After being shut for nearly 3 months to curb the spread of COVID-19, shopping malls in Gurugram will finally see the light of the day. As per new orders, shopping malls in the city will be allowed to reopen from next week. However, the malls are expected to follow strict rules to prevent the spread of coronavirus and ensure customer safety.
Gurugram Shopping Malls To Reopen Next Week
Addressing a joint press conference, Municipal Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh, announced that although malls will be allowed to reopen, they will have to adhere to strict social distancing rules. Similarly, malls will also have to follow SOPs laid down by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
As per Singh, failure to comply with these norms will lead to strict action and the malls will be asked to shut down. However, reportedly, the SOP has not been announced yet. It is expected to be released after the State’s Home department finalizes it.
According to a HT report, barring Faridabad and Gurugram, malls in the rest of Haryana had reopened on June 8. But now, as per Singh, in the last one week, the number of cases in the region is stabilizing; hence, the timely decision to open the malls was taken.
Also Read: Guidelines For Reopening Of Restaurants, Hotels, Offices, Malls & Religious Places
Gurugram Shopping Mall Operators Welcome Decision
Shopping malls have undergone huge losses because of the stop in economic activity caused by the lockdown. With barely any sales, and rent and other fixed costs accumulating, they have found themselves in a deep soup.
Hence, the decision to reopen malls has been welcomed with open arms. Reportedly, many store and mall operators in Gurugram have already prepared a detailed standard operating procedure to ensure safety of visitors. As reported by HT, a few of these measures include temperature checks, installation of sanitizer dispensers machines and social distancing markers in mall premises. Similarly, wearing of masks has been made compulsory in all malls.
Currently, the total count of COVID-19 cases in Gurugram stands at 4,944. This figure includes 1,596 active cases, 3,267 recovered patients and 81 deaths.
Also Read: Gyms And Salons To Open In Maharashtra By June 28