Ahead of Mall Opening, Anies Expects Health Protocols to Be Implemented Well

Jakarta Governor, Anies Baswedan together with Jakarta Civil Aparatuses (ASN) attended shopping center opening simulation from Jakarta Indonesian Shopping Center Management Association (APPBI) at Emporium Pluit Mall, North Jakarta, Thursday (6/11).

Provincial Government has determined that from June 15, shopping center will start to operate

During the transitional Large-scale Social Restrictions (PSBB) period, Jakarta Government allows shopping center's tenants in non-food sector to open their business on the third week of June or on the next Monday (6/15).

"We fulfill invitation from Jakarta APPBI to watch the simulation of visitor management when the shopping center opens. Provincial Government has determined that from June 15, shopping center will start to operate," he said after visited the location, as quoted from Jakarta PPID Press Release.

Shopping Centers in North Jakarta Urged to Follow Health Protocols

According to him, managers should ensure visitors and employees in shopping centers can comply with all protocols that have been set.

"Thus, it needs preparation (health protocols from the management), because we realize that within 3 months it stopped the activity due to outbreak of disease. When it starts to operate, they (the management) should operate to make visitors and employees who work in this place to feel safe (from getting exposed by disease)," he explained.

In his monitoring at Emporium Pluit Mall, he saw how health protocols were implemented. Start from body temperature checking at the entrance gates, counting number of visitors through QR Scan that can show the indicator of 50 percent of mall's total capacity, as well as placing safe distance signs between visitors in elevators and escalators.

"Today, we have witnessed the simulation and Alhamdulillah (Thank God), it is quite good. There are some improvements, but it can be completed later. Overall, we believe that if shopping center management can be discipline, It can make visitors calmer and economy activity at shopping center can continue running," he added.

Through this simulation, his side hopes 80 malls included as APPBI's member to comply with health protocols as the simulation which carried out at Emporium Pluit Mall. However, he realized that each mall has different building's characteristics.

"Every shopping center has different design and entry-exit access, thus each shopping center should define it based on each building's design. I hope this association can ensure them to follow it as their role model," he conveyed.

Although the shopping centers will open from June 15, but not all places or tenants are allowed to open because it is considered to have higher potential of COVID-19 transmission. Besides, it is done to protect vulnerable people. Those places are;

1. Children playground and temporary playground

2. Gym or fitness center

3. Cinema

4. Exhibition

5. Multipurpose Hall for Reception

6. And other technical provisions with further details later.

Meanwhile, Jakarta APPBI Chairperson, Ellen Hidayat is commited to ensure all shopping centers (malls) under Jakarta APPBI to comply with health protocols that have been socialized by Jakarta Government.

"Today, we receive instruction from Governor thus soon we will convey to all members of Jakarta APPBI, which are 80 shopping centers in total, to complete their preparations for the opening. Surely, we will ensure malls under our management to implement health protocols. Thus even though it is operating, but we will suppress the risk of COVID-19 exposure," she explained.