Today, black friday has gone off the rails. The US-inspired special offer day is both loved and hated, but there is little doubt that it manages to attract people to the stores.
This year, however, the corona situation has meant that many stores have extended the offer day to apply throughout the week. Still, many had taken the trip to make some bargains on Friday afternoon.
At the Oslo City shopping center, a queuing system had to be implemented to avoid congestion and breaches of the infection control recommendations.
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– Do not save
Dagbladet has also spoken to several people at the Storo center today. Many of them had taken the trip to buy Christmas presents.
When asked if they were afraid of being infected with the coronavirus on a day like this, the answer for many was no, but many still took clear precautions.
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– We are not afraid, but are careful and try to show solidarity, says Helge Krabye and his wife Ivy to Dagbladet.
Tor Frøseth had taken the trip to the center to have a cup of coffee, as he does every week, and had no major shopping plans.
– I’m not interested in that. I do not know what it is, and I will not find out this year either, he says to Dagbladet.
Frøseth also did not think that there were any more people here than otherwise.
Coronavakt
Mostafa Waziri is one of five who are employed as coron guards at the center. He started working two days ago, and will continue to do so until December.
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He notices for his part that there are more people at the center today, but thinks people are good at taking the infection control rules seriously.
– There has been no maximum capacity today. There have been about 2200 people at most and the maximum capacity is 2500. It has been quite nice really, people are quite cheerful, even if some are busy.
Waziri has the task of handing out face masks and spreading the hands of people who enter the center.
– There are not many who forget bandages, but there are many who want to change what they are wearing, he says to Dagbladet.
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– Solved exemplary
In Oslo City, they had to introduce a queuing system for a period this afternoon. This is because the center strictly adheres to the recommendations from the City of Oslo regarding distance, bandages and Antibac, explains Chief Operating Officer at Steen & Strøm AS, Ketil Wold, to Dagbladet.
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– They come with ongoing encouragements to customers and visitors in line with the rules and recommendations that Oslo Municipality has given. We take these measures together with the municipality to create peace and contribute to safe trade in Oslo City.
Wold will give all praise to tenants in Oslo City with the handling.
– This spirit of service is loosely exemplary. Today they were well prepared with extra measures. Today they had manned all the entrances with guards and people who handed out face masks to those who wanted but did not have.
Awaiting record progress
– One of the best days
In line with the municipality’s recommendation, Oslo City’s limit is approx. 6300 people. Wold explains that the company operates with a so-called “live counting” system. This means that at all times, in every second, they know the number of people inside the center.
An automatic alarm goes off at 5800 people, and measures are then taken at all entrances. It did so around 4.30pm on Friday. During the busiest hours between 17 and 19, a queuing system was introduced, which worked very well, Wold explains to Dagbladet.
– People kept their distance in queues. We found that everyone enforced the rules and respected them. So both customers and the stores should be highly praised.
– I am absolutely sure that the day went well within the rules and recommendations of the City of Oslo, he adds.
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– Were there more people and push this year?
– Last year, they were close to 8000 customers inside the center at the same time at most. This week we have had blackweek – and Friday has been the best.
– Has this been the best day since the corona restrictions came in March?
– There is reason to believe that, at least one of the best days. This has been a good trading week in 2020.
A lot of traffic
Earlier this afternoon, the road traffic center also reported “very much traffic” towards Oslo. Here, Black Friday was considered one of the explanations.
– There is no special reason why there should be a queue now. There are no incidents. We can assume that there is weekend traffic combined with Black Friday, says traffic operator Christofa Key-Nilsen at Vegtrafikksentralen to Dagbladet.
It started around 13.30.
– There are movements, but heavy traffic and a lot of pressure, Key-Nilsen said.
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