GET READY FOR SHOPS TO OPEN
ALL shops will finally be allowed to reopen in Wales tomorrow as more lockdown restrictions are lifted. Many retailers have revealed their plans for reopening on April 12.
It will be the first time shoppers will be able to step foot inside nonessential retail stores since December.
The phased reopening of nonessential retail began on Monday, March 22, when the ban on what stores and supermarkets already open could sell was lifted.
Since then, First Minister Mark Drakeford has listed key dates for coming out of lockdown in Wales.
As well as non-essential retail reopening, schools can fully reopen to all pupils following the Easter break and close contact services can also open again.
Here’s what you can expect if you’re heading to Primark, Next, Ikea or Debenhams when they reopen their doors again.
PRIMARK
Last year, shoppers queued outside stores for hours after the first lockdown was lifted.
The affordable retailer has eight shops across Wales, which can be found in Cardiff, Newport, Cwmbran, Llandudno, Wrexham, Llanelli, Swansea and Broughton.
Following government guidance, there will be strict social distancing guidelines in place, which includes limits on the number of customers and mandatory face coverings.
Primark is planning to offer extended opening hours across almost every store in England and Wales to help reduce queues, spread demand and give customers more time to shop safely.
For the first week initially, stores will open for two extra hours per day on average, typically an hour earlier and later, with times varying by store.
Primark chief executive Paul Marchant said: “Safety remains at the front of our minds.
“We have extended opening hours across almost all of our stores to help meet demand safely but we’re also asking our customers to keep up the support and spirit they showed last year, particularly if queuing outside or in-store.”
You can find out the exact opening hours of your local Primark by visiting their website.
NEXT
The retailer has said all stores already have pre-set customer capacities from when they were previously open – this is so stores are not overcrowded and everyone can stay socially distanced.
The changing rooms, however, will remain closed. There will be hand sanitiser stations and shoppers will of course have to wear face coverings, unless exempt.
When it comes to opening times, it is best to check Next up-to-date store finder online.
IKEA
Although you will be able to shop inside the Cardiff store, in line with Government guidelines the restaurant will remain closed for now. Extensive measures are in place to help ensure the safety of customers and co-workers.
An Ikea spokesman said: “For a number of weeks we have been working towards ensuring our store is ready to safely welcome back customers.
“We look forward to reopening our Cardiff store on April 12.
“With life at home more important than ever, our store will be ready to welcome customers back, with extensive measures in place to help ensure the safety of our customers and co-workers.”
According to the website, the opening hours for the Cardiff store will be 10am-8pm, Monday-Saturday, and 11am-5pm on Sunday.
DEBENHAMS
Debenhams is reopening for one last time tomorrow and is holding a massive closing down sale.
In January, the cherished department retailer announced it would close all its stores. The department chain fell into administration twice in recent times.
The store is holding a final closing down sale from tomorrow, with up to 70% off fashion and home products, and up to 50% off beauty and fragrance lines.
The stores are reopening as part of Debenhams’ final stock liquidation process and will continue to trade for a limited number of weeks until the stock in the stores is fully cleared.
Stocks are limited and expected to sell out quickly so shoppers have been urged to visit their nearest store quickly to avoid disappointment.
All stores have been made Covidsecure, with appropriate hygiene measures in place.
CARDIFF has the highest Covid rates anywhere in Wales. The Welsh capital currently has more coronavirus than any other local authority in Wales as well as the highest proportion of tests coming back positive.
Wales-wide cases have fallen in recent weeks, prompting the Welsh Government to move forward plans to reopen gyms.
However, Cardiff is the local authority with the highest figures of 35.7 per 100,000 over seven days whereas the overall Wales figure is 18.7.
These are the areas of Cardiff with the highest Covid levels based on population:
■ Trowbridge – 144.9 cases per 100,000 as a rolling seven day average
■ South Riverside – 121.1
■ Canton – 108.6
■ Pwll-mawr & St Mellons East – 107.7
■ Adamsdown – 99.4
■ Llanrumney South – 91.1
■ Splott – 81.1
■ Grangetown North – 78.1
■ Cathays North – 74.2
■ Grangetown South – 72.4
Any amount of Covid is a cause for concern, but these figures need to be seen in context.
Each area is very small, with an average of 7,000 people. This means that one or two new cases can send the rate per 100,000 up very quickly.
For example, Adamsdown on 99 cases per 100,000 has 12 cases – the most in the capital. This means that one house of four testing positive for Covid would count towards 33% of cases in that one area.
This doesn’t mean there is nothing going on. The positivity rate in Cardiff (the percentage of tests that come back with a positive result) is also the highest in Wales at 4.9%. Many parts of Wales are now below 2%, with Bridgend just 0.9%.
Crucially the places with the most cases fluctuates, with Swansea recently being the highest. When the virus is this repressed the figures can swing significantly week to week.
Just because these particular areas are high now compared to other areas doesn’t mean they have always been so. In the 12 months from the start of the pandemic Gabalfa in Cardiff has been the area with the most cases. However, currently it has the second lowest in the whole city.