CapitaLand to deploy disinfection technology in malls

CAPITALAND will deploy tech solutions such as disinfecting robots and air disinfection systems at its malls to enhance its cleaning and disinfecting routines ahead of Singapore's phase one reopening in June, it said in a bourse filing on Friday.

Starting next month, autonomous UV disinfection robots will be deployed daily after mall operating hours to disinfect the basements and first storeys of Tampines Mall and Bukit Panjang Plaza, which are floors with high shopper traffic, CapitaLand said.

The robots, which will be progressively rolled out at other CapitaLand shopping centres, complement daily disinfection routines carried out by cleaning crew.

From June, the company will also install in all mall lifts a PhotoPlasma air disinfection system. The technology energises atmospheric air into a plasma state, which eliminates airborne and surface micro-organisms such as viruses and bacteria.

In addition, lifts will receive general cleaning and a coating of anti-microbial disinfectant.

The anti-microbial disinfectant will also be applied to high-contact areas such as escalator handrails, door entrance buttons, touchscreens, toilet cubicles and basins, family rooms, as well as customer service counters.

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Surfaces treated with the disinfectant can potentially ward off bacteria and viruses for up to six months.

CapitaLand will continue to clean and disinfect all high-contact touchpoints at a stepped-up frequency of once every two to three hours.

From June, it will also introduce floormats that have disinfecting solution poured over them, to be placed at key entrances. Shoppers' soles will be cleaned when they step on these disinfection floormats, which will be changed and cleaned twice daily.

In addition, the group is rolling out automatic escalator handrail disinfection and contactless lift activation at The Atrium@Orchard, which is next to Dhoby Ghaut MRT station.

Two high-traffic escalators at The Atrium@Orchard will have an ultra UV device that disinfects the handrails when the escalator is in use. Users will not be exposed to UV light.

Two lifts at The Atrium@Orchard will also be fitted with a device that allows users to scan a QR code and activate the elevators without touching the buttons.

Meanwhile, all frontliners working at CapitaLand malls will each receive two face shields from the first week of June. These will include tenant employees, vendors and contractors. The shields are part of Temasek Foundation's "Stay Prepared" initiative.

Shares of CapitaLand closed at S$2.89 on Thursday, down S$0.01 or 0.4 per cent.