The Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination on Tuesday issued guidelines for Eidul Azha in line with the government’s Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
As per reports, the document has been issued to provide health guidelines to the general public, cattle vendors and customers to control the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and following precautionary measures at the cattle market while buying or selling a sacrificial animal.
Guidelines for sellers:
- Animal vendors will have to follow the following guidelines while selling an animal at the cattle market.
- It is necessary for all animal vendors and sellers to get vaccinated with any of the available COVID-19 vaccines in the country. Those without proof of vaccination (first dose or complete course) may not be allowed to do business in the market.
- Every seller must wear a face mask covering nose and mouth all the time.
- The seller should wash their hands with soap and water frequently or use an alcohol-based (70%) hand sanitiser.
- Stalls should be set up at a distance of at least two metres from each other while ensuring enough space between animals. The supporting arrangements must be made by the local authority.
- Seller and customers should try and maintain a safe distance of two metres.
- Seller and customer must not shake hands and avoid any other physical contact
- The seller must keep a disinfection formulation with 0.5% diluted bleach or 60%-80% dilute alcohol solution to disinfect the most frequently used surfaces by customers.
- Each salesperson must wear gloves for touching the animals.
- Any seller with symptoms of cough, sore throat, fever etc., would not be allowed to sell animals in the market. They will have to arrange a replacement for themselves.
- Each seller must ensure queue control and maintaining the advised two metres distance in his allocated space in the market/ mandii.
- The sellers must keep themselves aware of the updated instructions issued by the government and should strictly follow them.
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Guidelines for Customers:
- The buyer must wear a surgical/medical mask properly (cover nose and mouth) at all times.
- The customers should not go to the market/ mandii if they are feeling any flu-like symptoms, cough, sore throat or fever.
- Sanitise hands properly before and after going to the market.
- Buyers should also wear gloves if they plan to touch the animals.
- People visiting the market should avoid touching the surfaces in the market unnecessarily.
- Maintain two metres distance from the seller or other peoplepresent in the market.
- Follow the safety guidance provided by the local management and cooperate with the staff
- If a customer observes non-compliance to the guidelines by the individual seller, remind them and/or report to the local authorities.
