Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
THE HAPPY SHOPPERS Clothes, shoes & toy stores PM announces ‘cautious’ set to open in England only plan to kick start high street
SHOPS in England selling clothes, shoes, toys and furniture will reopen from June 15, Boris Johnson has announced.
The Prime Minister also said outdoor markets and car showrooms can reopen from next Monday – as long as they can meet guidelines to protect customers and staff.
And it’s hoped the devolved governments in Northern Ireland and Scotland will follow suit in the weeks to come.
The PM added: “I want people to be confident that they can shop safely, provided they follow the social-distancing rules for all premises.”
The easing applies to England only, with Belfast and Edinburgh expected to make their own announcements very soon.
The two-month lockdown showed fresh signs of fraying yesterday as sun-seeking families flocked to beaches and beauty spots.
But Mr Johnson hoped easing curbs on the retail industry would help workers return to stores – and customers back to shopping.
The sector – apart from a handful of types of stores selling essential goods such as food, which were allowed to remain open – has been battered over the past two months, with workers furloughed and owners fearing for their futures.
Speaking at the No10 press conference, the PM said: “It’s a cautious plan, informed by the evidence about what’s safe, and is conditional on our continual progress against the virus – and we are making progress.”
The “key indicators” were
“heading in the right direction”,
Mr Johnson stressed – and the “R” number, charting the rate at which the infection spreads, was staying below one.
He said: “The daily number of deaths is down, the number of new cases is down, our survey suggests the infection rate is falling and the ‘R’ hasn’t risen above one.” He believed announcing the looming easing of tough restrictions last night would give shops “sufficient time to adjust and get ready before these changes come into effect”. British Retail Consortium boss Helen Dickinson said: “Now that we know which shops can open and when, retailers can begin communicating their plans with their workforces and customers.
“The industry stands ready to play its part in getting the economy moving again.”
Josh Hardie, of the Confederation of British Industry, added: “As our high streets slowly reawaken, this new guidance is important for businesses on the ground.
“Our shops are doing all they can to keep the public and their staff safe, and we’ve seen many retailers with innovative solutions to do just that.”
The Government last night published updated guidelines for people who work in or run shops, drawn up after consultation with businesses, unions, Public Health England and the Health and Safety Executive, and following the easing of restrictions in other European countries. British Independent Retailers Association CEO Andrew Goodacre said he was “pleased with the guidance being given to retail outlets”.
The announcement followed a Cabinet meeting during which ministers agreed which restrictions could be eased next.
The formal three-week lockdown review takes place on Thursday – fuelling hopes the lifting of more curbs could be unveiled later in the week.