Carmo Lopes came to Zara to exchange clothes bought over the internet. José Ferreira came from Barcelos to change a baby chair. These are some of the examples of the population’s return to Braga Parque, which takes place this Monday, at the beginning of the third phase of the deflation.
Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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MINHO was in the so-called reopening, although the shopping center was never closed, as explained by António Afonso, director-general. “There has never been a closure of shopping centers, as public opinion says. Of the 180 stores that exist inside the facilities, 15 remained open ”, he says.
But adherence has declined by about 90% over the past three months. For this new phase, the official explains that several measures were taken to avoid possible contagions, even when the virus seems to have already given truce in the Minho region.
Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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“We limited access, at the moment the maximum allowed is four thousand people, we removed 50% of the tables from the restaurant, where we left only those with four seats for groups, and we promoted the mandatory use of masks”, he explains.
However, not everyone complies, as the director admits. “If someone enters without a mask, the stores will be barred, because shopkeepers have an indication not to let anyone in without proper protection,” he says.
Many people went back to Braga Parque. Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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In addition to the measures mentioned above, bathrooms have also been redefined. Now, for each available urinal, two others are prohibited, the same happening with the cabins and the washbasins. Elevators can only enter two people at a time, except for groups that are already together.
Social distance in the restaurant area. Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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Another measure was the non-circulation of air conditioning: “All windows were opened to facilitate the circulation of natural air. We also have the entrance and exit doors all open, not only to help the air to circulate but also to avoid potential contagions by touching them ”.
Regarding the stores, António Afonso says that almost all of the 180 existing stores have already opened, excluding those that did not yet have the measures in place, but these will open until tomorrow.
Exchanges
Carmo Lopes came from Braga to change clothes. He ordered it through the store’s website but ended up not serving. Despite finding the environment “peaceful”, he admits feeling “always some fear”.
Carmos Lopes came from Braga to change clothes. Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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“The rules are well exposed, there are dispensers everywhere, but in terms of distance, I think some people don’t care much about it”, he points out, giving as an example the distance in the payment queue at Zara’s store. “There is one person or another who does not comply, but, as a general rule, everyone is being a real public health agent”, he says.
José Ferreira came from Barcelos on purpose to exchange a baby chair for a 16-month-old granddaughter at the Chicco store. He bought the chair, but the State of Emergency was declared, so he had to wait for now to be able to change it again.
José Ferreira came from Barcelos to change a baby chair. Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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Regarding the mass return to the mall, he thinks that people are complying with the distancing rules and wearing a mask. He is also happy with the dispensers in place. “I think that the conditions are met to gradually return everything to normal, if there is no new vacancy”.
Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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A lawyer by profession, he is now telecommuting, after, in the office, some of his colleagues did not initially face the pandemic as José thinks they should. “At the time, I and other older colleagues decided to put in a medical certificate until rotating schedules were placed so that we could work in greater safety, especially because of the space. Now I’m even telecommuting so it’s been easy in that respect ”, he stresses.
Primark
At Primark, the lines are long, as are Sport Zone and Nespresso. MINHO tried to get reaction from store managers but it was discarded, as communication was only allowed at the central level. Inside Primark, however, in spite of the mandatory dispenser at the entrance, customers were changing their clothes, as before the pandemic.
Long queue at Primark. Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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We spoke to Maria Sequeira, from Famalicão. He was the 15th person in the entrance queue, around 13:30. He admits that there are a lot of people in the queue but that everyone is wearing a mask and complying “more or less” with the distance. “There are always those who arrive, but with me the experience has been positive”.
Braga Park. Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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“It is always boring to be in line but I need to buy some pants for my son and here it ends up being cheaper. In a layoff, in a textile factory, he admits that “the moment is not for purchases in more expensive stores”, he added.
Controlling the queue, which extended for more than 100 meters, there were two employees, who were ensuring compliance with the rules.
“We only closed three days”
The Kiosku tobacconist and stationery shop only closed three days during the confinement. In addition to a take-away restaurant, they were the only store open on the entire second floor, as explained by the couple of owners. They admit, however, that there was a 90% drop in sales, which led to the need to activate lay-off and turnover by shift. “Braga Parque’s administration helped us a lot, they always gave us peace of mind, I think they lived up to what happened”, they confess.
Kiosku tobacco and stationery owners. Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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On this Monday, it seems to have improved in the eyes of the owners. “There are already many more people, yet there is still that movement of customers as before this whole situation”.
Arrival of emigrants
Smart Talk was one of the last stores to close. Located on a stand in the center of the mall, it reopened today, but Paulo Pinto, who manages the space, confesses to be apprehensive.
Paulo Pinto, manager of Smart Talk. Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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“I think we could have been more guarded, since we are here in the middle of the corridors, but it is fair to say that the administration has handled all this well”, he praises.
Paul says that the mall “It’s full of people”. “It is good for the business but in terms of health, I don’t know if it will be that positive”, he admits, confessing that it is necessary to lose the fear of coming to the big areas.
Photo: Fernando André Silva / O MINHO
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But Paulo’s biggest fear is another: the arrival of emigrants, fearing “a riot”.
It also admits that it has already served “one or two” customers without a mask. “I answered because they were distant and in that sense I think they even fulfilled this rule. “98% wear a mask”, he concludes.
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