The Tripoli Traders Association has appealed to the Ministers of Interior and Municipalities in the caretaker government, Major General Mohamed Fahmy, and Health Minister Dr. Hamad Hassan, as well as the Corona Committee, "to amend the decision to resume economic activity, which is divided into four stages gradually, each lasting 15 days. The committee requested in a statement today to include shops and commercial institutions in the first stage and to allow them to reopen, even with partial hours from 10 AM to 3 PM, in order to mitigate further damages to the commercial sector and the risks of bankruptcy and collapse that it has faced for more than a year in unprecedented ways."
The association emphasized, "our commitment and constant concern to adhere to the highest standards of precaution and preventive measures that have become known for the benefit of the country and its people."
It was mentioned that, "as a result of the field survey conducted by Secretary Ghassan Al-Hosami, we regretfully confirm that 270 shops and commercial institutions in Tripoli have permanently closed, leading to ramifications and a social crisis due to layoffs of employees and workers. We affirm today that this number has increased due to the worsening effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including public mobilization measures and general lockdown."
On another note, the association condemned "the acts of vandalism that the city of Tripoli endured on the night of January 29, which are foreign to the city and its patient people," demanding "a transparent investigation and the harshest penalties for the perpetrators." It concluded: "Today, more than ever, we demand the opening of commercial shops and institutions, starting the morning of February 8, even with partial hours as previously mentioned."
The Prime Minister's Office had circulated an updated strategy for combating the coronavirus and phases of gradual easing of lockdown restrictions, with a mechanism to organize the easing of restrictions imposed on various sectors and the movement of individuals over four phases.
