Malls and shopping centers opened in Athens and other Greek cities on Saturday, April 24, with certain restrictions in place due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Retailers are now able to do business by appointment using the so-called “click-in-shop” method.

Shoppers must either sent an SMS to the number 13032, fill in an online form or simply write down the details of the appointment on a piece of paper. They must also possess proof from the retailer, usually in the form of an SMS, confirming the appointment. Shoppers will then have 3 hours from the submission of the SMS to complete their shopping.

Retail shops in malls and shopping centers can stay open from 7 am to 8.30 pm, with the exception of Good Friday (1-7 pm) and Holy Saturday (7 am-6pm). They are free to decide whether to open for fewer hours. As a further safety measure, retail shop owners and employees must take at least one coronavirus self-test per week.

The maximum number of customers allowed in shops is 1 per 25 square meters. In the malls’ open spaces, 1 per 10 square meters will be allowed, and at the cash registers, a minimum distance of 2 meters from other customers must be kept.

Food outlets in shopping centers and malls will remain closed.

This article was first published on ekathimerini.com.