Commercial stores to re-open under strict conditions

TDT | Manama

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism yesterday reminded all commercial and industrial businesses that will be re-opening to the public from tonight must strictly follow the conditions set to help curb the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease.

The conditions require all employees and visitors to wear a face mask or face covering at all times. The number of employees in any facility must also be minimal and overcrowding in stores must be actively prevented to ensure sufficient social distancing measures are maintained at all times.

This also applies to those who will be queuing outside stores before being allowed to enter in the event that there are too many customers. Stores must also ensure continuous sterilisation, including their external premises, in accordance with guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health.

Amongst the commercial shops that will be re-opening are those at the Seef Mall locations in Seef District, Muharraq and Isa Town. They will be open from Friday until April 23, as per government directives.

Shops at these malls will operate from 12noon to 8 pm daily, while financial institutions, optical shops, pharmacies and government entities will operate daily from 10am to 10 pm, and from 10 am to 11 pm on weekends.

Carrefour at Seef Mall in Muharraq will continue to be open as usual, from 8 am until midnight daily. Seef Mall management stressed that they are closely monitoring the latest updates regarding the spread of the pandemic, locally and internationally.

They noted that a special emergency team has been formed and is making every effort to ensure the safety of its mall visitors, shoppers and employees, and is ready to take swift procedures in the case of any urgent occurrences that require direct and immediate intervention.

Furthermore, management confirmed that none of their commercial malls have recorded any cases of COVID- 19. They are continuing to take additional intensive measures to clean and disinfect all their facilities to ensure the safety of everyone under their roof.

Hand-sanitisers have also been fixed in all common areas at the malls, while security guards continue to vigilantly monitor shoppers and visitors to ensure they maintain a safe distance between each other, in compliance with social distancing measures.

Commercial businesses that are to stay closed until further notice are movie theatres, sports centres, private swimming pools, shisha cafes, salons and tourist locations, while restaurant services remain limited to delivery and takeout.