New Taipei markets fully disinfected, rent at 20% off to ease the impact, online shopping truly thoughtful

In response to the "2019 novel coronavirus" (COVID-19) prevention measures, the New Taipei City Market Affairs Office recently launched market disinfection operations, and for 38 public retail markets and 121 clustered vendor areas, stepped up awareness campaigns on voluntarily wearing masks, washing hands frequently, and implementing health management. The New Taipei City Market Affairs Office stated that in addition to epidemic prevention on the environmental side, it has also set up a dedicated online shopping zone and proposed relief measures waiving 20% of stall usage fees.

Since the outbreak began, public markets in New Taipei City have successively placed disinfectant alcohol at entrances and hand sanitizer or soap at washbasins. In addition, for the surfaces of public equipment that people frequently touch, such as door handles, handrails, and power switches, cleaning and disinfection are carried out daily with a 500ppm diluted bleach solution to implement epidemic prevention measures. Beyond that, the Market Affairs Office further proposed relief measures including a 20% reduction in stall usage fees for February and the establishment of a dedicated shopping zone on an e-commerce platform, hoping to ease the impact and boost the economy.

The Market Affairs Office explained that many market vendors, in addition to taking preventive measures on their own such as wearing masks and washing hands frequently, also provide electronic payment services to reduce person-to-person contact, and it called on the public to shop at New Taipei markets with peace of mind. Furthermore, some vendors are actively running their own online sales channels, and some have also joined the "Lai New Taipei Visit the Food Market" PChome and Shopee online malls as well as the "Jinlong Market Online Store," so that friends who find it inconvenient to go out can still enjoy market-fresh produce and delicious food!