At least eight retail shops so far will operate at reduced hours beginning today, March 16, and seven retailers have temporarily closed down at Upper Canada Mall to help prevent the spread of the rapidly evolving COVID-19 pandemic.
Apple has closed all its stores outside of greater China, including the outlet at the Newmarket mall, until March 27. Customers are asked to visit the company online for sales and service.
Pierced, a piercing and body jewelry store at the mall has also shuttered its doors until March 31. Aritizia and Freedom Mobile are now closed until further notice, Lululemon and Lush will close until March 27.
The Newmarket mall’s management company, Oxford Properties, offered its retailers the option to reduce store operating hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. for a two-week period beginning March 16.
Women’s clothing store White House Black Market, Hudson’s Bay, Le Chateau, Village Juicery, and others will operate generally between the new hours.
Upper Canada Mall will remain open during its regular hours of 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and will continue to provide access to stores that decide to operate as normal, as well as services such as dental and eye care located there.
“The uncertainty created by COVID-19 has resulted in some retailers adjusting their store hours,” Oxford said in a statement. “We understand this is a highly dynamic and evolving situation.”
The intensity and frequency of cleaning has been stepped up at the local mall, and additional hand sanitizers have been placed around the property. Signs with instructions about preventive hygienic measures have also been posted at the shopping centre.
The list of stores choosing to operate at reduced hours is updated regularly at Upper Canada Mall’s website. For more information, visit here.
Meanwhile, Kijiji Canada emailed an announcement to its members March 13 that included tips and recommendations on how to trade in light of COVID-19.
The online trading website has also cracked down on members trying to hock for profit items that have disappeared from store shelves including toilet paper, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and surgical masks.
If you’re planning on shopping from home while limiting close contact in public spaces, consider this advice from from Health Canada when planning a transaction:
- Clean items with regular household cleaners or diluted bleach (1 part bleach to 9 parts water).
- Since respiratory viruses, such as the one that causes COVID-19, are spread through contact, change how you greet one another. Instead of a handshake, a kiss or a hug, a friendly wave or elbow bump is less likely to expose you to respiratory viruses.
- Practise frequent hand hygiene and coughing and sneezing etiquette. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand. Dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined wastebasket and wash your hands afterwards.
“We ask all of our users to consider the well-being of their community and stay home if you are sick. If you’re sick, wait until everyone in your household is better before making a transaction,” Kijiji officials said.
