with high footfalls, suffer from a lack of adequate sanitation amenities, and have poor hygiene conditions. To prevent the risk of transmission of COVID, it is crucial that a healthy environment is maintained at marketplaces.

6. Planning for COVID related appropriate behavior at marketplaces

This include :

1 Self-regulating COVID appropriate behavior in marketplaces

2 Ensuring COVID appropriate behavior by Enforcement Agencies.

3 Planning for ensuring COVID appropriate behaviors by shop owners/utilities operating in the market

4 natural ventilation must be ensured 

5 Crowd management: Planning should specifically factor-in requirements for these peak days/ hours. 

6 Creating awareness among people

7 Maintaining healthy operations at marketplaces