BACK IN BUSINESS
Full list of non-essential shops allowed to reopen on June 15 including charity and betting stores
THE government has revealed the full list of retailers that can reopen on June 15.
Fashion stores, betting shops and charity stores are among those allowed to welcome back customers in less than three weeks.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
3
3
Although, the date could change if reductions in coronavirus infections fail to meet expectations.
Gift shops in museums, retail spaces in theatres, libraries, heritage sites and tourism sites will also be allowed to open.
The shopping experience will be very different though, with customers having to follow a series of rules.
For example, Michael Gove today said shoppers would need to "exercise restraint" by not trying on clothing and testing goods before buying them.
The full list that can be open from June 15, although some are already allowed to be open, includes:
- Food retailers
- Chemists
- Hardware/homeware stores
- Fashion shops
- Charity shops
- Betting shops and arcades
- Tailors, dress fitters and fashion designers
- Car dealerships
- Auction houses
- Antique stores
- Retail art galleries
- Photography studios
- Gift shops and retail spaces in theatres, museums, libraries, heritage sites and tourism sites
- Mobile phone stores
- Indoor and outdoor markets
- Craft fairs
- Similar types of retail
The guidance also applies to those currently open, including banks, post offices and other money businesses, it added.
On March 23, the government ordered all non-essential shops to close due to coronavirus.
Meanwhile, supermarkets and grocery stores, pharmacies, banks, hardware stores, petrol stations, vets and pet stores, food markets and bike shops were allowed to remain open.
Off-licences and other licensed shops selling alcohol, including those in breweries, have also remained open.
Restaurants, pubs and cafes were all forced to shut their doors as part of the lockdown, but remained able to do takeaway and deliveries.
And on May 10 in his address to the nation, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that he hoped to begin a phased reopening of shops by June 1 at the earliest.
Some of the hospitality industry could reopen from July 1, he added.
3
What is happening outside England?
GOVERNMENTS in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have announced slightly different measures - we explain all you need to know.
Scotland
On May 21, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced Scotland's four-phase strategy for easing lockdown.
Phase one, which is set to begin on May 28, will involve a gradual reopening of drive-through food outlets as well as garden centres.
Phase two will start once the R rate is "consistently" below one, and six criteria set out by the World Health Organisation for easing restrictions are met.
During this phase, pubs and restaurants will be able to open outdoor spaces with social distancing measures in place.
Outdoor markets, small retail units, sports courts and playgrounds will also reopen, though no date has been given for the start of this phase.
Once phase three begins, pubs, restaurants and large retailers will be able to reopen with physical distancing and hygiene measures in place.
Wales
In an extension of lockdown measures announced for Wales on May 8, garden centres were allowed to reopen provided they maintain distancing measures.
Many recycling centres will begin to reopen this week as part of a slight reduction in the restrictions.
The lockdown measures will be reviewed by the end of the week.
Northern Ireland
On May 12, the Northern Ireland Executive outlined a five-step recovery plan for easing the lockdown, taking place over six different sectors of society.
In retail, the first step allows large outdoor-based retailers such as garden centres to open.
Subsequent steps will then allow non-food based retailers to open with limited numbers, before hairdressers and tattoo parlours open later.
The final step will allow restaurants, cafes and pubs to reopen on a limited basis to begin with.
As of May 18, Northern Ireland was on the first step for retail and no dates have been provided for subsequent steps.
More recently, garden centres were also given the go-ahead to reopen on May 13.
Before reopening, bosses must consider who is essential to be at work and plan for the minimum number of people needed on site.
Most read in Money
Clinically vulnerable workers can return to work, but they "should be offered the option of the safest available on-site roles, enabling them to stay 2m away from others", if working from home isn't possible.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
But the government has so far declined to bring forward any legislation to legally protect workers beyond the current health and safety laws.
Unions have been calling for changes to protect staff, but the PM has said businesses should use "common sense".
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - STAY IN THE KNOW
Don't miss the latest news and figures - and essential advice for you and your family.
To receive The Sun’s Coronavirus newsletter in your inbox every tea time, .
To follow us on Facebook, simply .
Get Britain’s best-selling newspaper delivered to your smartphone or tablet each day – .
Brits can't try on clothes, make-up or pick up items to look at when shops reopen, Michael Gove says
Topics