By Jhon Aldrin Casinas
Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City’s major economic point, reopened with big changes in the layout of its famous "tiangge" and stricter safety measures imposed now that Metro Manila is under general community quarantine (GCQ).
(Office of Mayor Francis Zamora / MANILA BULLEITN)
Mayor Francis Zamora on Thursday inspected the shopping center to make sure that the mall management, tenants, and mall goers are observing proper safety and health protocols required by the local and the national government.
“As we kickstart our economic activities under the GCQ, we would like to make sure that people and companies remain vigilant against the dangers of COVID-19,” Zamora said. “We want to make sure that people who work and visit San Juan are safe.”
Located in Barangay Greenhills, which so far has the highest number of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in the city, the shopping center is known for its tiangge. Last year, renowned lifestyle expert Martha Stewart visited the pearl section of the shopping center.
With the resumption of their operations, the mall management has imposed a “no mask, no entry” policy. Visitors were told to observe physical distancing as they pass through the brand-new metal detectors equipped with a thermal scanner.
The layout of stalls inside the shopping mall also went through major changes. The stalls are now divided into a cluster of four stalls. A plastic covering between the stalls and the entrance has been placed. Only one customer and one sales person are allowed inside the stall.
Sales persons and mall staff are required to wear face shields and masks. They must also wear at all times their Health Clearance and Travel Pass issued by the local government.
“Before they are allowed to report back to work, employees working in San Juan are required to secure a Health Clearance from our City Health Office,” Zamora said.
“We want to make sure that the employees, especially those in the frontlines like the sales personnel, are not infected with COVID-19 and will not be spreading the virus to other workers and shoppers,” he added.
Roving Health and Safety Protocol Officers were also deployed to remind everyone to observe physical distancing and other health protocols.
A prayer hall within the shopping complex was closed down during the early days of the coronavirus outbreak after it was found out that a COVID-19 positive patient frequently visited the hall.