LAHORE: To mitigate and control the spread of Corona and Congo viruses in Punjab, the Punjab government has decided to allow markets of sacrificial animals outside the cities at government-designated points.
"Cattle trading and transportation in the country is a permanent feature during Eid-ul-Azha, but this huge movement of livestock and mass gatherings at cattle markets always pose threats of communicable diseases. This year, in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic, a comprehensive and focused approach is required and thus the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD), on the recommendations of Technical Working Group, has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to prevent its spread. In this connection, a notification was issued and circulated among the concerned departments," said sources here on Friday.
As per the SOPs, the cattle market will be established at designated points, 2-5 km away from city limits; and the number and size of the cattle markets will depend upon cattle base and transportation facilities. However, the Technical Working Group recommended an increase in the number of cattle markets to manage the rush of traders and customers.
Moreover, the management of cattle markets have been urged to strictly follow the preventive measures to avoid the spread of COVID-19. They have been asked to properly plan a spatial layout of the market, which should have a well-defined area for main business areas, ventilated management offices, medical and veterinary camps, and separate, spacious parking for vehicles carrying cattle and for customers, and separate entry and exit points.
As per the SOPs, only two persons per vehicle will be permitted and no elderly people or children will be allowed into the market, and the management will ensure implementation of 'distanced queue management' at all entry points. Moreover, animals will be pegged at distance in the sheds so that close gathering of customers can be avoided during the inspection of animals. The customers and sellers are required to wear face masks during their visit to the market. The visitors, sellers and market staff will go through a thermal scan at the entry point and any person detected with high temperature will be referred to medical camps for further assessment.
The Punjab Livestock Department has been given the task to monitor the health of sacrificial animals. Although human to animal transmission of the virus is rare but as part of the precautionary measures, veterinary clinic staff will examine any animal reporting COVID-19 symptoms and suspect animals will be isolated for further assessment.
To prevent the spread of the Congo virus, the government advised the people to wear light coloured full sleeve shirts and trousers for easy detection of ticks, a bug carrying the virus, on clothes and protection against tick bites. They have also been advised to regularly examine clothing and skin for ticks and use insect/tick repellent, and buy a tick-free animal and do not allow children to play with animals.
Under the SOPs, food points at dedicated places with only take away services are permitted, but mobile food vendors will not be allowed inside the markets.
In the notification, Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Secretary Capt. Muhammad Usman (retd) has asked the district administrations to arrange awareness sessions and seminars with the cattle market managements and traders on the preventive measures in their respective districts.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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