Parents Are Still Wary Of Taking Their Children Shopping To The Mall

Illustration: Forbes

JAKARTA - Since children under the age of 12 are allowed to enter malls, a number of parents are worried about the risk of exposure to COVID-19 because the child has not been vaccinated.

Sonya (40), one of the visitors said that she still has a fear of bringing her child into the mall. Because, Kenzo (4) the child who was brought from home has not been vaccinated.

"I'm afraid there is, because my child has not been vaccinated. But if I want to shop here, I can because it is impossible for my child to be placed in day care," he said, Wednesday, September 22.

Sonya admitted that she had come to the mall on purpose after hearing the announcement that children under the age of 12 were allowed to enter.

"I was taking my child to the mall. My child hasn't been to the mall for a long time. My child is wearing a mask, and I brought hand sanitizer," he said.

In the same place, Devanka (45) said that he also felt the worry and fear of bringing children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because their children are invited to the mall but have not been vaccinated.

"This is the first time my child has been to the mall again. Usually I stay at home because I'm afraid that COVID-19 is still high. I'm worried that someone will take the child to the mall. But yes, I also obey the prokes and don't stay at the mall for long," he said.

Separately, the Chairperson of the DKI Jakarta DPD APPBI, Ellen Hidayat, said that the shopping center management was ready to re-allow children 12 years of age and under to enter the mall. This policy was welcomed after malls closed for five weeks from August 10, 2021 and only allowed residents 12 years of age and over who had been vaccinated to enter the mall.

"Preparations for the presence of visitors aged 12 years and under have been well prepared by the mall manager. They are allowed to enter with assistance from their parents or family who when entering the shopping center are also green or yellow from the Peduli Protect application," he said when contacted by reporters.

According to him, the vaccination requirements, as evidenced by the login system in the Peduli Protect application, as well as health protocols, are sufficient to screen visitors who are at risk of carrying the virus that causes COVID-19.

Like some time after the mall's reopening, APPBI reported that there were thousands of residents who were refused entry because they had a black notification, which means that the residents were exposed to or had close contact with a positive person for COVID-19.

In addition, APPBI's assessment from the Ministry of Trade on the compliance of 350 malls in six provinces in Java that are members of APPBI, recently ranked Jakarta as the province with the highest level of compliance. Jakarta scored 99.43 percent or more than the average.

"Malls are currently recognized by the public as a safe, comfortable, and healthy place, because only people who are healthy and have been vaccinated are allowed to enter the mall. The condition of the mall with strict health protocols is a suitable place to receive people of all ages, " he said.