08 December,2021 08:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Team mid-day
Pics by Anurag Ahire/Bipin Kokate/Rajesh Gupta
While the state government has emphasised yet again on the need to get fully vaccinated in view of the emerging Omicron threat, public spaces across the city seem to be curiously reluctant to follow rules. A test drive by mid-day has revealed that malls, shopping centres, public transport and public places are flouting the norm of allowing only fully vaccinated visitors and passengers. At some places, those who have taken just one dose of the vaccine are being allowed to enter, while some do not have any checking process in place. At some other places, security guards told mid-day that they don't know how to check certificates because no training has been provided for it.
However, few of the public places were seen adhering to the rule. Universal pass of visitors was being checked at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (museum) but BMC-run Veer Jijabai Bhosale Udyan, Byculla (Rani Baug) didn't have any arrangements to check vaccination status of visitors in place. Recently, BEST bus conductors were asked to check the universal pass of all passengers, but some of them told mid-day that it was practically impossible to do it for everyone.
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The reporter could buy a ticket and enter the zoo. Nobody at the entrance was checking vaccine certificates. Only a valid ticket is enough for entry
On reaching the mall, the reporter spotted four to five security guards at the entrance. They were just conducting temperature checks and making visitors sanitise their hands. Vaccine certificates were not being checked. The mall has a theatre, play zone, food court and shopping area. On being asked why they were not checking vaccine certificates, one of the guards said, "It's a very lengthy procedure and how do we know that visitors are showing the original certificates. We are not educated enough to check documents and certificates."
When mid-day reached one of the biggest malls in Thane, a security guard at the entrance checked the temperature, while another asked for the vaccine certificate. When this reporter showed a certificate of just one dose, that too taken in May, the security guard asked him to step aside. He then asked why he had not taken the second dose, as it was mandatory for entry. However, when the reporter requested him, he allowed entry.
The mall has displayed a placard at the entrance, which says, âEntry only for doubly vaccinated persons'. The reporter approached the security guard at the entrance and said that he had not taken a single dose of vaccine. Thereafter, he requested the guard to let him enter the mall, as he had to meet a friend urgently. The guard said that he would allow entry when the friend arrives.
When a reporter reached Brand Factory, located opposite Metro Cinema, a security guard at the entrance was seen checking the temperature of visitors. However, he was allowed inside without checking the vaccination certificate.
At 1.08 pm, mid-day reached Westside at Kalaghoda. The security guard at the entrance made the reporter sanitise his hands, checked his body temperature, but did not ask for the vaccination certificate.
At 11.30 am when a reporter reached the mall, no security guards were seen at the entrance. Nobody was even present to check the body temperature of visitors.
When our reporter reached the shopping centre at 10 am on Tuesday, the security guard at the entrance was not seen asking for the vaccination certificate. When asked about the same, he said, "Sahab jao andar. Idhar sab chalta hai (sir you can go inside, everything works here)."
On reaching Hira Panna Shopping Centre around 11.35 am, mid-day spotted a security guard sitting at the entrance, but vaccination certificates were not being checked.
When a reporter boarded the bus from MG Road, Mulund West to go to Gavhanpada, Mulund East, the conductor did not ask for the vaccination certificate. When asked about the new rules, the driver said, "It will take a lot of time, and what will we do if someone is not vaccinated or partially vaccinated? Should we stop bus and deboard them? It will create unnecessary chaos. If the government is so serious about this, then they should ask commuters to wear the universal pass as an ID card around their neck or show it when needed."
At 12.30 pm, a team of reporters reached City Centre and spotted five to six security guards at the entrance, however, none of them were checking vaccination certificates. They were only checking body temperature and providing sanitisers. When one of the guards was asked whether the vaccination certificate was a must for entry, he said, "Yes it's mandatory but we don't know how to check it. We haven't been given any training for it. We are only checking the temperature and giving sanitisers to visitors."
When a mid-day reporter reached Atria Mall at 10.45 am and tried to enter, the security guard at the entrance stopped him and asked for the vaccination certificate and said that it was mandatory for entry. However, he allowed entry on showing him the universal pass.
One of the most popular theatres of Mumbai was not found to be checking vaccination certificates of visitors, even though all of its shows are housefull most of the times. When a reporter reached the ticket window at 3 pm, the seller did not ask for the vaccination certificate. When mid-day asked him whether the certificate was mandatory, he asked about the reporter's vaccination status. On knowing that he had taken just one dose, the seller said, "Don't worry, nobody will ask for the certificate. Enjoy the movie."
The security guards at the mall did not ask for this reporter's vaccination certificate at the entrance and allowed entry without checking it. When asked about the same, the security guards said, "We have not been instructed to check vaccination certificates of visitors. The mall has faced a huge loss due to the pandemic and people have just started visiting in large numbers. We will conduct checks only after being instructed."
The security guard at the entrance to the museum stopped the reporter and demanded to see the double-vaccination certificate. He even said that tickets would be issued only after checking the certificate. The reporter was allowed entry only after showing the universal pass.
When this reporter boarded the bus from Gavhanpada, it was full with some of the passengers standing. The conductor didn't ask for the universal pass or vaccination certificate. When asked, he said, "It's practically impossible to check certificates of all passengers, and issue tickets at the same time. We have not received any orders from depot managers regarding this."
When a reporter tried to enter the mall from both the entry gates, security guards stopped him and asked for the vaccination certificate. They said, "We have been ordered to not let anyone in without checking the vaccination certificate."
When a reporter tried to enter the mall, he was stopped at the entrance. When the security guard asked for the vaccination certificate, he said he had taken only one dose. However, on being told that some of his friends were waiting at the mall, the guard let him in after checking the single-dose certificate. On being asked about the same, the guard said, "A lot of people, who have taken just one dose of the vaccine, visit the mall daily. They come from far off places with friends and family, if we don't allow them then their plans will get spoiled. It's not a good feeling for us. We are allowing them on grounds of humanity."
When our reporter reached the Brand Factory Mall located near Haji Ali around 11.25 am, he was asked to show the vaccination certificate. He was allowed to enter only after it was checked.
Anurag Kamble, Shirish Vaktania and Vishal Singh
