Taipei 101, SOGO say no to visitors with high temperatures

Taipei, Feb. 28 (CNA) Leading retail centers Taipei 101 and SOGO Department Stores began taking the temperatures of shoppers Friday amid the novel coronavirus outbreak and denied entry to those with readings of 37.5 degrees or higher.

As companies step up efforts to combat the epidemic, which has now spread to more than 40 countries, Taipei 101 said it has installed infrared thermometers in its entrances to take visitors' temperatures.

Any visitors with a temperature above 37.5 degrees will not be allowed to enter the shopping mall, and they will be given a face mask and encouraged to see a doctor, Taipei 101 said in a statement.

All of its employees will also have their temperatures taken to make sure they can safely serve customers.

Other measures have also been taken to combat the spread of disease, Taipei 101 said, including improving the ventilation system to keep the building's air clean and more intensively disinfecting elevators, escalators, and restrooms in the shopping mall.

Meanwhile, SOGO, one of Taiwan's largest department store chains, said infrared thermometers are in place at the entrances of its outlets around Taiwan, and like Taipei 101, anyone with a body temperature above 37.5 degrees will be denied entry.

Employees who directly come in contact with consumers are required to wear face masks, while hand sterilizers are installed inside every one of its outlets so that consumers can keep their hands clean, SOGO said.

Elevators, escalators and restrooms will be disinfected every two hours, and customer service counters, VIP rooms and children playgrounds will be disinfected every hour, and such steps will be taken even more frequently on holidays, SOGO said.