By Czarina Nicole Ong Ki Social media is a godsend during the time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, but unfortunately, it is also being used as a tool to sow fear and spread fake news. When the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) took into effect and malls began opening its doors to the public, some photos circulated of people flocking to certain malls without any regard to social distancing. In the Laging Handa press briefing held on Wednesday, senior vice president and general manager of Robinson's Malls Arlene Magtibay dismissed these photos as nothing but "fake news." In fact, Magtibay clarified that one photo posted on social media was an old photo taken in one of their provincial malls, which was used as a venue by the local government unit (LGU) for the distribution of the social amelioration package. Magtibay assured those who plan to make a trip to the mall that everything had been set up so that the shopping experience would be "very peaceful and orderly." They have placed visual cues in elevators, on escalators, as well as at mall entrances and exits to help people keep their distance from one another. Before opening, they even issued a mall re-opening guidebook for retailers and restaurants where they laid out the preparations that needed to be done for the health screening of employees, as well as sanitation and disinfection of work areas. Magtibay is grateful that customers and shoppers have so far been cooperative in terms of social distancing, showing their quarantine passes, and wearing their face masks. To make sure that the orderliness will not be disrupted, Magtibay said Robinson's Malls has deployed several martial and security guards to make sure that people never take off their face masks at the mall and maintain a proper distance from one another. "We are trying our best to educate the public about this new normal," she said. The only downside to mall trips nowadays, according to Magtibay, is that people have to wait longer than usual to get inside the grocery or shops because they have to limit the number of people inside. Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, which consists of Eastwood Mall, Lucky Chinatown Mall, and Uptown Mall, among many others, has likewise implemented stringent measures to keep their shoppers safe. First vice president of Megaworld Lifestyle Malls Graham Coates said during the briefing that they were very happy to open their doors once again. He said, however, that the number of visitors were significantly down from what they would normally expect. "I think the customers are a little bit cautious at this point," he said, adding that people were making it a point to make "less frequent trips to the malls." But for those who need to go out, according to Coates, Megaworld Lifestyle Malls has implemented several measures that will give customers the confidence they need to have a safe and enjoyable shopping experience. All of the employees have undergone rapid antibody testing, and entrances to their malls have been reduced. The company has also placed disinfectant chambers where shoppers need to go before entering the premises. Constant sanitation of common areas is a must for Megaworld Lifestyle malls, which has put social distancing ambassadors in place to educate the customers as they go about their shopping experience. Coates said there were certain tenants who had been prohibited from opening, such as gyms, bars, cinemas, and amusement centers. In order to help them get through this difficult period, Coates said the company had made concessions on rent and other fees so that they would be able to resume their businesses after COVID-19 and get back to a profitable situation. While Coates said the pandemic had become a "disruptive period for business," he is glad nonetheless that they have adopted to the change in a very positive way.