Commercial outlets allowed to operate inside stores

MANAMA: Commercial businesses can continue working inside the stores provided they are closed and do not receive customers, it has been clarified.

The sale of goods and services can be carried out via electronic means or social media and sent to the customers through delivery services, according to the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry.

Posting a document on its Instagram account, it said food and beverage retailers such as groceries and convenience stores can operate as normal.

As part of national efforts to contain the spread of the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19), all industrial and commercial businesses were ordered closed from 7pm last Thursday to 7pm on April 9.

Answering some of the frequently asked questions, the ministry said:

• Hotels can operate as normal, provided food is not served in their restaurants but in the rooms, or via takeaway and delivery.
• Businesses with branches inside hypermarkets and not serving food are allowed to open their stores as long as they are within the boundaries of the hypermarket and not next to or opposite to it in a mall.
• Salons and gyms, both for men and women, will remain closed and they are not allowed to provide services to clients anywhere.
• Gyms, entertainment venues, and outside courts must be closed.
• Veterinary clinics and animal medicine businesses can operate normally.
• Work can continue inside laundries without receiving customers, and can deliver orders.
• In the case of Batelco, Zain and stc, work is permitted inside the offices without receiving clients while services can be provided via electronic means and social media.
• Gold and jewellery businesses must be closed but they can deliver orders to clients.
• Carpentry, welding, aluminium and upholstery workshops can receive and carry out requests for sites under construction. However, installation in populated sites is prohibited.
• Businesses selling sanitary ware and building tools can carry out their activities.
• Administrative offices can operate normally without receiving clients.
• Businesses providing multiple services, such as car maintenance and washing, can perform their activities normally, while businesses that are limited to providing washing and polishing services shall be closed, except for businesses that provide mobile service (performing services in the customer’s own house) with compliance with the rules and procedures issued by the Health Ministry; most notably, social distancing.
• Building and construction materials businesses can continue to operate normally by selling materials. Also, building and construction workers can continue to work in sites under construction, but working in populated sites is strictly prohibited.
• Businesses that provide repair services and water and electricity maintenance services can continue to operate normally to provide service at the clients’ sites without receiving clients inside their stores, while adhering to the rules and procedures issued by the Health Ministry, especially social distancing.
• Car maintenance, vehicle and motorcycle spare parts businesses can carry out their activities in the after-sales service provided that it abides by the Health Ministry regulations, especially social distancing.
• Upholstery businesses should remain closed.
• Optical businesses can operate normally.
• Businesses in the ship repair industry can work normally, only as far as a repair is concerned.
• Labourers can work on project sites such as buildings, roads, etc., while adhering to the Health Ministry regulations, especially social distancing.
• Businesses selling and repairing mobile phones will remain closed.
• Professional services offices, lawyers, engineering or administrative consulting and accounting offices can work inside their offices without receiving customers.
• Car rental businesses will also remain closed; they can only receive the rented cars back according to the expiry of the rental agreement, while adhering to the Health Ministry regulations, especially social distancing.
• Cosmetic clinics and non-medical salons will remain closed.
• Insurance companies can continue to work via electronic means.
• Laboratories can work normally.
• Food and beverage trucks can provide the services under the same restrictions as the restaurants; only takeaway orders and delivery services.
• Import and export businesses working in freight transport (logistics sector) are not affected. This includes local companies, as well as branches of global companies while adhering to the Health Ministry rules, especially social distancing.
• Licensed alternative medicine businesses can offer herbal treatments, massage treatments and oils, among others, but are not allowed to provide massage services.
• Work can be performed inside the office without receiving clients or customers.
• Government and private clearance offices can work inside and provide services by any means of communication without receiving customers and clients.
• Electronics, refrigerators, air conditioners, and household items repair businesses can repair inside the store and communicate with clients by any suitable means, with the possibility to receive clients while adhering to the Health Ministry regulations, especially social distancing.
• Tailoring businesses must remain closed but the tailor can work from inside the store without receiving customers, and just deliver orders.
• Vehicles, motorcycles, furniture and ceramics showrooms are neither allowed to open nor receive clients.

For more details, visit https://www.moic.gov.bh/en/FAQ/covid-19

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/788177/Commercial-outlets-allowed-to-operate-inside-stores