Warning retailers may shut up shop for good

Plans to close nonessential shops in areas placed under the highest level of coronavirus restrictions in Scotland could be the end for some stores, a retail industry body has warned.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced a new five-level system yesterday, setting out which measures will be in place at each grade of lockdown.

The Scottish Retail Consortium said closing non-essential shops in Level Four – the highest tier – will do little to reduce corona virus rates.

Its director David Lonsdale said: “We fully support the drive to reduce the R number and to get on top of the current public health situation.

“However, we believe any move to close nonessential retailers will have only a very minimal impact on reducing the spread of the virus, whilst carrying very significant economic harms.

“Retail has demonstrated that it can operate safely in the current environment and it is notable that there was no spike in infections following the lifting of lockdown on nonessential shops at the end of June.

“Scottish retailers have invested tens of millions of pounds to make stores safe and secure for customers, including Perspex screens , social distancing and additional hygiene measures.

“Scottish stores lost £2.4 billion of retail sales over the first seven months of the pandemic and have yet to claw their way back to precrisis levels.

“Any attempt to close non- essential stores during the golden Christmas shopping quarter may mean many are unable to reopen, having missed out on this vital trading period.”