Kitchen markets in the country have now become hot spots for the spread of the coronavirus, posing a serious threat. The government has banned all kinds of social, political, religious gatherings to prevent the virus since March 19. However, emergency services including kitchen markets, drug stores and hospitals have remained open for the convenience of the general public.
Doctors and health experts said that if anyone stands face to face, the distance from one to the other should be six feet and the distance must be three feet in terms of standing in a row. But people are not maintaining social distancing in these places. In this case, health experts warned that the coronavirus situation will take a serious turn.
Former IEDCR Chief Scientific Officer Moshtaq Hossain said, “All government and non-governmental organizations are closed, but emergency services are open. Kitchen markets are the most risky places now. If you go to these places in case of emergency, you must maintain social distance and wear a mask as we do not know who are infected and who are not.”
About the distance, he said, “Standing face to face, the distance from one to the other must be two meters or six feet. Now this is more urgent.” However, while visiting different kitchen markets in the capital it was seen that people were not maintaining the minimum distance. Moazzem Hossain, a government employee on Thursday went to the Plassey kitchen market to buy commodities, and said, “I have bought vegetables, fish and meat for the coming days. The price of essentials is stable, but a large number of people come at the same time to the kitchen market without maintaining social distancing.”
He also said, “I know, the spread of coronavirus is worsening in our country day by day. It’s very risky as the deadly virus spreads from human to human. But I had no other way.” Kamruzzaman, owner of Ismail General Store said consumers did not maintain the social distance. “They are always in a hurry. I tell them when they come. Some people maintain it and some do not.”
Mugda kitchen market remains open until 10am in the morning. At the market people were seen buying fish and vegetables vying with one another. Mahbub Hasan, a buyer said, “I could not buy fish. People are in a hurry and gathering to buy fish as only two fish sellers are in the market today.” Director of the Department of Health (Planning and Research) Professor Dr Iqbal Kabir told Bangladesh Post, “We have to create public awareness to a great extent so that the general public can maintain social distance. Many people do not know the exact details of the distance while many are not aware about it.”
About health safety and social distance, Dr Kamrul Afsar told Bangladesh Post, “Every shop or pharmacy must have a separate counter at the entrance. I would like to suggest having a glass in front of the counter. Here, buyers should stand at a minimum distance of three feet from each other. And if you stand face-to-face, you should have a distance of six feet.”
The doctor suggested placing a counter in the fish shop. Dr Kamrul said, “After receiving the order, the seller will come to the counter with packing goods and hand over the packet to the buyer. Fish should be sold in the same manner.” “In the case of vegetables, sellers should be instructed not to sell anything under half a kilogram or one kg. The seller will arrange a packet of half or one kg in advance. The buyer will return home with the packet as per the demand,” he added.