Heegu Unte? No Face Mask-Service NO at Supermarkets! No Face Mask- Service YES at Central Market

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
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Heegu Unte? No Face Mask-Service NO at Supermarkets! No Face Mask- Service YES at Central Market

Mangaluru: Like you see a sign of shop doors in foreign countries, which read -“No Shirt, No Shoes No Problem”- and you get served, or you can shop at that store or a fuel station. Similarly, they should hang a sign at the entrance of Mangaluru’s Central Market which should read, “No Face Mask, No Social Distancing. No Problem”- you still get served, or you can do as much shopping from 6 am-10 am, by not following any guidelines, in order to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Following close on its heels, after Team Mangalorean had published an article (Ref: Janarige Bashe Ella! SOCIAL DISTANCING at Central Veg Market is Just the OPPOSITE? ) this morning ( 27 March), we would like to highlight yet another drawback that our district administration, MCC and other departments are neglecting in tackling this deadly disease.

While the district admin officials are strict on supermarkets, stores, bakeries, etc. in pressurizing them to follow the guidelines in order to contain the Coronavirus, by urging the staff/employees to strictly use a face mask, and also not allow any customers to walk into their stores without a face mask, and also advise them to keep a distance – but on the other hand, the same officials have turned a blind eye, against a place where Coronavirus could spread in no time, since 99% who shop there or those who sell products don’t follow any guidelines nor wear the face mask – and that place is CENTRAL VEG MARKET. This morning it was a mess at the market, with people shopping without following any guidelines- and there were no officials nor police to check into it.

I bet it is too early for these officials to get up so early in the morning, and head on to Central Market, to bring the situation under control – and this has been going on for the last few days, and still the issue is not rectified. While these officials are behind the mega stores and other shops pressurizing them to follow the rules, why can’t they enforce the same at the Central market? Bah humbug!

This morning many customers visiting the supermarkets were taken by surprise by the security or the store clerk at the entrance, not allowing them to enter the store without a face mask- and for that matter, many had to return, and come back to do their shopping with a face mask – and unfortunately, I was one among them, when I was denied entry at Martin’s supermarket in Valencia since I was without a face mask. My only option was to visit a few medical shops to buy a face mask, but all in vain, since none of these medical shops had any face mask in stock. How about that? My only other option was to shop tomorrow with proper safety gear.

At the entrance of these supermarkets, you’ll notice a sign that entry to the store is only if a face mask is worn. If you had worn it, the next step, the security or the store clerk at the entrance will sanitize you and screen you- and if your temperature is below 99 degrees-you PASSED the TEST to go ahead with your shopping spree- and this was at More Supermarket. Kudos to the store for following the guidelines, in the interest of the safety of their employees and customers. With no luck at the supermarkets, my next stop to buy few snacks was Vas & Son, Bendore, Mangaluru, where the owner Brian Vas and all his staff were in full safety gear, with face masks- which showed good signs in following the govt guidelines.

Speaking to Team Mangalorean Brian Vas said, “We were approached by the district officials to follow the guidelines to contain the Coronavirus, and I readily agreed and provided my staff with face masks, and also instructed them to request customers if they didn’t wear a face mask, that they should next time visit the bakery with a face mask. I appreciate what the officials are doing to prevent the spread of the disease, but they should do more in enforcing the guidelines strictly in all other places, and not only selected ones. I have personally requested many of our customers to visit our shop with a face mask, and thereby cooperate with us during this time of Covid-19 outbreak”.

Just see how many are wearing Face Masks and following Social Distancing at Central Market

In the meantime, looking at the situation at Central Market, it is the same as it used to be a few days back. Not just retailers who had stormed the market to buy and resell the vegetables and fruits, but even other consumers who were not supposed to do any shopping at a central market were also seen- but there was no one to check them nor stop them. And the worst part was that hardly anyone was wearing a face mask, including the shop keepers, and no social distancing followed. This is the place where our district admin officials and cops should be, and not only pressurizing/harassing the managers or owners of supermarkets and other shops.

With the administration trying hard for effectively implementing lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the general public seems to be unconcerned about the need for social distancing, which is crucial at this hour, even in Mangaluru. While the market, which has been allowed to do business from early morning hours till 10 am in the day witnessed negligence by the people of the city in adhering to social distancing norms.

Look at the stupidity of our people- placing bags on the marked spots and waiting in a group for the shop to open

Even the furry four-legged animals follow Social Distancing than the two-legged Humans?

Therefore, Team Mangalorean makes a humble request to the concerned persons, including DC, Police Commissioner, MCC Commissioner, MCC Mayor, and other authorities, just like they have enforced strict guidelines on supermarkets, bakeries, and other shops who sell essentials, they should get up early tomorrow and visit the Central Market, and straighten up the issue which this report is all about- and take strict action against the traders/shopkeepers who are flouting the guidelines – then we are all EQUAL in this matter, without any discrimination or bias?

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