Story By: John Feng, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report
AsiaWire
This is the Chinese bun shop selling fresh food to customers by sliding packets along a wooden plank in order to avoid contact amid Wuhan coronavirus fears.
Gulou Steamed Buns in China’s capital Beijing is relying on the custom-made 3-foot wooden ‘slide’ to keep its staff and customers safe from the disease now given the official name of COVID-19.
The popular steamed bun business has managed to retain its long queues despite the viral outbreak, with two dozen customers waiting their turn at any one time.
The buns have increased in demand as staple stock ever since the government urged members of the public to remain indoors when possible in order to avoid large crowds.
Instead of paying cash, clients now settle their orders using ubiquitous mobile messaging application WeChat, which has a cashless payment system.
Staff members wearing gloves and surgical masks then place the buns in a plastic bag, which slides down to customers standing at a safe enough distance.
AsiaWire
Gulou Steamed Buns’ hygiene policy has now gone viral online, with footage of their new transaction method seen 11 million times at the time of writing.
COVID-19 is responsible for at least 1,113 deaths in mainland China, where more than 44,600 cases have been reported since December 2019.
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