Israel has a Plan to Open Up the Trade After Quarantine

Shopping centers and markets are planned to be the first, and sports clubs with swimming pools will be the last.

A special temporary government group has been formed in Israel for the period of the country's withdrawal from quarantine. Each agency is to develop and submit to the Prime Minister a phased plan for a return to a normal life. The Ministry of Finance has presented a four-stage plan for the withdrawal and support of the economy, entrepreneurs of the country.

The Ministry of Health should determine the timing of each stage. The Ministry of Finance will evaluate only the order of opening of different sectors, according to the assessment of their importance for the country's economy and the state budget.

First of all, it is proposed to open indoor shopping centers ("canyons") and markets, as well as return Palestinian workers to construction sites. These measures will be submitted to the government for approval next week.

In the second stage, it is proposed to open paid children's sections and sports clubs, without swimming pools, parks, and museums, as well as non-medical specialists, physiotherapists, speech therapists, and masseurs, will be allowed to work.

The Ministry of Finance proposes to open sports clubs and gyms in the third stage, together with theaters and cinemas, restaurants, bars and banquet halls. 

Pools, clubs and discos, water parks and amusement parks are to be opened last.

One of the main problems in implementing the opening plan is the reluctance of the owners to open on the proposed terms. Previously, Malls.com wrote that about 400 retail chains refused to reopen after the quarantine was lifted without receiving compensation from the Israeli authorities.

For its part, the Ministry of Health is ready to open the malls shortly but sets forth such demands to their owners that the same ones refuse to open on these conditions. For example, the Ministry demands that the malls be divided into separate sections and that customers be checked when moving from one part to another. Also, the Ministry of Health requires a mobile application to track all visitors to the malls. 

Entrepreneurs have already stated that they would prefer not to open shopping malls under these conditions at all.

More about shopping malls in Israel