Video Editor: Deepthi Ramdas
As part of the second phase of Unlock 1.0, shopping malls reopened on Monday, 8 June, after being shut down for more than two months due to the coronavirus lockdown in the country.
Amid the interest to revisit malls, one question is looming large in everyone’s minds – how safe is it to visit malls?
We spoke to Professor Ayan Banerjee, who teaches at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) in Kolkata, part of ISRC, to understand whether centralised air-conditioning plays a role and whether it increases the chance of catching COVID-19.
Speaking to The Quint, Professor Banerjee said that since ventilation is “not so great” in malls, it increases the risk.
He added that the particles carrying coronavirus travelled differently outdoors and indoors because of the very same reason.
Elaborating on why central air conditioning makes it worse, Banerjee said that it is likely that the infection gets drawn into the AC and spreads throughout the mall – rather than simply spreading in one room.
So, what are the set of precautions that the management should take? While malls are advised to have proper filters, they are also encouraged to ensure staggered entry.
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