Malls and commercial centers must implement health protocols, including limiting the number of people inside their establishments, as part of the quarantine rules against the coronavirus outbreak, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said.
Even as the government has allowed the partial operations of more businesses in some areas, Lopez said concerned mall operators and commercial establishments must implement strict monitoring foot traffic and safe distancing inside the shopping centers.
“Doon naman po sa malls, as to the question, mga extra health measures po dito ay pananatilihing may maximum number ng tao na puwede lamang sa isang lugar sa mall, maaring iyong buong mall o iyong tindahan inside the mall at ang rule of thumb po dito ay one person per two square meters,” Lopez said.
“So, ang libreng space po ng nilalakaran sa loob ng isang tindahan ay mga 50 square meters, puwede pa po ang 25 na katao at any given point of time. Iyon po ang maximum,” he said.
Lopez said malls must also implement other health precautions such as temperature checks of people, social distancing, and wearing of face masks.
He said “sanitation stations” must also be established in commercial centers to curb the spread of the disease.
Comfort rooms must have complete hygienic products such as soap.
The number of passengers of elevators must also be limited to only half of the original carrying capacity of the unit, Lopez said.
“At pati po sa mga pagsakay sa elevator at escalator mayroon pong social distancing na ipatutupad. Mga one meter apart kapag nasa escalator at sa elevator naman ay kung ang capacity ng elevator dati ay sampu, kung iyon ang standard capacity, ide-divide by two para iyon lang po ang magiging allowed inside the elevator, parang magiging lima o iyon for that example,” he said.
He said “roving officers” will be deployed to check compliance with these health standards inside the shopping centers.
Other health rules imposed by the government in malls are regulating air conditioning inside the mall to 26 degrees Celsius, turning off free Wi-Fi for customers, suspension of sales and marketing events, and centralized pickup location for stores with delivery or pickup service.
Under the government’s guidelines, mall and commercial centers are among the establishments partially allowed in Metro Manila and several other areas under modified ECQ. Among the shops allowed are clothing and accessory stores, hardware, bookstores, baby care supplies, pet care supplies, IT stores, flower shops, jewelry, perfume, and toy stores. (Genalyn Kabiling)
