Biggest mall owner in U.S. reportedly preparing to reopen 49 properties over the weekend

Starting on Friday, Simon Property Group, the biggest mall owner in the United States, will open 49 of its locations in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, and other states that are reopening amid the coronavirus pandemic, CNBC reports.

An internal memo obtained by CNBC states that the malls will limit their business hours and go through extensive cleaning at night. During the day, escalators, door knobs, and food court tables will be regularly sanitized, and employees will be stationed at entrances to offer free temperature testing to shoppers, using infrared thermometers. Masks and hand sanitizer will also also be available for shoppers.

On March 18, Simon announced it was temporarily shuttering all of its properties in order to slow down the spread of COVID-19. Retailers at Simon properties, like Macy's and Victoria's Secret, now have to decide if they are ready to reopen, have enough inventory, and can quickly bring back furloughed staff.

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