The Mills At Jersey Gardens Reopens With Social Distancing Rules

Alexis Tarrazi
·3 min read

ELIZABETH, NJ — The Mills at Jersey Gardens in Elizabeth reopened on Monday while following the state's guidelines for restarting amid the coronavirus. It will be open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.

Gov. Phil Murphy announced on June 18 that indoor shopping malls can reopen as of Monday. The mall had been closed since March due to Murphy's executive order closing indoor shopping malls to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

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Some of the precautions the Mills at Jersey Gardens will be implementing include:

  • Employees will be informed that they should not report to work if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or have experienced symptoms in the 72 hours prior to start of shift.

  • Pre-Work Screening – Upon reporting to work, employees’ body temperatures will be measured with a thermometer and assessed. Employees with body temperatures greater than 100.4°F or who have flu-like symptoms (e.g., cough, body aches) will not perform on-site work duties and will be directed to return to their homes.

  • Facial coverings, as recommended by the CDC, will be worn by our employees while on property performing work dutiesor interacting with other persons or as mandated by state and local jurisdictions.

  • Employees will be allowed and encouraged to take frequent breaks for handwashing or disinfecting of hands with a sanitizer. Hand washing mustbe performed with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, as recommended by theCDC.

  • The following areas will be disinfected regularly during the day and upon
    indication of additional need: breakrooms, restrooms, counters, workstations, employee-only areas.

  • Human occupancy within the property will be limited to a maximum density of 50 square feet per person. If the targeted occupancy is achieved, other Customers/Public will be asked to wait in their cars or in queue lines outside,spaced 6 feet apart

  • Dividers will be placed in entryways requiring incoming traffic to walk on only one side of entry, and outgoing on the other side to encourage visitor separation of at least 6 feet

  • On-property security staff will actively remind and encourage customers/public to comply with the social distancing standards

  • Social distancing markers will be placed in queue areas (e.g., food courts, restrooms)

  • Elevator occupancy will be limited to encourage proper spacing (max. of 4 per cab)

  • Public seating and eating areas will be reduced and/or reconfigured to allow for minimum separation of 6 feet between persons

  • Dining Pavilion seating area will be opened up section by section as occupancy requires, while still maintaining the required spacing. This will allow cleaning crews to concentrate their efforts and increase frequency of cleaning. No reusable customer service items will be available (e.g., trays, utensils, cups)

  • Order areas and delivery areas will be separated to encourage social distancing

  • Customers/public in queue lines or on escalators will be directed to maintain a distance of 6 feet from other individuals by means of signage and/or other markings at 6-foot intervals

  • In restrooms, every other sink and urinal will be taped off to encourage proper spacing, and signage will be posted encouraging proper hygiene

  • Child play areas, drinking fountains, valet use, and strollers will be closed

  • Signage and floor decals will be placed to encourage social distancing throughout the property

  • Hand sanitizer or sanitizing materials, compliant with CDC standards, will be
    available to everyone in common areas and retail spaces. Signage and/orstaff will be deployed to encourage the use of hand sanitizer

To see the mall's full list of COVID-19 protocols click here.

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

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This article originally appeared on the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Patch