Shopping centres are ready to place vaccination points on their premises
In order to improve the pace of the vaccination process in Latvia, the largest shopping centres are ready to place vaccination points on their premises. Shopping centres are suitable places for vaccination not only because of their large area, which allows the process to be ensured without crowding, but also because their premises are an epidemiologically safe place - this has already been confirmed by measurements of researchers at Riga Stradins University. Along with the establishment of vaccination outlets, the industry is calling for a decision to resume the operation of shopping centres, thus contributing to an increase in vaccination rates and economic recovery in an epidemiologically safe way.
“The largest shopping centres in Latvia have clearly expressed their readiness to cooperate with the Ministry of Health and to start establishing vaccination points in sales premises both in Riga and in the regions. Most importantly, supermarkets have an epidemiologically safe environment, so as the vaccination process enters supermarket premises, it would be logical to finally allow all retailers to reopen. During the vaccination process, the flow of people is strictly controlled and therefore epidemiologically safe, and the outlets, also operating according to the established principles of safe trade, are able to ensure the control of the number of people and other established requirements. Thus, we would all benefit by gaining more vaccination opportunities and moving towards economic recovery from the crisis,” says Mārtiņš Vanags, Chairman of the Board of the Alliance of Real Estate Developers (NĪAA).
As previously reported, in order to draw attention to the impact of professionally planned and built ventilation systems on carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in shopping centres, five shopping centres - Alfa, Domina Shopping, Galleria Rīga, Galerija Centrs, and Origo - in cooperation with Riga Stradins University (RSU) researchers performed CO2 measurements in various places in these shopping centres, including grocery and other shops where sales are permitted and where customers gather. Measurements performed by researchers of the Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases of Riga Stradins University from 15 April to 20 April of this year confirm that the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in shopping centres ranges from 395 to 690 ppm[1] - the lower the CO2 level, the higher the air quality. This data confirms that shopping centres provide an epidemiologically safe environment, so their representatives are trying to encourage fact-based decision-making and the opening of all sales outlets. Meanwhile, researchers from the UK (Environmental and Modelling group) admit that measurements of CO2 levels can be used as indicators for poor air ventilation. UK researchers (Environmental and Modelling group) have concluded that ventilation is one of the most important factors influencing the spread of the Covid-19 virus among people who are in the same room and within a distance of 2 metres[2]. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, analysing the spread of the Covid-19 virus indoors, also point out that it is safer to be in rooms with larger air volumes and higher ventilation speeds.[3] These scientific arguments allow us to conclude that shopping centres are an epidemiologically safe environment, therefore the industry has repeatedly expressed confusion about the existing restrictions that prohibit the employment of a large number of shopping centre tenants throughout Latvia.
About the NĪAA
The Alliance of Real Estate Developers brings together the most significant players of the industry in order to achieve the sustainable development of the real estate industry, represent it in a collective manner on a state and local government level, as well as emphasise the role of real estate developers and investors within the economy of Latvia.
For further information:
Mārtiņš Vanags - Alliance of Real Estate Developers (NĪAA)
martins.vanags@niaa.lv
“The largest shopping centres in Latvia have clearly expressed their readiness to cooperate with the Ministry of Health and to start establishing vaccination points in sales premises both in Riga and in the regions. Most importantly, supermarkets have an epidemiologically safe environment, so as the vaccination process enters supermarket premises, it would be logical to finally allow all retailers to reopen. During the vaccination process, the flow of people is strictly controlled and therefore epidemiologically safe, and the outlets, also operating according to the established principles of safe trade, are able to ensure the control of the number of people and other established requirements. Thus, we would all benefit by gaining more vaccination opportunities and moving towards economic recovery from the crisis,” says Mārtiņš Vanags, Chairman of the Board of the Alliance of Real Estate Developers (NĪAA).
As previously reported, in order to draw attention to the impact of professionally planned and built ventilation systems on carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in shopping centres, five shopping centres - Alfa, Domina Shopping, Galleria Rīga, Galerija Centrs, and Origo - in cooperation with Riga Stradins University (RSU) researchers performed CO2 measurements in various places in these shopping centres, including grocery and other shops where sales are permitted and where customers gather. Measurements performed by researchers of the Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases of Riga Stradins University from 15 April to 20 April of this year confirm that the level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in shopping centres ranges from 395 to 690 ppm[1] - the lower the CO2 level, the higher the air quality. This data confirms that shopping centres provide an epidemiologically safe environment, so their representatives are trying to encourage fact-based decision-making and the opening of all sales outlets. Meanwhile, researchers from the UK (Environmental and Modelling group) admit that measurements of CO2 levels can be used as indicators for poor air ventilation. UK researchers (Environmental and Modelling group) have concluded that ventilation is one of the most important factors influencing the spread of the Covid-19 virus among people who are in the same room and within a distance of 2 metres[2]. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, analysing the spread of the Covid-19 virus indoors, also point out that it is safer to be in rooms with larger air volumes and higher ventilation speeds.[3] These scientific arguments allow us to conclude that shopping centres are an epidemiologically safe environment, therefore the industry has repeatedly expressed confusion about the existing restrictions that prohibit the employment of a large number of shopping centre tenants throughout Latvia.
About the NĪAA
The Alliance of Real Estate Developers brings together the most significant players of the industry in order to achieve the sustainable development of the real estate industry, represent it in a collective manner on a state and local government level, as well as emphasise the role of real estate developers and investors within the economy of Latvia.
For further information:
Mārtiņš Vanags - Alliance of Real Estate Developers (NĪAA)
martins.vanags@niaa.lv
[1] Parts per million (ppm) - the ratio of the number of particles to the volume where these particles are located.
[2] A study on the role of ventilation in controlling the spread of the Covid-19 virus has been carried out by a group of researchers from the Environmental Modelling and Monitoring Group. The study was published by the UK's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, which provides scientific and technical advice to support government decision-makers in emergencies. More about the study: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/emg-role-of-ventilation-in-controlling-sars-cov-2-transmission-30-september-2020
[3] A guideline to limit indoor airborne transmission of COVID-19. Martin Z. Bazant, John W. M. Bush; 2021 https://www.pnas.org/content/118/17/e2018995118