Israel Will Reopen Malls to Revive Economy as Virus Cases Drop

(Bloomberg) -- Israel will allow malls to reopen beginning Thursday as coronavirus cases decline and the government seeks to revive the economy after a two-month lockdown.

Mall operators will have to agree to meet strict rules, including limiting the number of customers to no more than one for every 20 square meters of retail space, according to a cabinet decision late Monday. They must ensure that shoppers stay at least two meters from each other, including while standing in line, and that elevators carry no more than two people at a time.

The cabinet also voted to allow hotels, libraries, alternative medicine clinics, nature reserves and zoos to reopen immediately, under certain restrictions. Gyms and open-air markets will be permitted to open as of Thursday.

More than 16,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Israel, including some 230 fatalities. Close to 10,000 recoveries have been recorded.

The economy has taken a heavy hit from the pandemic, with unemployment, including temporary unpaid leave, rising to more than 27%. The central bank expects gross domestic product to contract 5.3% this year.

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