Gaya ng naging suhestyon ng gobyerno, isa-isa nang nagpapaabiso ng pansamantalang pagsasara at pagtigil ng operasyon ang mga malls sa Metro Manila habang ang iba ay boluntaryo namang pinaigsi ang oras ng kanilang operasyon.
Kabilang sa unang nagpahayag ng pagsasara, ang pamunuan ng Ayala Malls.
Sa twitter post ng Ayala Malls, nakasaad na: “In compliance with government directives on General Community Quarantine, and in the interest of health and safety, all Ayala Malls in Metro Manila will be temporarily closed for operations effective March 16, 2020 until further notice.
However, in order to continue servicing the community, establishments offering basic services shall be kept open, such as supermarkets, drugstores, convenience stores, banks, and other essentials.
Please look out of further advisories in the Facebook pages of specific Ayala Malls in Metro Manila.
“Thank you for your understanding. Keep Safe.”
Nagpalabas na rin ng abiso sa kanilang Facebook page ang Robinsons Metro East: “Robinsons Metro East will temporarily close starting tomorrow, March 16, until further notice.
The following establishments will continue to be open to serve the public: Robinsons Supermarket, Drug stores, banks.
Thank you for your understanding and we hope for everyone’s safety.”
Ang Robinson’s Movieworld ay nag-abiso na rin ng temporary cinema closure mula rin sa March 16 kung saan ginamit nitong hashtag ang: social distancing.
Naunang sinabi ni Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez na base sa rekomendasyon ng interagency task force na binuo para harapin ang mga problemang hatid ng coronavirus, ang mga malls ay itinuturing na “area of mass gathering” at kasama ito sa mga ipinagbabawal habang nasa ilalim ng quarantine period mula March 15 hanggang April 14, 2020.
“I have talked to the SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and tenants and mall owners. Ok to sacrifice. Also they can reduce opex (operating expenses) and cut rentals,” ayon pa kay Lopez.
