Social distancing, sanitiser stations, and contactless dining: How CyberHub will operate in the post-COVID times

As the first phase of unlocking gets underway across India, major markets and malls in NCR are also starting to reopen after being shut for close to three months due to the lockdown. But the reopening does not mean things will go back to how they were before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. A new normal is in place, one that requires social distancing, and increased emphasis on sanitisation and screening. This holds true for public spaces like malls and markets. Gurgaon's CyberHub opens its doors to visitors on Monday sans the food and beverage joints though. Several departmental stores and other outlets in the market will open from Monday while a number of restaurants will be operational only for delivery.
But visitors at CyberHub will see a number of changes once they head back to the popular open marketplace this week. For starters, there is mandatory thermal screening at the entrance. An automated temperature screening camera is also being set up to minimise human contact at this point. According to CyberHub officials, visitors will be asked to show their health status on the Aarogya Setu App. However, the app isn't mandatory for entry yet. In case, someone does not have the app, the staff at the screening point will ask them all the questions listed in the app and only allow entry once satisfied with the visitor's well-being.

Pushpa Bector, Executive Director, DLF Shopping Malls, tells us, "We are setting up protocols for foot traffic control at the entrances along with deployment of the staff at the walkways and common areas to ensure adherence of social distancing norms." In addition, sanitisers have been placed at various spots in the market, including the entrances. These sanitiser stations are pedal-operated to eliminate any need for touching them by hand.
For now, the food joints at CyberHub are operating only for delivery but will soon open for dining as well, subject to Haryana government's guidelines on the matter. All the food outlets there are making the transition to contactless dining, wherein the diner will be able to browse the menu, order, and eat or take the food without having to come into contact with the restaurant staff. "F&B brands will reduce seating arrangements to 50%, maintaining a minimum distance of 6 feet for queues and seating arrangement with adequate social distancing will be followed. They will be accepting pre-orders, takeaways and digital mode of payments," says Bector.

Officials inform that they have also set up isolation centres at the market to house someone temporarily if they show any symptoms of COVID-19 or for any other health emergency. An ambulance will be on standby at the market at all times to carry such an individual to the hospital immediately. In addition to this, various signages, distance marking floor stickers have been placed for consumer awareness. There will be a gap between two seats at common areas as a part of the social distancing norms.