During the coronavirus epidemic, it is considered viruses transmitted by droplet infection due to ventilation systems can spread more easily since shopping malls are closed areas. With the opening of shopping malls, owners stated they will take profoundly serious measures in this regard, heating and cooling will not be done and only fresh air will be provided inside. However, pointing out that certain precautions must still be taken while going to shopping centers, Yeditepe University Hospitals Medical Microbiology Specialist Prof. Dr. Pınar Çıragil gave the following information:

Wear a Mask

When going to shopping malls, everyone should wear a mask, no matter why the place you will go is not crowded or will stay for a short time. Also, the mask should be worn correctly to fully cover the mouth and nose.

Social distance: One of the rules to be considered is social distance. There should be a physical distance of at least 1.5-2 meters between you and the person next to you. 

Determine Your Needs in Advance

Go to the mall if it is really necessary. Those needs and the store from which they will be purchased should be determined in advance and shopping should be done as quickly as possible without distraction. It should not be used for socializing.

Avoid Contact During Payment

During shopping, contact should be minimized by making payments as much as possible with contactless credit cards. If the payment will be made with money or the transaction will not be by contactless credit card, hands should be cleaned with water and soap or disinfectant after use.

Do Not Touch Handrails

Handrails or normal stairs, which are one of the most frequently used areas in shopping malls, should not be touched as much as possible. Also, do not touch the door handles as well. In cases such as loss of balance for a moment, hands should be cleaned with water and soap, and in cases where these cannot be reached, hand hygiene should be ensured by using a disinfectant.

Choose Shopping Malls Obeying the Rules

In this process, the rules that shopping centers must follow are very clearly defined. Learn these rules and choose to go to the shopping malls that follow that rules. For instance, customers should be taken in at regular intervals, disinfectants should be available inside, and shopping malls that comply with the rules such as not taking anyone without a mask should be preferred.
Do not use fitting rooms: Clothing fitting rooms available in stores should not be used as much as possible.

Do Not Use Toilets Unless Absolutely Necessary

Although cleaned toilets in shopping malls should not be used unless necessary. If necessary, hand hygiene should be ensured with water and soap or disinfectant, especially if the door handles are touched. Hand dryers in toilets should not be used.

Entrances and Exits Must Be Made Through Separate Doors

Entrances and exits of shopping centers should be separate. Also, this condition should be addressed in the places where it is provided. It should not go to crowded places and it should not stay longer than the time determined by considering that people are waiting outside.

Prefer Stairs Not Elevators

Stairs should be preferred as much as possible. If it is necessary to take the elevator, half of its capacity should be taken to the elevator; the 1.5-2 meters physical distance rule should be followed.
Underlining that the opening of shopping centers does not mean that the pandemic is over, Prof. Dr. Pınar Çıragil said, “This does not tell us that the virus has disappeared.