THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has further eased control measures in malls and commercial centers.
In Memorandum Circular 20-55, the DTI now allows malls and commercial centers under strict safety protocols to set/regulate the air conditioning temperature lower than 24 degrees Centigrade, turn on free WiFi for customers and conduct mall-wide sales promotion activities and marketing events, subject to strict physical distancing and the usual DTI-Fair Trade Enforcement Bureau sales promo permit.
It also imposed the strict implementation of the seven commandments, a set of conditions for the easing of mall and commercial center operations and further re-opening of the economy.
The DTI said commercial establishments must observe the wearing of proper masks and face shields, no talking and no eating (in public transportation and similar settings like confined areas and crowded places), adequate ventilation (use of exhaust systems, air purifiers or keeping windows partially open), frequent and proper disinfection, isolation of symptomatic or Covid-19 positives and appropriate physical distancing.
For weeks now, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases has been adjusting restrictions to cater to the call to open up the economy.
This, as the Cabinet approved the National Economic and Development Authority’s proposal to change the government’s policy from total risk avoidance to risk management and the further re-opening of the economy to mitigate the adverse social and economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the people.
It includes widening the age range of persons allowed to go out from 15 to 65 years old.
The new measures are expected to increase foot traffic inside malls and commercial centers. These will help them recover from losses due to months of lockdowns that saw a dramatic decline in people going inside establishments.
Malls have also put in place additional safety protocols like temperature check, digital contact tracing and contactless alcohol stations to lessen the risk of transmission of the dreaded Covid-19 virus. / JOB