Mall retailers unsure how Covid-19 rules for the unvaccinated will work, expect to see losses
SINGAPORE - Mall-based businesses are seeking more clarity on how vaccination-differentiated safe management measures will be implemented once the ban on unvaccinated people from shopping centres kicks in on Wednesday (Oct 13).
They want to know if unvaccinated staff can still work at outlets inside malls if they undergo fast and easy rostered routine testing.
However, entry will still be allowed for unvaccinated recovered Covid-19 individuals or children aged 12 and below, or those who have a valid negative pre-event test result.
The test result requirement, however, has also been met with questions about what forms of pre-event testing are accepted.
The Government said on Sunday that an advisory with more details will be issued before the new measures kick in on Wednesday, and that there will be a one-week grace period from Oct 13 for these measures to be implemented at shopping malls.
The Ministry of Health said last Saturday that the vaccination-differentiated rules will protect unvaccinated individuals in the community and reduce the strain on the healthcare system.
This came as daily cases last week crossed the 3,000 mark for five consecutive days until Sunday, when they fell to 2,809 - likely due to fewer swabs being done over the weekend.
The new rules, however, have businesses worried.
Mr Pang Fu Wei, managing director of Mothercare Singapore, said: "Some pregnant women - who are our core demographic - are still unvaccinated because doing so comes with a risk."
He said that the firm's 11 stores islandwide have seen fewer shoppers since National Day, when Covid-19 cases began climbing.
While walk-ins over the weekend did not dip, he told The Straits Times that he is worried business will start falling on Wednesday.
Ms June Tham, 28, a therapist at beauty salon BrowArt Asia's Hillion Mall outlet, said she received five cancellations over the weekend for appointments this week, including some from unvaccinated customers.
She said: "For facials, you need to be vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 result. But very few people would bring a test result and don't even know that it is accepted."
Other businesses are taking steps so they can continue serving unvaccinated customers.
Ms Laurelle Lim, 26, an administrator at Cristofori Music School's outlet in Hillion Mall, said: "Some of our students can continue with online classes since they have pianos at home.
@спецназ Right from the start it was never about protecting anyone or any particular group.... those third rate PAP goons were simply following the script to a T, too bad the script failed them.
Hmmm I wonder what happened 🤔🤔🤔
Mall retailers unsure how Covid-19 rules for the unvaccinated will work, expect to see losses
SINGAPORE - Mall-based businesses are seeking more clarity on how vaccination-differentiated safe management measures will be implemented once the ban on unvaccinated people from shopping centres kicks in on Wednesday (Oct 13).
They want to know if unvaccinated staff can still work at outlets inside malls if they undergo fast and easy rostered routine testing.
The Government announced last Saturday that those unvaccinated against Covid-19 can no longer enter shopping malls, as well as large standalone stores that are not supermarkets, starting this Wednesday.
However, entry will still be allowed for unvaccinated recovered Covid-19 individuals or children aged 12 and below, or those who have a valid negative pre-event test result.
The test result requirement, however, has also been met with questions about what forms of pre-event testing are accepted.
The Government said on Sunday that an advisory with more details will be issued before the new measures kick in on Wednesday, and that there will be a one-week grace period from Oct 13 for these measures to be implemented at shopping malls.
The Ministry of Health said last Saturday that the vaccination-differentiated rules will protect unvaccinated individuals in the community and reduce the strain on the healthcare system.
This came as daily cases last week crossed the 3,000 mark for five consecutive days until Sunday, when they fell to 2,809 - likely due to fewer swabs being done over the weekend.
The new rules, however, have businesses worried.
Mr Pang Fu Wei, managing director of Mothercare Singapore, said: "Some pregnant women - who are our core demographic - are still unvaccinated because doing so comes with a risk."
He said that the firm's 11 stores islandwide have seen fewer shoppers since National Day, when Covid-19 cases began climbing.
While walk-ins over the weekend did not dip, he told The Straits Times that he is worried business will start falling on Wednesday.
Ms June Tham, 28, a therapist at beauty salon BrowArt Asia's Hillion Mall outlet, said she received five cancellations over the weekend for appointments this week, including some from unvaccinated customers.
She said: "For facials, you need to be vaccinated or have a negative Covid-19 result. But very few people would bring a test result and don't even know that it is accepted."
Other businesses are taking steps so they can continue serving unvaccinated customers.
Ms Laurelle Lim, 26, an administrator at Cristofori Music School's outlet in Hillion Mall, said: "Some of our students can continue with online classes since they have pianos at home.
More at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/consumer/mall-retailers-unsure-how-covid-19-rules-for-the-unvaccinated-will-work-expect-to