<span style="color: #222222;">Punjab Government today issued the guidelines for shopkeepers and advisory on ensuring the safety of food and other essential household items during the COVID-19 pandemic.<br />'' <br />'' Giving details, an official spokesman said in the general advisory, the Punjab Government directs the shop-owner, delivery staff and customers to wear cloth masks at all the times.<br />'' <br />'' The masks shall be worn in a manner that it snugly covers the nose as well as the mouth. The spokesman further said that the customers are advised not to indulge in any handshakes/hugs even with a known acquaintance.<br />'' <br />'' Similarly, the shop-owners/delivery staff should not handshake/hug among themselves or with anyone else.<br />'' <br />'' All are advised to follow strict social distancing measures and maintain a minimum distance of 1 metre among them at all times. All the precautions related to hand wash and sanitization was also mentioned.<br />'' <br />'' The Spokesman further said that the shopkeeper/customers/delivery staff should avoid all type of gatherings like social, religious, political etc.The customers should preferably pay through digital means.<br />'' <br />'' The shopkeeper/his workers as well the customer shall sanitize their hands immediately before or after cash transactions if it is so.<br />'' <br />'' The shopkeeper/customers/delivery staff should not indulge in gossip/ rumors with regard to COVID-19 without verifying the facts. All are also being encouraged to download  "COVA APP" developed by the Government of Punjab for the correct, timely and authentic information.<br />'' <br />'' In Specific Advisory for the consumers/customers, the Punjab Government advised to the consumers to carry cloth bags while going out to buy the essentials.<br />'' <br />'' Consumers are also advised to wash all the products/goods with warm soda water and then wipe them with a clean cloth.<br />'' <br />'' He said that consumers should wash all food items thoroughly with clean, potable water and use 50 ppm chlorine with clean, potable water for fruits and vegetables to be consumed raw.<br />''<br />''In a Specific Advisory for the food handlers, the Punjab Government asked them to wear a clean uniform, gloves, cloth masks/face cover, and head covers at all times.</span>