Valentina Bellomo/Stuff
Jazmin Parker and Chan Lee keeping business ticking over at Unichem Pharmacy, in Timaru’s Stafford Street.
With all but two businesses closed to customers in Timaru’s main street, the level 4 lockdown has created a temporary ghost town – something not lost on those continuing to work in the CBD.
“It’s very weird,” Unichem Pharmacy retail assistant, Jazmin Parker, said.
The silence is occassionally broken by a passing car or squawking seagull, but Parker said customers had been few.
“We’ve been open from nine to 5.30, Monday to Friday, and only getting about 20 customers a day.”
“People have mainly been getting prescriptions and others have come in for supplements.”
Strict protocols were being observed with access to the shop limited and people had to sign in or use their app.
JOHN BISSET/Stuff
Asenaca Kuruduadua, 12, and her grandmother Asenaca Vakalala collect supplies from Unichem Pharmacy in Timaru on Thursday morning.
Pharmacy owner Sherif Hanna said they would usually have a lot more people coming into the store each day, and it was tough to operate through lockdown.
“It’s extremely difficult for businesses to continue open.
“It is just like it was last year in lockdown, but I hope it doesn’t last as long. It’s important to us to provide a service,” Hanna said.
The wage subsidy offered by the Government was a help, he said.
“Hopefully we’ll have no cases in the South Island, and we can go to level 3 and get the traffic back into Stafford St.”
Parker said the only upside to the quiet days, was they gave her the opportunity to get jobs done around the shop and to do a stocktake.
Valentina Bellomo/Stuff
The occasional vehicle or squawking seagull are about the only noises in Timaru’s very quiet Stafford St under level 4.
The other business operating under level 4 is Red Chilli Pantry.
Co-owner Malti Puar said they were only allowing two to three customers in store at a time and had a number of protocols they were following to keep everyone safe.
Trade had been “ok” given the circumstances, she said.
“We’ve had about 20 to 30 a day, it all depends on the day. It’s down to about half of what we normally have.
“People want to talk and have some attention, and they’re buying more than normal.”
Valentina Bellomo/Stuff
Charanjeet Singh and Malti Puar owners of the Red Chilli Pantry, are well-used to operating in lockdown having done so last year.
Partner Charanjeet ‘Lucky’ Singh said he hoped more people would realise they were open.
“It’s alright for us here; we’ve got our stock, but we’d like to have more people. It is very strange that there is no-one around.”
Puar said having been open throughout last year’s lockdown, she and Singh were used to it.
Singh, a courier driver, was working as usual and working in the shop when Puar looked after their two children.
“As a courier, it has been pretty slow at the moment. With all the shops closed the stock is being kept at the depot. There’s quite a lot in the depot.”
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