No sale events in malls under GCQ
Under the new normal, there will be no sale events and free WiFi in malls, and office spaces will be redesigned to observe social distancing.
These are some of the changes to be observed in areas under the more lenient general community quarantine (GCQ) rules based on the guidelines approved recently by the InterAgency Task Force (IATF) on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The guidelines seek to minimize contact and to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Under the guidelines on malls and shopping centers in GCQ areas, foot traffic will be monitored and safe distancing will be enforced by limiting the number of people inside the establishment to a density of not more than one person per two square meters. Open entrances will also be reduced and only one companion for senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disabilities will be allowed.
Malls will also be required to ensure a one-meter social distancing and to assign personnel in high-density areas.
Even the use of escalators and elevators will be governed by social distancing measures. Mall administrators should ensure that people would stand on every other step of escalators, while access to elevators should be limited to senior citizens, persons with disabilities and pregnant women.
The total passengers of the elevator should only be half of the original standard capacity.
Seats available for waiting should be marked or reduced and a one-way flow should be created to decongest queues and facilitate movement. Police visibility will also be increased.
Malls and shopping centers should also designate a centralized pick up location for delivery service providers and regulate air conditioning to 26 degrees centigrade.
They should also turn off free WiFi and suspend sale events, marketing events and other promotions that tend to attract large crowds.
“If the malls are cool and there is WiFi, people would linger,” said presidential spokesman Harry Roque at a press briefing yesterday.
Malls are also asked to implement other necessary measures, including setting up express lanes for consumers.
Workspace guidelines
Roque said the IATF has also approved the interim workspace guidelines proposed by the trade and labor departments.
Under the guidelines, companies should explore alternative work arrangements like working-hour shifts, work from home where feasible and rotation basis. Prolonged face-toface interaction between workers and clients are discouraged and masks should be worn at all times.
Meetings that require physical presence shall be kept to a minimum number of participants and with short durations, while video conferencing will be used for lengthy discussions among workers.
Even the workplace set-up will have to be changed to ensure safe and proper physical distance among workers. Office tables should be arranged and barriers may be provided between tables.
“Our work station layout should be redesigned so that there would only be one direction when it comes to the movement in aisles, corridors or walkways. In other words, one-way street,” Roque said.
The number of people inside an enclosed space such as a room, store or hall should also be limited.
Companies are highly encouraged to use online systems including video conferencing for clients who need assistance from offices. Roving officers will be tapped to ensure physical distancing and observance of minimum health protocols.
Roque said the IATF has also approved a food security framework and food safety guidelines for the agriculture and fishery sectors, and adopted the recommendations of the National Economic and Development Authority on managing supply chain issues.
These include the creation of the sub-task group for supply chain, the launching of the supply chain analytics (SCAN) IATF reporter mobile application and the development of SCAN dispatch optimization sub-dashboard for medical supplies.