Shops comply with new rules, close at 5pm

Coimbatore: Most of the shopkeepers downed their shutters at 5pm, extending full cooperation to the district administration’s new Covid-19 prevention measures, which came into force on Tuesday.
Police personnel ensured that the shops - be it bakeries or grocery, vegetable or tea shops - were not open after the permissible time limit. However, a few shops in residential areas were open till 5.30pm to 6pm.
Meat shops and fish stalls were closed by 2pm as mandated by the district administration.
Bus terminals were crowded much earlier on the day, compared to previous days, as people left home earlier because of the new guidelines.
Some people, who reached tourist places in the district, were unaware of the new curbs. They left with a long face.
Residents welcomed the stringent measures, which they hope would help authorities control the Covid-19 cases and avoid total lockdown.
G Pazhani, a resident of Ganapathy Pudur, said he had stocked essentials and other items in view of the new restrictions. “It is better to live with stringent curbs than to face complete lockdown, which would cripple trade activities and livelihood of scores of people. Officials should ensure that the rules are followed to avert another wave.”
However, the new rules did not go down well with a section of traders. In a petition to corporation commissioner Raja Gopal Sunkara, Dinesh Kumar Bhandia, a trader, said small traders didn’t have the financial backing to meet employees’ salary and building rent. At a time when online ventures had taken over the sales, he said, they were finding it difficult to survive.
The city corporation commissioner, meanwhile, warned traders of strict action if they fail to comply with the restrictions at a meeting that saw participation of members from trade bodies, hoteliers, lodge owners, vegetable vendors, textile and jewellery store owners.
He said it was the responsibility of the traders to ensure that their customers were wearing face masks. “Shopkeepers should compulsorily wear face masks. Hand sanitisers should be kept in front of every shops and it should be ensured that customers are using the same.”