Mall-goers must have quarantine pass, parking space must be checked, Task Force COVID suggests

The Joint Task Force COVID Shield on Tuesday recommended that an individual without a quarantine pass must not be allowed to enter mall establishments  amid the modified enhanced community quarantine.

Police Lieutenant General Guillermo Eleazar, the task force's commander, said the suggestion was made to mall security managers across Metro Manila during a meeting in Camp Crame.

"Ngayon nagpropose tayo, dahil nga dito sa Metro Manila, well almost all of them ay mayroong quarantine pass at dahil required naman talaga, sinasabi ng IATF guidelines na only one member per household would avail the goods and services provided by the permitted establishments..." Eleazar told reporters.

"So irerequire natin ngayon itong mga malls na dapat may quarantine pass sila (customers) pag pupunta doon," he said. "Sinuggest nga natin doon dapat may quarantine pass ka kasi supposed to be ikaw lang maga-avail niyan."

In a separate statement, Eleazar said local police and local government officials should come up with specific guidelines in case there is no quarantine pass being used in their area.

Eleazar also said there must be an arrangement if residents of nearby areas will be allowed to go to malls to avail essential goods as there are some shopping centers located near tri-boundary areas such as Robinsons Place Galleria, SM Megamall, and Shangri-la Mall.

Parking area

Eleazar said the task force also suggested that parking areas of shopping centers must be checked by law enforcers so that from there, the latter could already control the number of people who want to enter the mall.

"'Yung parking area napakaganda ring ma-check na kasi doon pa lang puwede na nating malaman kung 'yung pupunta doon ay allowed to avail of the services. Kung workers sila walang problema 'yun, kung sila 'yung bibili ng goods and services, remember we are in MECQ, isa lang ang allowed na bumili noon," he said.

Eleazar has said policemen are coordinating with mall owners to ensure that health measures are being implemented amid the reopening of shopping centers.

The assurance came after reports of supposed overcrowding in some malls over the weekend.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government has warned mall owners that health protocols must be observed during the resumption of their operations or else their establishments could be closed.

Metro Manila was among the high-risk areas that were placed under MECQ until May 31.

The quarantine guidelines were imposed to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.—AOL, GMA News