Non-essential retailers to reopen

< Back to blog

Non-essential retailers to reopen Posted On 27 May 2020

Boris Johnson announced on Monday that all non-essential retailers will be allowed to reopen in England from the 15^th June.

Retailers will have to adhere to new guidelines to protect their workers and their customers, and it is ‘contingent on progress in the fight against coronavirus.’ This goes alongside outdoor markets and car showrooms which will be allowed to reopen from the 1^st of June.

Mr Johnson added, “Shops now have the time to implement this guidance before they reopen.

“This will ensure there can be no doubt about what steps they should take.

“I want people to be confident that they can shop safely, provided they follow the social distancing rules for all premises.”

Non-essential retailers such as clothes shops, shoe shops, bookshops, furniture, toys and auction houses will welcome the news as they work towards opening up the High Streets across England. Mr Johnson has urged shoppers to go out and spend next month to help revive the economy.

The changes will be formally confirmed on the nine-week review of lockdown which will take place before Thursday of this week.

It is hoped that the lessons learned from supermarkets during the past 9 weeks will help to reopen the non-essential retail shops in the same way. So expect the 2m social distancing rules, a limit on the number of people allowed at any one time and reduced hours to be in place.

Mr Johnson closed with the following, “The food retail sector has already responded fantastically well, enabling supermarkets to be kept open in a safe way – and we will learn lessons from that experience as we allow other retail to open.”

“These are careful but deliberate steps on the road to rebuilding our country. And we can only take these steps thanks to what we have so far achieved together.

“We will only be successful if we all remember the basics – so wash your hands, keep social distance, and isolate if you have symptoms – and get a test.”