Only 30 per cent of stallholders decided to reopen yesterday.
MIRI (June 15): Miri Central Market at Jalan Brooke reopened yesterday (June 14) after being closed due to Covid-19 cases.
Miri City Council (MCC) said all sections reopened with strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the Movement Control Order (MCO).
The council said hawkers and traders were only permitted to resume trading after getting a negative swab test and completing 14 days of quarantine certified in writing by the Health Department.
“All stallholders must show the result slip of the swab test during trading for checking by the enforcement personnel,” MCC said.
The market was initially closed by MCC from May 25-27 for sanitisation and thorough cleaning work, but was again ordered to close from May 31 to June 13.
In total, five Covid-19 positive cases and one death were recorded at the market.
When contacted by The Borneo Post today, trader CH Chong said only 30 per cent of traders had reopened their businesses.
“I was told by some of them that they chose to rest for a bit, as they have gone through an emotional rollercoaster in the past 20 days. It was especially hard when someone we knew and saw every day has gone because of the virus.
“Knowing the virus is just around us, the struggle of dealing with waiting for swab test results and during compulsory quarantine period was real — it had somehow impacted us physically and emotionally,” said Chong.
He said although traders had to stop trading, they were thankful for the swift arrangements made by MCC and the Health Department.
Chong said they had swab tests at the Miri Indoor Stadium on May 29 and received their test results between June 1 and 2.
“Traders here aged 60 years old and above have had their vaccine doses.
“But it would be great if the disaster management committee (MDMC) and Health Department could arrange for the traders aged 60 years old and below to be given the vaccines first, as we have to come face to face with many different people while doing business,” he said.
For the stalls that reopened, Chong said sales were down significantly.
“Stigmatisation is real but we cannot blame them. We have to continue our business to survive so we hope that regular customers will slowly return,” he said.