This is a subscriber-only article
Marts are putting a limit on the number of people that can attend sales, as concern over the coronavirus outbreak grows.
Government guidelines state that all indoor events with over 100 people and outdoor events with over 500 people should be cancelled.
Limit
In line with these guidelines, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS) has announced that mart sales should be limited to 100 people.
“The number of people attending individual mart ringsides at any one time will be limited to 100, which will be managed on a strict rotation system, ie using admission cards which will be rotated among patrons at the entrance/exit to the mart ringside or other such monitoring methods as devised by the mart,” ICOS said.
Customers
ICOS has also asked that only “trading customers” should attend marts until further notice up until 29 March.
This is in line with a similar statement from mart managers of Ireland which has also requested that only farmers with business at the mart attend sales.
ICOS livestock and environment services executive Ray Doyle said marts are mindful of the risk coronavirus poses to its members.
He said that the new working arrangements being introduced will be reviewed on a daily basis to ensure they are satisfying their objectives.
If there is any question that they are not delivering, then further options will be considered, with Ray explaining that the health and well-being of mart employees and customers is paramount during these testing times.
For more information on health and safety protocol, farmers can go to the HSE website.
SHARING OPTIONS: