07/13/2020 - 15:44
- Clarín.com
- Economy
- Economy
The shopping malls assure that they are ready to reopen on July 18 . The Chamber that groups the sector today issued a statement demanding that they be allowed to return to operate once this phase of strict quarantine ends.
"The experiences in the interior demonstrate that the security protocols allow the operation of the shopping centers, minimizing the risk of contagion, with the logical limitations imposed by the sanitary emergency," states the Argentine Chamber of Shoppings Centers (CASC).
In the statement, the sector assumes that after this Friday comes a relaxation of the quarantine . "In view of the imminent modification of the isolation imposed in the AMBA, the Chamber requests the authorities that have been managing the emergency to include shopping centers among the activities that will be allowed to operate again."
In the previous phase of the quarantine in the City of Buenos Aires, which allowed the reopening of shops on the street, shopping malls were excluded. Thus, the 44 shopping centers of the AMBA have been unemployed for four months.
"About 20% of tenants have already communicated that they will not reopen their doors ; that number will undoubtedly increase if we are not allowed to return to work, ”said Mario Nirenberg, general manager of CASC. "We ask that, when the reopening of the shops to the street is arranged, it is also done with the shopping centers." The activity employs around 100,000 people directly and indirectly . To this figure are added "the hundreds of thousands of workers employed in value chains who market their products through shopping malls (textiles, electrical appliances, gastronomy, etc.), whose jobs also run the concrete risk of disappearing" .
"We have at least the same chance of neutralizing risk as a street trade," added Nirenberg. "Although many shopping malls are closed places (many others are outdoors), the place on an avenue also becomes a closed place when people enter it." They assure that they are ready to take the temperature of each visitor , count the number of people entering to be able to regulate the flow and distribute gel alcohol dispensers, among other measures.
In cities such as Rosario, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Salta and Mendoza, shopping malls reopened on a limited basis, with strict security protocols approved and coordinated with local governments. "To date there have been no reports that these reopens have had a negative impact on the health situation," the statement said.
AQ
