Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – Monday 30th March 2020
- Visual guides have been added to various locations in the Market to assist with social distancing
- Electric vehicles will no longer be permitted on the trading floor
- The Melbourne Market, including both the fruit and vegetable market and the flower market, continues to remain open
Visual guides
To reduce the risk of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Market, we all need to take social distancing rules seriously. Today we have started adding visual guides to the floor in selected areas of the Buyers’ Walk and trading floor to demonstrate the 1.5 metre social distancing rule. (images below)
The white crosses are spaced 1.5 metres apart, and they are similar to what you may have seen in your local supermarket.
These guides are based on the existing infrastructure and line markings we already have. We ask you to exercise some common sense, use the markers as a guide, and keep 1.5 metres away from fellow Market users at all times where possible.
If you would like assistance in implementing something similar in your own tenancy, please contact us, and we will be happy to help.
Changes to Market operations
Electric vehicles, including buggies, will no longer be able to enter the trading floor (grower’s section). The only exception to this rule is when electric vehicles are using the cross over highway to travel between the North and South side of the Market. Forklifts and pedestrians can access the trading floor as usual, so long as they adhere to social distancing rules.
Electric vehicles will still be able to operate on the Buyers’ Walk.
Failing to exercise social distancing
It is not acceptable to congregate in areas together; Market users must maintain the 1.5 metre social distancing rule wherever possible. A typical example of where this is not being exercised is by point of sale desks, with people found to be congregating in these areas.
Any Market user deliberately not following social distancing rules will be excluded from the Market.
Visitors to the Market
Businesses and individuals should refrain from inviting non-essential visitors to the Market.
Gate 1 personnel will be vetting all visitors to determine if the visit is warranted and if the meeting could be done via phone or video conference instead. If you have an essential visitor, you must ensure:
- They have not returned from overseas travel in the last 14 days
- They are not feeling unwell in any way
- The visitor is signed in at Gate 1 and fully escorted for the duration of their time at the Market.
These are unprecedented times, and the measures we are putting in place may be inconvenient and cause delays in the way you are used to doing business. We ask you to remember that restrictions are in place for everyone’s safety and to ensure the continued operation of the Market for the businesses and people who rely on the site for their livelihoods.
Reducing the risk of COVID-19 at the Market
As previously stated, the critical piece of advice for Market users is, if you are feeling unwell, you should stay at home and seek medical advice. Do not attend the Market for work, or to purchase flowers or produce, if you are feeling unwell in any way.
The MMA is investigating a range of additional health and safety measures to help stop the spread of the virus; we will update you on any changes to Market procedure and operations as they occur.
Questions
A summary of previous COVID-19 updates and operational changes are kept on our website, click here to access.
If you have any further questions, you can call the 24-hour security number, 0408 334 555. |
