After entertainment venues, congregations at shops are next in line to be tackled
Earlier today, PM Robert Abela laid out his intentions to formulate a plan tackling large crowds congregating at supermarkets: ““It doesn’t make sense that people cannot gather together at entertainment venues together but can gather at supermarkets,” Abela said, adding that while shoppers will be able to carry on with their shopping as usual, the number of people inside the edifice at the same time will be reduced after the island went on a panic-spree yesterday.
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Following this statement, Park Towers Supermarkets, Valyou Supermarkets, Tower Supermarket, Trolees Supermarket and Lasco Supermarket have announced a plan to implemente a number of measures to ensure the safety of both workers and shoppers alike: “The public is being urged to refrain from entering any of their supermarkets if one is suffering from flu-like symptoms or have been placed under mandatory quarantine,” they said.
“Customers are also being asked to sanitise their hands before using any trolleys or baskets, using the sanitisers that are being provided at the entrance to every outlet,” they continued, adding that: “Shoppers should also avoid picking up merchandise and placing them back on the shelves.”
The supermarkets collectively announced that they have advised staff who have recently returned from travels abroad to diligently follow the directives issued by the Ministry of Health. Additionally, they also asked the general public to keep an adequate distance from each other, especially in queues or at cash points. While supermarkets are maximising efforts to make sure people are served in a timely manner, such circumstances require total cooperation.
These measures are being implemented in all of the supermarket’s outlets, namely Park Towers Supermarkets (Spinola, St. Julians, Sta. Venera), Valyou Supermarkets (Pendergardens, Naxxar, Mellieha), Tower Supermarket (Sliema), Trolees Supermarket (Qawra), and Lasco Supermarket (Zejtun).