IKEA delays reopening stores amid threats of fines, police closure order
But Swedish furniture chain says it should be permitted to open select departments selling essential products, believes Health Ministry will agree
IKEA announced on Wednesday that it would delay its plan for partial reopening after the Health Ministry reportedly threatened to fine the Swedish furniture chain, saying it was a nonessential business, and Public Security Ministry Amir Ohana said he would send the police to shut down its branches if they opened their doors.
“IKEA is postponing for 24 hours the opening of stores in a special format, which is backed by legal opinion and includes the opening of only some departments. This is out of a desire to explain the company’s justifications to the Health Ministry,” the company said.
The company noted that other large houseware chains have remained open throughout the lockdown, selling many similar products.
“We are confident that Health Ministry officials who work day and night for the benefit of public health will recognize that the fact that IKEA will open its essential departments, and not the entire store, will serve the public due to the store’s large spaces that will allow them to shop safely,” the company said.
Public Security Minister Amir Ohana, who oversees the Israel Police, told Channel 12 on Wednesday that if the Swedish homeware giant reopened against regulations, police would take a strong stance.
“If there is a repeated violation, the business will be closed. They have the authority for a closure order,” Ohana said.
Despite current coronavirus lockdown measures barring malls and shopping centers from opening, IKEA had argued it was an essential business because it sells home maintenance products and was therefore allowed to reopen.
The Health Ministry rejected that argument, saying IKEA’s primary business is selling furniture and not home maintenance.
During the initial lockdown in the spring, IKEA was allowed to reopen while most stores remained closed, fueling anger from small business owners.
Malls remain closed, but smaller street stores were permitted to open on Sunday, with some restrictions. The stores had been closed since mid-September, when Israel introduced a nationwide lockdown that excluded only essential businesses. Reopening street stores was opposed by the Health Ministry, due to the level of infections.
A drop in the number of new daily cases, achieved during the national lockdown, has recently leveled off amid the gradual reopening, leading Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and health officials to warn that if the numbers begin to climb there will be no further easing of restrictions.
