In mid July, 2020 many stores, cafes and restaurants in Ashgabat were closed down to carry out disinfection works. The break was envisaged to last 10 days, but correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that consumer goods stores are re-opening only now, a month and a half later.
Only grocery stores have remained open. Counters with household goods have appeared in Tekin bazaar, in the flea market “Altyn Atyr”, in the shopping mall “Gulistan” and in the evening wholesale greengrocer’s market.
Apparel shops, including new stores owned by the textile factory, which were opened on 17 June, 2020, have resumed their operations on the eastern side of A. Niyazov avenue.
On the entrance to the Russian bazaar and the shopping mall “Altyn Asyr” female staff are disinfecting visitors’ hands with sanitizers.
Beauty parlours and hairdressing salons also resumed their operations.
At the same time, some stores and beauty parlours are still closed. The authorities have issued no official instructions or explanations as to what criteria are being used to decide whether trade or services will be resumed.
It has been previously reported that despite requirement issued by the authorities on temporary closing of shops, cafes and restaurants, some of them were still operating.