The country is continuing to take back to back measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus COVID-19. In the latest move, the government has allowed food retail outlets, including supermarkets, pharmacies, cooperative societies and grocery stores to remain open 24 hours a day, with a strict condition of restricting the occupancy levels to 30 per cent of full capacity, to ensure the minimum recommended physical distance of two metres between customers.
In a statement issued by WAM, the government news agency, the Ministry of Health and Prevention and the National Emergency and Crisis and Disasters Management Authority says, "All bodies concerned have to abide by the preventive and precautionary measures taken by the State's competent bodies to ensure public safety and people's well-being."
The decision comes after the authorities' orders on the temporary closure of all commercial centres, shopping malls and open fish, vegetables and meat markets.