Chaguanas Mayor Faaiq Mohammed is hopeful that the Chaguanas Market would re-open this week.
The market was closed yesterday based on advice from the office of the County Medical Officer Health (CMOH) that a vendor was tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Mohammed told Guardian Media that the Borough Corporation planned to sanitize the facility yesterday.
He said the vendor had not been at the market for more than seven days because the affected person was in quarantine.
Mohammed said despite this he was not too worried that any massive outbreak of COVID-19 would take place in Chaguanas.
He said the CMOH is doing contact tracing to determine primary and secondary contacts and added that the re-opening of the facility depends on how fast the contact tracing process could be undertaken.
Mohammed said he was unable to say what type of goods the vendor sold or what area the affected vendors operated at.
“We are taking all necessary health and safety precautions and remain guided by the medical experts to prevent the spread of this deadly virus.
“I urge everyone to continue to adhere to the necessary precautions and to act responsibly in light of the spike in COVID-19 cases.”
Mohammed said the corporation would be holding a public health committee meeting on Thursday, where he plans to discuss whether or not to limit the number of consumers using the market at a given time.
He said the municipal police have to constantly monitor vendors who use every opportunity to sell goods in prohibited areas along the corridors. Mohammed said vendors selling along the roadway would be removed.
