Wanting to curb the spread of Covid-19 and its variants, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Friday evening a new series of restrictions, including the closure of non-food shopping centers with an area "greater than 20,000 m²" .
How many shopping centers will be affected?
What spaces can remain open?
The Parisian takes stock.
What will close
As announced on Friday, “non-food shopping centers over 20,000 m²” will have to close from midnight this Saturday for at least three weeks.
"But this schedule may change depending on the evolution of the health situation," said Francis Palombi, president of the Confederation of French Traders.
According to data from the National Council of Shopping Centers, this restriction concerns 396 places in France.
Thus, all non-food businesses (DIY, ready-to-wear, decoration stores, etc.) that are part of these shopping malls will have to close their doors.
Closed businesses will not be able to click and collect, but the delivery of their product will remain possible, says the ministry.
Non-food stores (decoration, furniture, ready-to-wear shops) with a surface area of over 20,000 m² will also close their doors.
What will stay open
However, shopping for food will remain possible: hypermarkets and food supermarkets in galleries of more than 20,000 m² will be able to remain open but they will be fitted out, specifies Bercy.
Measures will be put in place to restrict attendance and limit excessive groupings.
Likewise, the food brands present in these shopping centers (chocolate shops, wine merchants, grocery stores, etc.) will be able to continue to welcome their customers, as will pharmacies.
The tonnage of customers accepted will change from Monday: an average of one person every 10 m² (against one person every 8 m² previously) will now be accepted.
In the same way, a single customer will have to circulate by shopping trolley, further specifies the Ministry of the Economy.
As a reminder, each store must display the maximum number of people authorized simultaneously.
The minister indicated that a multiplication of checks will take place this weekend, with an "unprecedented mobilization of the police force".
Also, “business parks and branded villages where public circulation between shops takes place outside” are not concerned and may remain open.
Finally, all shopping centers with an area of less than 20,000 m² will be able to continue to receive their customers, without closing a store.
Likewise, large retailers (DIY store, household appliances, furnishings) with an area of less than 20,000 m² located outside shopping centers will continue to open their doors.
Compensation for shopping centers
Aware of the impact of such a measure, the Minister of the Economy Bruno le Maire affirmed that businesses would be “largely compensated, whatever the cost” for the State.
Like restaurant owners, these businesses will have access to the exceptional solidarity fund.
They will have a "right of option" between compensation for loss of turnover up to € 10,000 or compensation of 20% of turnover capped at € 200,000 per month, Bercy further indicates. .
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Another measure for large brands, in the event that the € 200,000 in compensation is insufficient, a “70% fixed charge coverage system” will be open to them.
Likewise, closed businesses will benefit from exemption from employer contributions and assistance with the payment of employee contributions.
Finally, the issue of stocks was also addressed, during this period of sales so that the brands, which are very present in shopping malls, are not penalized by too many unsold items.
The head offices of the most penalized brands should be able to have access to the partial activity mechanism.