Strict anti-COVID measures at Tiruchy market

In the wake of the surge in the number of cases day after day, the district administration shifted the Gandhi Market wholesale vegetable market to the G-Corner. As part of the measures to curb the virus spread, the temporary facility was closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Despite the stringent initiatives, there was no dip in number of cases and a few traders from the temporary wholesale market also tested positive for COVID 19 recently. Following this, new restrictions were imposed from Monday.

 Accordingly, officials said that only retail traders should visit the market and severe action would be initiated against general public, who enter the market, and cases would be registered against them.

 Meanwhile, restrictions for vehicle movement were also imposed. Only 10 vehicles are allowed inside the market at a time and the others were asked to wait outside. Even at parking lots officials insisted on maintaining social distancing of vehicles. Drivers and vendors without masks were not allowed inside the market and a special team was on rounds to inspect whether traders are following the norms, including compulsory wearing of masks.

 In order to ensure strict implementation of norms, police were posted in all the 10 entry points of the market. The market would function from 8 pm to 6 am as fixed earlier. However, on Monday, the market was allowed to work for an additional four hours that is till to 10 am as it was closed on Saturday and Sunday.

 On Monday, despite there being continuous announcements made through the public system, many traders were seen without masks. Many traders failed to distribute sanitiser to the vendors who bought vegetables. The officials took notice of those violating the norms and said that notices would be served to those traders.