Malls and shopping centers across Greece will open again on Monday, after infectious disease specialists gave the “green light”, at the request of the Ministry of Development and Investment.
Big shopping centers were scheduled to reopen on June 1st initially, but the ministry decided that they should open earlier because they have the necessary square meters so that customers can follow the social distancing measures. Some discount centers have opened since May 11 and it would be unfair for reasons of competition for malls to stay closed longer.
Minister of Development and Investment Adonis Georgiadis spoke to public television ERT on Friday saying that all safety regulations for COVID-19 will apply.
The safety measures include the following:
One customer per 20 square meters (215 sq ft)
The recommended use of masks in common use areas.
And mandatory use of masks for customers and staff inside stores. This is because the air conditioning inside stores is recycled.
On Monday, in addition to shopping centers and malls, zoos and botanical gardens will also reopen, Georgiadis said. The minister added that relevant safety rules for the operation of the above will be announced on Saturday.
Georgiadis stated that the Committee of Infectious Diseases Specialists considered that the epidemiological course of the coronavirus in Greece allows the opening of malls earlier than scheduled initially.
“The virus has not disappeared, but it is getting weaker every day,” Georgiadis said, that the healthier the environment, the better off we will be. “The return to normalcy is coming fast,” he added.
Restaurants, bars and coffee shops to open May 25
The Health Committee of Experts also decided that restaurants, bars and coffee shops can open earlier than the scheduled June 1st date.
On Sunday, it will be officially announced by Deputy Minister of Development and Investment, Nikos Papathanasis that hospitality industry businesses will reopen their doors on Monday, May 25.
The opening of restaurants, bars and coffee shops will take place in an organized way and in compliance with health regulations.
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