Malls, dine-ins and religious places to stay shut for now
nNEW DELHI: In its order charting out guidelines for further relaxations during the ongoing nationwide lockdown, the Delhi government Monday said shopping malls, places of religious worship and restaurants would remain closed for now, even though the guidelines issued by the Centre on Saturday provides room for states to allow these to open from June 8.
Senior officials maintained that a review meeting is likely on June 7, following which a fresh order concerning malls, restaurants and places of religious worship may be issued.
“Shopping malls, restaurants and places of religious worship see large gatherings and they are places with a high risk of disease transmission. It is good that the government did not prioritise them in their relaxation strategy. One has to be careful about policies concerning such enterprises and institutions considering the spike in Covid-19 cases that Delhi is currently witnessing,” Jugal Kishore, head of community medicines department in Safdarjung Hospital, said.
Several religious places have worked out their own rules to ensure social distancing on the premises if and when gatherings are allowed.
Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, said, “The government must have taken the decision after careful consultation with experts. We respect the decision.” Close to 10,000 people offer Friday prayers at the Jama Masjid in Old Delhi during summer and the number goes up to 22,000 in winter.
Temples such as Jhandelwalan Mandir and Gauri Shankar temple in Chandni Chowk have worked out crowd control measures. Jhandewalan temple authorities have decided to do away with puja thalis and are doing a virtual aarti since the lockdown started. “We will continue with the online aarti even after the temple is allowed to open,” a member of the temple management committee said.
At Sacred Heart Cathedral, Savarimuthu Shankar, the spokesperson of Delhi Catholic
Archdiocese, said a plan for social distancing inside the church will be prepared only when the Delhi government gives the go-ahead.
Manjinder Singh Sirsa, chairperson, Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee, said, “We will increase the number of entry and exit points at gurdwara so that human interactions are kept to a minimum and to ensure crowd control. Hand sanitisers will be kept at a different points on the premises and central ACS will remain off. We are still unclear if devotees would be allowed to sit and pray.”
The major city shopping malls too are ready to reopen with a long list of self-regulations.
“The shopping experience will be different from before. Tweaks in design and markings will help visitors and retail outlets maintain the necessary social distancing of six feet. There will also be proper marking at counters and cash registers to stop crowding, fixing plexiglass shields at all checkout points is being looked into,” a spokesperson of Select City Walk Mall, in south Delhi’s Saket, said.
Dinaz Madhukar, executive vice president, DLF, retail luxury and hospitality, said, “Masks, sanitizers, gloves, PPE kit and face shields will be stocked in every retail store. The number of visitors will be limited. We are also working on touch-less parking experience and encouraging digital payment. Valet service will not be available and there will be a strict protocol on the movement of cabs and personal drivers in the basement,” she said.
Praveen Khandelwal, secretary-general, Confederation of All India Traders, said, “It is advisable that malls not be opened as maintaining social distancing would be a tough task. Malls have a central AC system and the virus spread is more quicker in such environments. However, restaurants should be allowed to open from June 8 with all necessary guidelines.”
Priyank Sukhija, member, National Restaurant Association of India, said, “So far, there is no clarity if restaurants with bars will be allowed to open. Also, if we are asked to shut by 9pm, it will affect business.”