Lockdown Loosened, Arabs Filled Mal

Photo illustration (Boudhayan Bardhan / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Following in the footsteps of other countries that have begun to loosen lockdowns against COVID-19, the Government of Saudi Arabia does not want to be left behind in allowing shopping centers such as malls and other retail stores to reopen. As a result, the policy was immediately welcomed by all citizens starting Wednesday, April 29.

Even so, the Government of Saudi Arabia continues to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. One of them is by ensuring that its citizens are comfortable when shopping. Take, for example, when a visitor wants to enter a high-end mall in the City of Riyadh.

Equally, the security officer will swiftly check the body temperature of visitors and ask them to use the hand sanitizer provided before entering the shops.

According to Reuters, every visitor must undergo a temperature check, without exception. If there is someone whose body temperature shows 38 degrees Celsius, they will immediately be transferred to the nearest medical center.

On that basis, the policy owner also urges buyers to apply physical distancing when shopping, wear masks, and ask elderly parents who are prone to COVID-19, to stay at home.

"They have taken precautions. There are gloves as well as masks. They make sure people keep sufficient distance from each other," said Hayat Mall visitor Nojod Alshammari.

This policy has generally been welcomed, especially since Saudi Arabians are known to be less interested in a relatively new online shopping method. Therefore, shopping directly at the mall or market is certainly an option that has been eagerly awaited, especially when entering the holy month of Ramadan as it is today.

"The reopening was done in a limited way, it was done very well so we could get important items," said another Hayat Mall visitor, Faisal al-Qanas.

So far, the Government of Saudi Arabia on Sunday has relaxed the curfew to between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., except in Mecca. Meanwhile, schools, restaurants, mosques and other public places remain prohibited from opening.