ABU DHABI 6 May 2020: The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), has announced preparations to reopen nine major vegetable and meat markets in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
The resumption of market operations comes with the strict implementation of the precautionary measures and health guidelines set by ADAFSA in coordination with the relevant authorities.
This helps reinforce the precautionary measures taken by the UAE to combat Covid-19, ensure the safety and health of consumers, and provide them with their needs of food products.
ADAFSA also set the official timings for reopening the markets according to the National Sterilization Program, and the market’s ability in organizing shoppers’ entry and implementing the necessary precautions, said Wam.
In addition to having proper spaces for handling food at this time, these markets are fully equipped to implement the necessary precautionary measures to protect workers and consumers alike. ADAFSA noted this decision does not apply to market stalls, but it is limited to a specific number of facilities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra.
Which outlets are open and when
The markets that will resume operations in Abu Dhabi include vegetables and meat shops in Mushrif Mall, meat shops in Al Mina market, Green Market in Bani Yas, and Green Market in Shahama. In addition, ADAFSA will reopen vegetable and fruit market and butcher shops at Souq Al Jabra in Al Ain, and the Central Market in Madinat Zayed and the central vegetable and fish market in Ruwais, Al Dhafra.
Vegetable and meat markets will be open to the public from 10am to 7pm, while consumers can enter fish markets, which were reopened early April, from 10am to 5pm.
ADAFSA also set several guidelines for business owners to reopen their facilities, including:
- Conducting Covid-19 test for food handlers at Seha’s accredited centers
- Allowing shoppers to enter markets after wearing masks and gloves
- Conducting temperature checks for consumers
- Preventing the entry of those whose temperatures are above 37.5 °C
- Limiting shoppers volume to 30% of the markets’ capacity will be mandatory for the markets’ management
- In addition, they should provide sanitizers at the entrance and exit gates of each market, obliging all shoppers to sanitize themselves before entering and when leaving the market
The market management should also sanitize the market’s facilities daily and efficiently, to ensure the health and safety of workers and shoppers, in addition to tightening control over entrance and exit gates in coordination with police patrols, to avoid random entry of consumers. Moreover, shop workers should comply with health precautions, should wear masks and gloves during work, and change them frequently. In addition to preventing consumers from touching products, the market management should ensure maintaining adequate ventilation in facilities.
The authority urged market management to encourage shoppers to use online payment services, maintain social distance of at least 1.5 metres, and make purchases within about 15 minutes. The market management should manage waiting time and customer numbers in butcher and vegetable shops, as well as providing guidance signs specified on the floor, to ensure keeping the safe spacing.
ADAFSA further called on all consumers to commit to guidelines and precautionary measures. They should not accompany children and older persons when shopping, customers should shop quickly, wear masks and gloves before shopping, and sanitize themselves before entering and when leaving the market. ADAFSA urged the public to follow its social media accounts to find more about the precautionary measures to combat Covid-19, and mechanism for handling food properly under the current circumstances.
Restaurants should coordinate with local authorities
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, said owners of restaurants, cafeterias and food outlets across Abu Dhabi, whether they are located inside or outside malls and shopping centres, should not receive customers without prior coordination with local departments with regards to compliance with the guidelines.
Rashed Abdul Karim Al Balooshi, Undersecretary of ADDED, said the latest circular provides the rules that will help facilitate the reopening of these food and beverage facilities and enable them to provide services to the community in accordance with the regulations on protecting the health and safety of individuals.
According to the circular, operations of restaurants should include frequent implementation of practices such as sterilization and other preventive measures to maintain hygiene and cleanliness of cooking utensils, food carts and places where they prepare and serve meals through use of disinfectants and sterilizers as well as disposable and single-use materials.
He added that ADDED pays special attention to this vital sector as it serves a large segment of the community and there should be a strict scrutiny to ensure these outlets comply with instructions after which the ADDED would look into applications for resumption of services.
ADAFSA guidelines to prevent Covid spread in food sector
ADAFSA, has issued a guidance document on preventing the spread of new coronavirus, Covid-19, in food business sector.
ADAFSA has issued this document to introduce food workers and consumers to good food hygiene practices and precautionary measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the food production and supply chain, and when handling and consuming food.
The guidance document features answers of several questions on food handling in these exceptional circumstances, related guidelines and scientific recommendations of the World Health Organisation, WHO, and Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO, and the global experiences and expertise on the safe handling of food and slaughtering live animals in abattoirs.
The document comprises 30 different topics covering measures to be taken by employees in all food businesses to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The topics include application of hygiene and sanitation measures to be adopted by employees, the protocol on when an employee contracts Covid-19, the needed measures to ensure the safety of workers and food handled, sound mechanisms for displaying and handling food, scientific and sound basis for sanitising surfaces, preparation places, carts and food premises in general, the virus incubation environments and measures to ensure safe transport of food.
Furthermore, the document includes guidelines for food safety authorities, such as requirements for inspecting food and animals imported from countries experiencing a large numbers of Covid-19 cases, the sound protective equipment for inspectors, controls for reopening a food business after being temporarily closed, lab protocols for identifying the virus in food and on surfaces, and measures to ensure the food supply chain remains intact to prevent food shortages.
The potential of the virus transmission between humans and animals, veterinary quarantine measures for live animals imported from countries experiencing a large numbers of Covid-19 cases, and WHO recommendations to reduce risk of transmission of emerging pathogens from animals to humans in live animal markets or animal product markets are among the topics highlighted in the document.
The document also provides consumers with extensive information on the proper handling of food, including ways to properly wash fruits and vegetables, and disinfect food-packaging materials.
It is possible that consumers can get Covid-19 from food, therefore, the document details required time and temperature for cooking food, the most important precautions to be taken while shopping and receiving food orders.
On the other hand, ADAFSA urged the public to read the document on its website (www.adafsa.gov.ae), to be aware of the most important issues related to Covid-19 and food.
Dubai intensifies measures to protect labourers
DUBAI: Dubai authorities are intensifying precautionary measures at labour camps to safeguard the health and wellbeing of blue-collar workers amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
The extensive measures are part of Dubai’s campaign to counter Covid-19 in high-density labour accommodation facilities.
Teams from the Dubai Health Authority, DHA, Covid-19 Command and Control Centre, Dubai Police, the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs and the private sector are working closely to ensure labourers remain safe and enjoy a good standard of living.
As part of the campaign, regular field visits are organised to carry out proactive Covid-19 tests and raise awareness on the virus. Workers who test positive are quarantined, while those that require medical care are hospitalised at medical facilities that provide the highest level of care. Suspected cases are isolated and subjected to tests to ensure all workers are free of the virus. Currently, extensive Covid-19 tests are being conducted at a number of labour camps in Dubai.
Inspection teams regularly assess labour accommodations and ensure buildings meet health and safety requirements. Authorities are also supervising large-scale sterilisation operations at labour camps as part of a city-wide programme.
Furthermore, workers are being provided with health guidelines in multiple languages to ensure they are clearly understood. The health guidelines aim to educate labour camp residents about the virus, its transmission and essential precautions for protecting themselves and the community. Awareness of precautionary guidelines and essential hygiene practices such as washing hands, wearing face masks and social distancing are critical in combating the virus.
The campaign conducted in various labour camps has played a significant role in reducing the spread of the virus. The intensified measures enable speedy detection and isolation of cases to protect workers from Covid-19. The campaign comes at a time when increased scientific research is being conducted to understand the virus’s impact on individuals and find effective treatments.
Authorities have provided their best medical personnel to implement the campaign in collaboration with the private sector. They have also provided all equipment necessary to conduct widespread tests. Precautionary measures are being implemented according to global best practices.
Dubai Government’s efforts to safeguard the health and wellbeing of workers reflect its keenness to provide the best living and working conditions for workers, who it recognises as important contributors to the country’s development process.
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