Shopping centres support the proposal of the Ministry of Economics to allow shops with good air quality and ventilation to operate
The Ministry of Economics has submitted a proposal to the Cabinet of Ministers to allow all shops in the premises of shopping centres to resume work in an epidemiologically safe manner. The Alliance of Real Estate Developers, on behalf of major shopping centres, supports this proposal, as it is based on research data and scientifically based arguments on air quality. Measurements of CO2 levels in shopping centres show that air quality is much better in shopping centres and that they are considered to be an epidemiologically much safer environment than, for example, small shops that do not have mechanical ventilation but are allowed to operate.
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. It should be noted that this issue was also discussed at the meeting of the national coronavirus response team on 29 April of this year and the epidemiologists present had no objections to the measurement results.
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.
“The current restrictions in the retail sector create a situation that not only distorts competition, but also increases the presence of shoppers in open shops, as they concentrate all shoppers, including those who would have gone to large shopping centres. Research measurements show that shopping centres, unlike many smaller shops that are currently allowed to operate, have very good air quality with an average CO2 level of 475 ppm. For comparison, in a second-hand clothing shop in the centre of Riga, which is actively operating and where a large number of customers gather in narrow premises every day, the CO2 level reaches as much as 989 ppm, which indicates an increased risk of Covid-19 transmission. We believe that such a situation must be eliminated by finally allowing the most epidemiologically safe shopping outlets to operate and starting the path to economic recovery,” emphasises Mārtiņš Vanags, Chairman of the Board of the Alliance of Real Estate Developers.
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
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. It should be noted that this issue was also discussed at the meeting of the national coronavirus response team on 29 April of this year and the epidemiologists present had no objections to the measurement results.
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.
“The current restrictions in the retail sector create a situation that not only distorts competition, but also increases the presence of shoppers in open shops, as they concentrate all shoppers, including those who would have gone to large shopping centres. Research measurements show that shopping centres, unlike many smaller shops that are currently allowed to operate, have very good air quality with an average CO2 level of 475 ppm. For comparison, in a second-hand clothing shop in the centre of Riga, which is actively operating and where a large number of customers gather in narrow premises every day, the CO2 level reaches as much as 989 ppm, which indicates an increased risk of Covid-19 transmission. We believe that such a situation must be eliminated by finally allowing the most epidemiologically safe shopping outlets to operate and starting the path to economic recovery,” emphasises Mārtiņš Vanags, Chairman of the Board of the Alliance of Real Estate Developers.
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.