In the wake of rapid spread of the coronavirus in Lucknow, the city administration has established new precautionary and restricting guidelines. These new set of rules restrict the entry of those who visit malls for only show-window shopping or hanging out; that is, malls in Lucknow will only open their gates to 'serious buyers', that too with protective gear in place. The guidelines make it obligatory for all visitors and staff to undergo proper thermal checks as well. Apart from this, two nodal officers would be deployed to ensure health safety measures at the malls and shopping complexes.
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Lucknow District Magistrate stated, "Since the pandemic is still on, we have issued new guidelines for shopping malls and complexes. The visitors will be made aware that only serious buyers are allowed to enter malls. They will also be told to leave as soon as they are done with their shopping."
These administration issued guidelines makes it mandatory for all the staff at city malls, shopping complexes, along with the visitors to uptake non-pharmaceutical measures of wearing an all health safety gear to prevent the transmission of coronavirus infection. Besides malls and complexes, similar anti-COVID guidelines have been formulated for other markets and shops in Lucknow.
The traders and shopkeepers have to ensure that all customers wear masks and gloves while inside the shop and during purchases. "It will be ensured that all public contact areas, including escalators, doors, railings, lifts, parking areas and others are sanitised on a regular basis to ensure the safety of both visitors and staff," the guidelines added. Traders and shopkeepers have also been directed for regular sanitisation of their shops and areas frequented by buyers.
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As expected, these restrictive guidelines have caused a stirring sharp reaction among the mall owners who have pointed out, "How do we differentiate between serious buyers and window-shoppers? Those who indulge in window-shopping often end up as buyers. We cannot ask customers to move out if they are looking at products in our store."
The shopping protocol could come as unreasonable to many, as it hurts the sentiments of visitors and will incur losses for the owners. However, Lucknowites must understand that this, is the need of the hour. It may give rise to some inconvenience for some time but is an effective means to ensure social distancing and safety at malls, defending both the mall and complex staff along with buyers against the dreadful coronavirus.
-With inputs from IANS
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