Northland Shopping Centre staff fear virus second wave as customers flout social distancing

Almost all Northland’s stores have opened their doors as customers flock to the Preston shopping centre. But while retailers are doing their best to prevent the virus spread, they claim shoppers just don’t care.

Shoppers have flocked to Northland as lockdown restrictions ease.

Socially distant queues and temperature checks on entry await shoppers at Northland as the centre slowly returns to normal.

Customers flooded the centre last week, despite lockdown laws only allowing shoppers to be out for food and essential supplies.

Almost all the stores were open but some major chains lagged behind.

Leader visited the store on May 20 and Myer, Country Road, Sportsgirl, Bonds, Novo Shoes, Paper Kites and Sheike were all closed.

Shoppers line up to get their temperature checked at Uniqlo.

Queues formed as retailers enforced social distancing requirements.

Other stores such as Oscar Wylee were open by appointment only.

Shoppers queued outside stores only allowing a certain number of people inside at a time.

While others, including Uniqlo and Mecca Maxima, took each shoppers’ temperatures before they were allowed in.

But Strandbags assistant Steph Moore said shoppers were mostly ignoring virus precautions, such as sanitiser on entry and designated entrances and exits.

Stores had dedicated entry and exit points to combat the virus spread.

Rebel Sport asked customers to wash their hands on entry.

“No one is social distancing,” she said.

“Even when I’m serving people I have to physically step back from them.”

“With this many people around there will be a second wave. For sure.”

Ms Moore said she had seen security asking people to move on from communal areas but it didn’t have much of an effect.

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Bossini manager Rameen Nader said some shoppers were doing a good job of social distancing, but questioned why so many people were there.

“I think people just want to get out of the house. It’s just something to do throughout the day for them,” he said.

And despite the throngs of bag-carrying customers, staff said business was slow.

“I don’t think it’ll get back to normal until next year,” Mr Nader said.

The Victorian Government is enforcing distancing laws and Victorians are only allowed to leave the house for five reasons: shopping for food and essential supplies, medical care or compassionate needs, exercise, work and study, and visiting family and friends.