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Strict safety guidelines for food outlets
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Dry rations being distributed to a lockdown area. Pic by Reka Tharangani
Measures to curb the pandemic by restricting people’s movements come into effect as several supermarket outlets were closed after some of their staff members tested positive following random PCR tests.
Two employees at Keells supermarket in Union Place, three employees from its Thimbirigasyaya outlet and one employee from the Havelock Road outlet tested positive for COVID 19. The stores were re-opened after sanitisation and placing all close contacts on self-quarantine.
The Cargills Food City outlet in Deans Road, Maradana was closed after an employee tested positive for the virus.
“We continue to conduct random PCR tests on all employees through slots provided by the government as well as from three private hospitals. Our facility that distributes items online and constantly disinfected and all employees in it have gone through one round of PCR tests and another round will begin soon,” Cargills Group Manager Keerthi Gunasekare said.
Keells officials urged their customers to follow safety processes in place when visiting their outlets, They also said random PCR tests for their team members would continue.
Meanwhile, concerns are also expressed over the health and safety issues regarding food delivery services in city and suburban areas.
Colombo’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ruwan Wijeyamuni said checks would be carried out on food delivery service providers, restaurants and takeaway outlets to ensure they followed health and hygiene measures while their employees will be subjected to random PCR tests.
He said if an employee tested positive, the outlet would be immediately closed, all close contacts would be placed under quarantine while the premises would be sanitized fully.
According to Alert Levels worked out by the Health Ministry, the country is at present on Alert Level 3 (several clusters). In terms of the guidelines, groceries and open markets will be able to accommodate only 50 percent of the total space while maintaining the required physical distance.
Supermarkets should display boards outside stating the number of people allowed inside, while ensuring adequate walking space.
Restaurants (dining in) are allowed to operate with a maximum of 50 percent of the total seating capacity while takeaway/delivery services can continue under strict health and hygienic measures.
With Manning Market closed for vegetable trade after fears of the possible spread of the virus and economic centres limited to wholesale, mobile lorries selling vegetables, fruits and fish were seen in many areas in the Colombo, Gampaha and Kalutara districts where the curfew has been lifted.
The Gampaha District Secretary S. Jayalath said that although they could not provide food rations to every household in the district, the secretariat made sure that residents in locked down areas got Rs. 10,000 worth of dry rations while in other areas those who had lost their income would continue to get the monthly payment of Rs. 5,000.
He also said vegetables and other essential food items were available in mobile lorries and trucks that had obtained permission.