Abu Dhabi's largest mall is putting safety first as it welcomes shoppers through its doors once more. Yas Mall reopened last week as part of nationwide efforts to ease restrictions on trade and movement put in place to contain the spread of coronavirus. Understandably It is not quite business as usual, however, as mall chiefs have implemented a raft of measures to protect the health of visitors and employees alike. In line with government regulations, people aged over 60 and under 12 will not be allowed to enter the mall, which will operate at 30 per cent capacity for the time being. Shoppers must wear gloves and masks and keep them on throughout the duration of their visit. Members of the public can also make use of a sanitisation gateway positioned at the entrance of the mall. Visitors are also asked to bring their own shopping bags and use cards rather than cash to purchase items. All entrances are equipped with thermal cameras and those who record a temperature exceeding 38°c will be requested to return home. As part of efforts to minimise health risks, lifts and escalators are sanitised every 20 minutes and all frequently used access or touch points - like door handles, trolleys and tissue dispensers - are sanitised after each use. Touch screens - common in many large malls in the country to allow shoppers to navigate their way through the complex - are currently disabled. All mall staff will wear gloves and masks at all times and check-out staff at stores and supermarkets must abide by a strict hygiene routine. They will have their temperature checked every two hours as part of rigorous safety procedures. Security staff will be tasked with ensuring social distancing practices are adhered to. Restaurant's and the malls food court are open but are operating at 30 per cent capacity. Only two people can sit at tables positioned 2.5 metres apart. Opening hours during Ramadan will be 12pm to 9pm to avoid overlapping with disinfection hours that last from 10pm to 6am. Supermarkets and pharmacies – which can be visited in cases of absolute necessity during the disinfection period – will open from 9am to midnight. “Malls will operate at a limited customer capacity of 30 per cent, reduced parking space and revised food and beverage operations,” said Aldar Properties, which manages the mall.
