The City of Windhoek will reopen open markets as food is essential and the closing of these markets had serious negative effects on informal traders. The city, in a statement to the media, said it recognised that food is listed as essential goods and that a large section of the population depend on informal trading and markets as the main avenue for them to either sell or source the essential product or products, which in turn are their main source of income and survival. The reopening of markets will be subjected to following the basic COVID-19 store rules such as social distancing, availability of sanitisers and traders and their employees wearing masks. Markets will have to remain open only between 08h00 and 17h00 daily. No illegal vendors (hawkers) will be allowed around markets. Oshetu Community market, Okahandja Park Market and Soweto Market will start operating from 22 April. Once disinfection has been completed the rest of the markets will be operational. The markets were closed as a measure to curb the spread of COVID-19.