Coronavirus: Nutt’s Corner market ‘put lives at risk’

The market went ahead as planned with some traders arguing they have a right to make a living just like supermarkets and shopping centres which remain open.

Via its Facebook page, Nutt’s Corner Sunday Market said ahead of the market: “At the present time the market is still open just like shops or supermarkets, What we ask you to do is wash your hands with warm soapy water and cough or sneeze into a handkerchief or tissue, if you have any symptoms relating to the corona virus please stay at home and contact your doctor, we will continue to give updates on this page.”

One trader said: “For some of us this one day is our weekly wage. We have no clear directive where our next pay cheque is coming from unlike those that can spend hundreds hoarding food and toilet roll.”

UUP leader Steve Aiken said: “I find it extraordinary, particularly with the challenges that our health service are very shortly going to have to deal with.

“The message from the prime minister downwards has been about ensuring that there are no large social gatherings, we should be keeping six feet apart and following the hygiene rules.

“Just because there is a group of small traders who say they are open they are not following the same rules and regulations as the major supermarkets.

“If anybody has gone into any of the big supermarkets recently you’ll see the amount of cleansing that is going on, social distancing is being enforced. There is a complete difference between how that is operating and an open air market.”

He added: “The Emergency Powers bill is going through Parliament on Monday and then it is going to be in the Assembly on Tuesday. I expect it to be in action by close of play on Wednesday.

“There will then be powers for local authorities and police to be able to deal with these issues. It can’t come in soon enough as far as I’m concerned. 

“Let’s be abundantly clear. There will have been people at Nutt’s Corner who are infected with the virus. They will be infecting other people with the virus.

“Some of those people, who came out despite the guidance which told them not to, will end up in our emergency rooms and wards.

“I fully understand that small traders are facing considerable challenges. but the issue is not that, the issue is the health of our nation.”

The SDLP’s public health spokesperson, Justin McNulty MLA, said the decision to proceed with the market at Nutt’s Corner was “reckless and could potentially cost lives”.

Mr McNulty said: “This is a incredibly shortsighted decision. Whilst many of the shoppers and stall owners may be fit and well and may feel that they will not be adversely impacted by the deadly coronavirus, they will become vectors and could potentially spread the virus to many thousands of people.”

He added: “How on earth can it be advisable to allow thousands of people to intermingle in a busy market environment?”