Shopping Malls Might Have Entry Restrictions If They Can’t Control Crowds

If you’ve been to any malls recently, you’d wonder if we’re in Phase 8 or Phase 3.

While Phase 3 allows more people into the mall, there’s still al limit: previously, the limit in Phase 2 was 10 sqm per person. Since Phase 3, it’s 8 sqm per person.

Simply put, malls can take in about 20% more people.

But with Chinese New Year coming and everyone staying in Singapore, you can bet that malls are going to get more crowded.

Which is why the authorities aren’t going to just sit back and wait for a COVID-19 outbreak to occur.

Shopping Malls Might Have Entry Restrictions If They Can’t Control Crowds

According to The Straits Times, entry restrictions might be imposed on malls that face crowd management issues.

Issuing an order to close the mall is going to be disastrous, so they’re looking at the next best thing: using the odd-even entry that’s now being used in Peninsula Plaza and Lucky Plaza since 29 August 2020.

For that, you can only visit the mall on odd or even dates according to the last digit of your NRIC or FIN number.

I guess you’re now praying hard that your favourite mall can control their crowd well.

So, what can you expect if your favourite mall is imposed with the restrictions?

Fewer People But with Congestion Outside Mall

We won’t need to use our imagination since the restrictions are being imposed in Peninsula Plaza and Lucky Plaza during the weekends.

There are now fewer people in the malls, and tenants are suffering with the restrictions as their bottom lines are affected by up to 75%.

People were also gathering outside the mall, though it might not be because they didn’t know about the restrictions: the area has been a hotspot for foreign workers.

In fact, several shopkeepers have tried to petition to ease the restrictions but they were “either rejected or unanswered by the authorities.”

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