MARGAO: Margao Municipal Council Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes while appealing to the people not to crowd the markets in Margao asked the shopkeepers to entertain at the most five people at the shop at a time, failing which, threatened to fine them.
In an extraordinary meeting held on Friday, it was decided to install loudspeakers at the gates of the markets, where recorded messages will be played telling people about the procedures to be followed.
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Visitors to the markets are urged to compulsorily wear a mask and shop owners are directed not to entertain any customer who is not wearing a mask. Besides, the visitors are advised to carry their own sanitisers while the shopkeepers are also asked to provide sanitisers to the visitors.
In a special message to the people, Agnelo asked that only one person from the family visit the market while others can remain in the vehicle. “There is no need absolutely for the whole family to go to the market,” he said while pointing out that it becomes difficult to control the crowd.
He said it was frightening to see people visiting the market without necessary precautions and reminded that these are very difficult times given the fact that currently the highest COVID cases are reported in Salcete and more particularly in Margao.
The shop owners have been asked to put up rope barricades to their shops and create spots for people to stand in queue besides enforcing the wearing of mask by the staff at the shop and also the customers.
While stating that he did not want to fine people or close shops, Agnelo however said if there is no co-operation he will have to act and threatened to fine shopkeepers, who allow more than five people to enter the shop.
The market association members asked the police to take strict action against beggars particularly those who sleep around the Margao Municipal Garden as they do not use mask and cough and sneeze constantly.
