Mitchell’s Plain’s busiest mall, Liberty Promenade, is not identified as a hot spot at present, said Monique Johnstone, spokesperson for the provincial Department of Health.
The department confirmed that as of Monday May 4, the number of positive Covid-19 cases in the Mitchell’s Plain area had increased to 292.
Liberty Promenade was filled to capacity on the first day of lockdown Level 4, on Friday May 1, as more stores were given approval to trade which increased the number of shoppers.
Brenda Bibby, the mall’s general manager, said their centre management and operations teams were working with specialised disaster management experts to help manage physical distancing and ensure the health and safety of their shoppers.
“We have been instructed by government and the relevant provincial authorities to limit the access inside our mall at any given time. We are also adhering to strict access and exit measures as set out by the government,” she said.
As required by law, each store is responsible for managing access into and out of their store, to control the number of shoppers, she said.
“We understand that our loyal customers are frustrated with the long queues and waiting periods to enter our mall, however, these are the new strict regulations set out by government that we are complying with to ensure your health and safety,” said Ms Bibby.
Shoppers had been asked to play their part by adhering to the regulations, which includes the mandatory wearing of face masks in public, practising physical distancing and limiting their shopping to essentials items only.
With even more stringent health and safety measures already in place at Liberty Promenade, trading is subject to change and management recommends that customers contact stores directly regarding their trading hours.
Ms Bibby said they update their website regularly with all the new tenants who are trading.
She said it was important to adhere to the guidelines of isolation and quarantine if you are infected, have any flu-like symptoms, or have been in contact with an infected person.
“To stop the spread of Covid-19, it is critical that people stay home and avoid public spaces. If you have to go out for essential groceries, collect grants or to seek healthcare, then it is mandatory to wear a mask and practise physical distancing as well as wash your hands regularly,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mitchell’s Plain police station’s community service centre (charge office) had been relocated to a mobile unit on the premises of the station after a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.
The relocation came into effect on Monday May 4 evening and the charge office would be closed for 48 hours for decontamination.
Western Cape police spokesperson, Brigadier Novela Potelwa, said the relocation was meant to ensure that service delivery continues unhindered.
“The registration of cases will continue with the assistance of the nearby Lentegeur police station.”
Telephone lines to the station remain the same and are operational.
She said police employees who have been in contact with the infected person were undergoing the necessary screening or testing and quarantined.
Last week Lentegeur police station was closed for 48 hours for decontamination after a member contracted the coronavirus.
The health department has been providing screening and testing in various communities, including Mitchell’s Plain.
If you have any flu-like symptoms, such as a cough, sore throat, body ache, fatigue, or struggling to breathe, call the national 24-hour hotline number 0800 029 999, WhatsApp 0600 12 3456, call the provincial 24-hour hotline on 021 928 4102 or call your nearest healthcare facility for assistance.
You can also use the self-screen tool on the provincial government website.
Additional information by Fouzia van der Fort.