Reopening the businesses amid highest risks

As the government has decided to reopen shopping malls, all types of shops and businesses on a limited scale from May 10 ahead of the Eid, not all people related to the businesses are sure that they should do so now when the number of new coronavirus infections is rising every day, even under lockdown. Two of the biggest shopping malls of the city have decided not to reopen considering the risk it will pose to the shoppers. But others have decided to go ahead as the economic losses have become too much for them to bear.

The difference between us and other countries that are reopening their economic activities is that they have decided to do so under strict guidelines and have only taken the decision when new infections and deaths in their respective territories have shown a downward trend. Unfortunately, our government has decided to reopen when the numbers are rising. Of course, the economic hardship that our people have been going through is not comparable to those of the European countries, as already over a crore people have lost their jobs due to the shutdown here and the government's stimulus packages are just not being enough to feed the hungry people across the country for a few more months.

Since the decision has already been taken to reopen, we think the government, business owners, law enforcement agencies and other authorities have a huge responsibility to maintain social distancing and other safety guidelines. The directives given by the home ministry—that there should be sanitisers at the entrances of the malls, no one will be allowed inside the buildings without gloves and masks, and there will be a banner in front of malls saying that disregarding the health directives will cause life risk—should be strictly maintained. The shop owners will also have to ensure sanitisers and masks for their employees, appoint volunteers to help maintain the safety measures, mark places where shoppers will stand, as well as have disinfection rooms inside the buildings. The police have also come up with some directives, such as restricting people's movement into their respective areas' shopping malls and making all carry their NIDs with them, etc.

We urge the market authorities to take proper precautions in the remaining days before reopening. We also hope the public will comply with the directives of social distancing and other safety guidelines. Considering the rush of people during this time before Eid, ensuring all the guidelines will no doubt be a big challenge for the authorities. The government should enlighten us about how it is planning to monitor that everything goes as per its plan. Because if the safety measures are not followed by all, the result of reopening could be disastrous for the nation.