PETALING JAYA: After being closed for a week following the detection of Covid-19 cases, which led to the discovery of the Utama cluster, 1 Utama shopping mall in Bandar Utama here has reopened.
Checks by the New Sunday Times before noon yesterday found tenant employees cleaning and sanitising their outlets. Auxiliary police officers and security personnel were seen patrolling the mall, including entry points.
Unlike most Saturdays when there would be a crowd, the mall looked deserted, with few patrons.
A smartphone accessories promoter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the situation was similar to when the pandemic first struck the country in late February, which led to the implementation of the nationwide Movement Control Order a month later.
"It was the same as when businesses were allowed to resume during the Recovery Movement Control Order. We have seen a drop of 90 to 95 per cent in visitors to the mall," said the promoter.
An employee at a toys collectibles outlet said before the new Covid-19 cases were reported at the mall, visitors were slowly returning and business was picking up.
"During weekends, especially around noon, many people would be walking around at the mall.
"Since we opened at 11am today (yesterday), we hardly saw anyone around, besides staff."
The New Sunday Times spoke to a couple on the second floor of the mall's new wing.
Khairul Adam, in his 30s, said he was there with his wife to meet a customer service representative for a company involved in after-sales services.
He said they decided to go to 1 Utama as an outlet for the company that was closer to their home in Gombak was full.
"We are not here to shop, but because we have to sort out some urgent matters involving something we bought.
"If we had a choice, we wouldn't have come."
He said the mall had standard operating procedures (SOP).
"We arrived, scanned the MySejahtera QR code, sanitised our hands and avoided touching anything unnecessarily. I think the SOP applies everywhere and it is important people follow it."
On Friday, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the mall was allowed to resume operations after taking into consideration the measures implemented by the management to contain the outbreak after getting advice from the Health Ministry.
It was reported that the mall's management conducted private tests for its employees at its parking area.
In a Facebook post welcoming visitors back to 1 Utama yesterday, the mall gave an assurance that everyone working there, including auxiliary police and security personnel, had been screened and cleared for duty.
"We're also pretty sure you've heard about the 'talk of the town' RM1.5 million unprecedented mass swab test exercise and massive sanitisation efforts that we have conducted for your peace of mind.
"We ask our guests to follow safety SOP when visiting, including mandatory face masks and temperature screening."
Meanwhile, another shopping mall had to undergo deep cleaning and sanitisation on Friday night when an employee at a store tested positive for Covid-19.
The mall reopened for business yesterday.
In a statement on its Instagram page, The Curve in Mutiara Damansara here said it was informed that an employee at Foot Solutions, a shoe store at the complex, had tested positive on Friday.
"Other staff of Foot Solutions were tested and have been confirmed as Covid-19 negative. They are under self-quarantine for 14 days."
It said employees would be allowed to return to work only after they test negative again after their quarantine and upon approval from the mall's management.
"The Curve management would like to reassure our patrons that we are taking all necessary measures in accordance with MoH (Health Ministry) guidelines for the safety of our patrons, employees, retailers and the community at large," the statement said.
In Johor Baru, two religious schools were ordered to temporarily close following the detection of Covid-19 cases.
SA Taman Rinting and SA Tafrijiyyah Taman Universiti will close for a week.
State Islamic Affairs Committee chairman Tosrin Jarvanthi said SA Taman Rinting was told to close from Wednesday until Tuesday, while SA Tafrijiyyah was told to close on Friday.
"Three religious schools in Johor Baru have been ordered to close temporarily due to Covid-19, including SA As-Syakirin in Masai, which was ordered to close until today," Tosrin said yesterday.
He said the closure involved 3,229 students, 52 teachers and three administrative staff.
"The closure is a precautionary measure to stop the spread of the virus following the detection of Covid-19 cases in the area."
The state Health Department reportedly detected Covid-19 cases in Taman Rinting, involving the Rinting cluster, and at SK Desa Skudai near Taman Universiti on Thursday.
Additional reporting by Mohamed Farid Noh