The outline for shopping malls, commercial complexes, and street stores went into effect yesterday (Monday) - after the government approved requiring entry to most stores with a green badge or a negative test.
According to the regulations, everyone can enter the mall area to visit essential stores only. The remaining stores, which are actually the majority, can only be entered upon presentation of a green badge or inspection.
The stores that are required by the guidelines to enforce the green label are those whose area exceeds 100 square meters. The green label obligation also applies to employees.
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
Additionally, entry to restaurants located inside a mall is now only possible upon presentation of a green badge. Another significant change: Food stands in malls are supposed to provide service to customers subject to presentation of a green badge, and seating is not allowed, only self-pickup.
However, an inspection conducted by Israel Hayom reporters at various locations across the country throughout the day revealed that the stores had not yet completed their preparations.
As part of an inspection conducted at a mall in the center in the morning, the reporter was able to enter fashion stores without any problems. No one checked the green badge, neither for us nor for the children who entered the stores. In one of the cafes, for example, there were children and no one asked them for a coronavirus test. On a visit to another mall in the evening, it seemed that the situation was better and that the chains had already deployed inspectors.
At the entrance to the Grand Mall in Haifa, the guard stands and checks the bags. He doesn't even ask about the green badge. He also doesn't keep a counter to count the people entering the mall. A walk through the stores in the mall shows that the big fashion chains have an employee at the entrance to the store who is responsible for checking the green badge. Lines of people wait patiently at the entrance to the chain stores to show the badge.
In the small stores, which are not defined as essential, there is no inspector and no employee who verifies whether you have a green card or a recovery certificate.
In the food stalls, the sale is take-away. People buy food and sit on the benches on the side to eat. The electrical goods chain did not post even one employee to check who enters the store. The feeling is that some of the guidelines are enforced in the mall and some are not.
No inspectors or police were seen in the area. Perhaps they too have given up on enforcing the new guidelines.
Some stores have signs that entry is restricted to those with a green badge only. People in the mall wore masks. As for restaurants and cafes, waiters ask if those entering have a green badge, and the waiter takes care to verify their identity.
In Sinmol in Haifa Bay, the situation is similar: at the entrance, the guard does not ask about the green badge, and entry to most stores is without checking the badge. Only one chain store required a badge.
A visit to the Nehemiah Mall in Kiryat Shmona reveals a similar situation: the guard stands at the entrance bored, and no one stands and checks at the entrance to the stores. The government's guidelines for a green light in malls have not yet reached the northernmost mall in the country.
""Come on," says one of the store owners in the mall, "they've completely confused us. There are almost no buyers, so we'll put more money in to prevent people from coming? Until a buyer comes - if possible, we'll hug him. As long as he keeps some income here.".
None of the stores are excited about the new guidelines. Perhaps because they have difficulty understanding them.
And how about in the Negev? At the Grand Mall in Be'er Sheva, the green badge was enforced minimally at the entrance to stores - and only at a small number of businesses. On the food court floor of the mall in the capital of the Negev, the green badge was checked for everyone and seriously, but seating was allowed in the food court, and not as previously stipulated - in a self-pickup (take-away) format.
Other business owners flout the guidelines and no inspection is done at all, regardless of the size of the store, the number of visitors, or the vitality of that store. At a sportswear store, the label was randomly checked.
The Mall Forum responded: "The malls are prepared for regular activity in accordance with the guidelines and are adhering to the established procedures, including maintaining social distancing, wearing masks, signage and announcements - and are even taking part in the joint effort to encourage vaccination and assist with outreach.".
""The malls are committed to the safety and health of visitors, alongside an enjoyable entertainment and shopping experience, and have demonstrated throughout the entire period of dealing with the Corona virus a high level of supervision over what is happening in the mall environment and providing a response to challenges.".
