Trades and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen is urging the public to as much as possible engage in online and teleshopping methods, as a way to cut the spread of the Covid-19 in the country.

The Minister said the online mode of shopping is one of the effective ways to cut the spread of the pandemic because it does not require physical engagements.

“Obviously, I know we like to go to shops physically to see the product to bargain and so on and so forth but as much as possible, we must understand that this pandemic might be living with us for a very long time and so we have to start encouraging ourselves to use online and teleshopping methods,” he said on Thursday at the Ministry of Information’s Press Brief on Ghana’s Covid-19 situation.

According to him, online shopping will not require in-person engagements and this will further reduce the spread of the virus from person to person.

In the wake of Covid-19, there have been various measures put in place to curtail the spread of the virus.

As a way to mitigate the effects of the pandemic, while returning life to normalcy, various sectors of the country’s economy are adopting new measures to ensure that life continues while Covid-19 still exists.

Like some parts of the Education sector that has adopted the online mode of teaching and learning, the Trade’s Minster is urging the public to adopt the online mode of shopping as well.

Mr Kyerematen, however, indicated that persons who wish to continue with the physical mode must ensure that they strictly adhere to the Covid-19 protective protocols adding that, shopping centers must also make certain provisions to check the spread of the virus at such centers.

He indicated that shopping centers, malls, and retail outlets must “regulate the number of customers that enter such places to conduct trading activities.

They must use floor markings inside the shopping areas to ensure compliance with physical/ social distancing."

“In addition to that, these outlets must encourage digital payment systems which will limit the handling and the use of physical cash, which is a likely mode of transmitting the infection.  We don’t want you to make money at the expense of your safety or the health your customers,” he said.  

He further added that “wipes and other forms of sanitisation must be provided for customers to clean handles of trolleys and baskets or in place of that shopping centers must assign specific staff to disinfect the handles of shopping trolleys after each use.”