MUSCAT: In the wake of coronavirus pandemic in the country, Muscat Municipality has asked shopping centres including supermarkets to prohibit the entry of customers who have a body temperature of more than 37.5 degrees.

In a guideline issued on Monday, the Municipality also asked shops to isolate employees who show symptoms such as cold, cough or running nose. “Shopping centres must not allow shoppers who have body temperature of more than 37.5 degrees,” the statement said. 

Follow health measures or face penalties
Municipality said shops violating health measures will be slapped with penalties. “Shop employees who show symptoms of illness such as cold, cough and running nose must be protected and isolated. They should not be allowed to enter the shop. Those (shops) violating the regulations will be fined OMR 500 and the shop will be shut for three days. Those repeating the violation will be fined OMR 2,000 and the shop closed for up to 10, days,” the guideline said. 

“Those repeating the violation will be fined OMR 2,000 and the shop closed for up to 10, days

Provide personal protection
Municipality have also asked commercial centres to  sanitise all trolleys before and after each use. “Commercial centres must ensure adequate ventilation inside the mall, promote social distancing with a minimum distance of two metres between people to be observed, provide personal protection equipment to their employees, and to not conduct any business/or activity that is not approved by the Supreme Committee to deal with COVID-19,” the guideline added.

Municipality also asked commercial centres to provide face masks to customers and not to allow children from entering the shops. “Masks should be provided to customers and should not allow children from entering the shops. Hand sanitizers must be kept at the entrance and exit of the shopping centre,” Municipality said.