The Friday market was shut down due to the lack of organization, congestion in front of the gates, and the failure of the company and the stall owners to comply with health requirements including social distancing, and masks and sterilization, reports Al Rai daily.
An official source in the Kuwait Municipality said that the General Manager, Eng. Ahmed Al-Manfuhi, instructed the concerned department in the Capital Municipality branch to shut down the Friday market, pending the municipality’s reassessment of the situation and set a new date to re-open the market again in the future.
After the restrictions of the total curfew on Jleeb Al-Shuyoukh and Mahboula areas were lifted yesterday, investors and stall owners in the Friday market quickly booked their stalls again, and moved their goods to the market, which was closed for nearly 4 months due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The market opened early today, Friday, and yesterday was allotted to arranging and organizing the market including determining the stand locations. Al Rai revealed that the market owner, in cooperation with the municipality, outlined a plan on the processes of opening to the public. One of the conditions for entering the market is the obligation to wear masks and gloves, in addition to implementing health requirements related to restaurants and groceries.
Because the majority of people were prohibited from leaving the lockdown areas, the market was not opened last Friday, in addition most stall tenants are located in the Jleeb area. The market turnout was expected to be large today, given the capacity of the premises, and many were hopeful that once opened, the commerce industry would be restored to its previous position.
The fees for the stand rentals were fixed, dispelling rumors that they have been changed. More importantly, the commitment of tenants to adhere to the health guidelines was emphasized, with penalties on anyone that violated the health procedures and requirements.
While the market was open to the public, there was emphasis on social distancing, and avoiding crowding in one location. On the availability of cleaning and handling staff, the daily pointed out that this was assigned to the investment company, and the municipality had nothing to do with it.
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