Turkmenistan continues to ease restrictions imposed to combat the spread of COVID-19. On 1 April, 2021 mosques and drama theatres were re-opened and some bazaars are resuming their operations.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that on 7 April the Ashgabat market “Altyn Asyr” was re-opened.Vendors renting retail premises expected the market to be re-opened on 1 April, which did not happen for unknown reasons.
Fearing that restrictions will be further extended, over 50 vendors headed to the bazaar’s administration with a request to resume trade officially.The market administrator hurried to appease the stall holders and showed the order (we have failed to find out which agency sent it), pursuant to which the market was scheduled to be re-opened on Monday, 7 April.
Because the market is not open on Mondays and Tuesday according to its schedule, the bazaar resumed its operations on 7 April.
It was reported a week ago that illegal trade was ongoing in “Altyn Asyr” market but vendors were urged to pay daily bribes to police officer police officers to ensure that they are not prevented from engaging in trade.
Other requirements have been eased in the city. According to correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan”, all non-food shops and beauty parlours have resumed their operations. Fitness centres are also open despite the fact that the windows are closed with curtains because no official permit to resume operations has been issued.
Cafes, restaurants and banquet halls have been re-opened. However, because of the current ban, tables are not put outside and curtains at the windows are kept closed.
In late March banquet halls were allowed to be open in case they accommodate no more than 250 people a day. However, this requirement is not being observed because some families organize charity lunches and weddings for 500 and more guests. Nobody wears masks at these events.
Police officers are also not keeping vigil to make sure the requirements are met.The requirement to wear masks is not being strictly observed.People still put on masks when they go to the streets but they wear them on the chin without covering the mouth and the nose.
Police officers are no longer making any comments in this regard.
Hand sanitizers are available at entrances to shopping centres and markets but customers are not using them. Everyone who entered the shopping centre had their temperature taken. In the meantime, a guard just pretends to be keeping vigil at the entrance and does not measure customers’ temperatures.
Some parks, such as “Ashgabat” (the First Park) remain closed.The third floor in the shopping centre “Bagtyyarlyk” with children’s rides is still cordoned off whereas the same area in the shopping centre “Berkarar” has been re-opened since 1 March.The post Ashgabat is easing COVID-19 restrictions first appeared on Chronicles of Turkmenistan.