The first district market in Nghe An has installed a systematic anti-droplet partition.

Currently, most rural markets have not installed partitions between stalls. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Traditional markets are places with high risk of outbreaks, in fact there have been many cases of infection at markets in Vinh City. Therefore, recently, localities in Vinh City have installed partitions and anti-droplet glass systems at markets before reopening.

However, for therural marketsAlthough the Covid-19 epidemic has occurred in many places, it is rare to see partitions installed to prevent droplets.

According to observations by reporters, most of the traditional markets in Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, Quynh Luu, Nghi Loc, Hung Nguyen districts... the main solution to prevent the epidemic is to wear masks and arrange hand sanitizer at the market gate; some people are more careful, in addition to wearing masks, they also wear anti-droplet glasses. Most markets do not have anti-droplet partition systems in the food and food sales areas... causing buyers and sellers to exchange directly, with a high risk of infection.

Direct contact between buyers and sellers at the market like this poses a high risk of infection. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Phu Dien market in Dien Thanh commune can be said to be the first rural market in Dien Chau district and many other districts in the province that have been installed with the system.partition, anti-droplet at booths.

Observations show that the entire food and grocery selling area in Phu Dien market has been installed with a system of partitions and splash-proof glass. Accordingly, the sellers and buyers are separated by white plastic partitions and maintain a distance. Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong, a seafood seller at Phu Dien market, said that since the installation of this partition system, the traders feel safer because the buyers do not come into contact with the sellers; besides, buying and selling is also less chaotic.

Phu Dien Market is the first market in Dien Chau district to have a partition system installed in the food and grocery sales area, ensuring epidemic prevention. Photo: Xuan Hoang

According to Ms. Ho Thi Tam - Chairman of Dien Thanh Commune People's Committee, to strengthen the work of prevention and controlCovid-19 epidemicAt Phu Dien market, in addition to requiring buyers and sellers to wear masks and providing hand sanitizer at the market gate, the commune recently installed partitions in food and grocery sales areas in the market area, with a total cost of nearly 100 million VND.

Mr. Dau Ngoc Long - Head of Economic - Infrastructure Department of Dien Chau district added that there are many markets in the district, but most of them have not installed partition systems at the stalls, but have only been piloted at Phu Dien market.

In other districts in the province, almost no locality has paid attention to investing in installing anti-droplet systems to prevent and fight the Covid-19 epidemic. Given the complicated developments of the Covid-19 epidemic, especially in traditional markets, where the risk of infection is high, localities need to soon install partition systems so that people can feel secure when going to the market.

Installing partitions at sales booths limits contact between sellers and buyers. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Previously, the Provincial People's Committee issued Official Dispatch No. 6563/UBND-KT to the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns requesting to strengthen epidemic prevention and control at markets in the area.

Post contact information (name, phone number) of focal points for disease prevention and control at the market so that traders and customers can proactively contact them when necessary.

The market has 1 entrance and 1 exit; organizes shopping according to one-way regulations (different entrance and exit directions); at the market gate, arrange areas and forces to control Market entry cards, wear masks, measure body temperature, disinfect hands, make health declarations, and SARS-CoV-2 test papers of traders to ensure requirements.

Arrange forces to maintain distance between buyers and sellers, between buyers and buyers at the market according to regulations: Stalls are 12m apart, with partitions between stalls, marking lines to maintain a 2m distance between buyers, and ropes to allow buyers to move in one direction. In case the number of people in the market exceeds the distancing capacity, control and line up in a distanced line with marking lines outside the market to enter the market one by one.

Food vendors must wear gloves, restrooms must have soap and disinfectant, trash cans must have lids.../.