BANGKOK, May 12 (TNA) – Shopping malls in Thailand are
preparing for reopening as the government is mulling the second phase of easing
coronavirus restrictions.
After the first stage of easing which has seen some
restaurants, barber shops and salons reopened, the government’s COVID-19
taskforce has announced that it plans to allow shopping malls as well as health
and wellness businesses in the next stage which could begin next week.
The operators of the shopping malls that have been closed
since March 22 are gearing up with their preparations for reopening.
Health screening, density limit and social distancing
measures would be taken when they resume operations, the management of one of
the major shopping malls said.
The high-density venues can reopen if the number of new Covid-19
infections continues to drop, according to the government’s coronavirus
taskforce. The taskforce is expected to announce its decision on the second
phase of lockdown easing on Friday.
An analysis report by Siam Commercial Bank indicates that
retailing businesses have shrunk by 14 percent, translating into about 500-
billion baht of loss as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. (TNA)
