Table 3 Observed implementation of COVID-19 communal preventive measures

Health Facilities

- There were no stations for measuring the temperature of those entering the facilities or hand sanitizers in all facilities observed.

- There were no markings on the floor or seating areas to indicate physical distancing.

- Waiting areas in all but one health facility (Damazin) were poorly ventilated.

- There were no educational flyers and posters about COVOD-19, social distancing, or the use of face masks in all facilities but one.

- None of the health facilities had control over the number of visitors, and the waiting areas were crowded in all facilities observed

Pharmacies

- At two sites (Dereij and Gezira), there were educational posters about COVID-19 and written instructions mandating mask-wearing and physical distancing for customers.

- Safe distancing was observed between pharmacists and customers. However, two sites did not have a physical barrier between customers and service providers.

- Only one of the sites had a station for hand sanitizer.

Places of worship “Mosques”

- All mosques observed except one were closed, and they were opened 10 to 15 min before prayers and closed immediately after.

- All mosques were kept clean and well ventilated either by keeping the windows open during prayers or using fans.

- In all mosques except one (Tuti Island), there were no educational flyers and posters about COVID-19, no written instructions about physical distancing during prayers, bringing own holy book, using face masks or hand washing.

- Imams included a speech on COVID-19 precautions in two of the observed mosques.

- No stations for hand sanitizers, and handwashing stations did not have soap.

Public Transportation

- At all sites, buses were well-ventilated, and windows were open.

- None of the buses had markings on seats to indicate physical distancing, and there were no educational flyers or posters about COVID-19, no written instructions about physical distancing or wearing masks in public transportation

Public markets

- All of the sites observed had no or few billboards about COVID-19 prevention.

- There were no posters for written instructions mandating mask-wearing and physical distancing.

- None of the markets observed except one (Tuti Island) had a dirty environment with safe distancing rarely observed.

- There were no markings to indicate physical distancing, and handwashing and sanitizer stations were rare.

- There were no physical barriers between customers and vendors.

Bakeries

- There were no educational posters about COVID-19 or written instruction mandating mask-wearing and social distancing.

- There were no markings to indicate physical distancing, and handwashing and sanitizer stations were absent.