Morocco Unveils Safety Guidelines for Reopening Shops and Malls Amid Pandemic

After the reopening of cafes and restaurants, it is the turn of shops and shopping centers. A health guide has been developed by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Green and Digital Economy for the benefit of owners with details on these new measures to be respected for the resumption.

One of the first requirements is the management of flows at the entrance and compliance with social distancing. According to the ministry, independent businesses are invited to post awareness posters on the access rules as well as the prevention instructions against the coronavirus at the entrance of the store. It is also recommended to increase the frequency of cleaning and disinfection of the premises, corners and nooks of the store. Door handles, tables, coins, banknotes, shopping carts and baskets must also be taken into account.

Regarding barrier gestures, the ministry recommends limiting direct exchange between employees and customers. In addition, the use of gloves, goggles, masks and face shields is strongly recommended.

According to the ministry, good ventilation within the store also helps to limit the risk of contamination. Entrances and exits must be separate for customers. At the entrance and exit of shopping centers and stores, hand hygiene products for employees and customers (antiseptic solutions) must be installed, not to mention the use of the remote medical thermometer at the entrance of the shopping center.

In addition, the center must also be subject to a complete weekly sterilization covering both the stores and the common areas. Training must be organized for the benefit of employees to respect social distancing between customers and reduce movement in the different spaces. This is in addition to limiting the number of vehicles in the shopping center’s parking lots for any potential risk.