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All shops including toys, clothes and furniture to reopen by June 15, Boris Johnson confirms
ALL non-essential shops, including toys, furniture an clothes can reopen from June 15 in the latest steps to take the UK out of lockdown.
Boris Johnson confirmed the plans in tonight's coronavirus press briefing.
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It means that from June 1 outdoor markets and car showrooms can open.
Then from June 15 non-essential shops including charity and betting shops can reopen.
But only if the government is satisfied that the UK is still meeting the five tests needed to ease lockdown measures.
He said: "...on 15 June, we intend to reopen other non-essential retail - but only provided the five tests are still being met and shops have been made Covid secure."
The prime minister first revealed plans to reopen the high street on Sunday but tonight he confirmed that the five tests needed to ease the lockdown had been met.
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He also announced that groups of six people can meet outside, but those from different households must still keep two meters apart.
This includes meeting in gardens and also private outdoor spaces.
The prime minister also confirmed that schools will reopen from June 1. Here's the full list of what shops can open again from mid-June:
What shops can open from June 15?
All non-essential shops have been given the go-ahead to open their doors once more from June 15.
This includes fashion stores, betting shops and charity stores, and they can be back up and running in fewer than three weeks.
Gift shops in museums, retail spaces in theatres, libraries, heritage sites and tourism sites will also be allowed to open.
But this could still be delayed if the number of coronavirus cases looks like it rising out of control again.
Here is the full-list of stores that will be allowed to reopen from mid-June:
- Fashion shops
- Charity shops
- Betting shops and arcades
- Tailors, dress fitters and fashion designers
- 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
- Craft fairs
- Similar types of retail
What stores are already allowed to open?
SOME stores have already been allowed to reopen, while others never had to close because they are considered essential. These include:
Stores that have reopened:
- Hardware and homeware stores
- Car dealerships - From June 1
- Indoor and outdoor markets - From June 1
Stores allowed to remain open during lockdown:
- Supermarkets
- Pharmacies
- Takeaways and food deliveries
- Health shops
- Medical services - eg, dentists
- Vets
- Newsagents
- Pet shops
- Hardware stores
- Retail shops in hospitals
- Petrol stations
- Bicycle shops
- Laundrettes and dry cleaners
- Undertakers
- Banks, building societies
- Short-term loan providers, credit unions and cash points
- Storage and distribution centres
- Post Offices
- Car rental services and car parks near vital services such as supermarkets
- Public toilets
- Car garages and repair shops
- Food banks and shelters
Will shops be different compared to before lockdown?
The shopping experience won't be the same as what it was before lockdown, as customers and staff will have to follow strict social distancing rules.
For example, Michael Gove said shoppers would need to "exercise restraint" by not trying on clothing and testing goods before buying them.
The measures will also include hand sanitiser for staff and customers, quarantining of returned items for 72 hours and staggering times for click and collect orders.
There will also be a limit on the number of customers in stores and one-way systems will also be set up through shops.
Retailers will also need to frequently clean objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, including self-checkouts, trolleys, coffee machines and betting terminals.
One-way systems should be used where possible and shops and shopping centres should consider how customers can safely enter, exit and queue both inside and outside.
You also won't be able to test products before you buy them, such as a sofa or a new phone.
Other rules could also see a rotation of stock that is frequently touched.
Shops will face punishments if they're found to be flouting the rules.
When will pubs, gyms and hairdressers reopen?
Brits hoping for a pint in the sunshine may have to wait a bit longer, as the Government has said pubs and restaurants - along with hairdressers and cinemas - will not open until July 4 at "the earliest".
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Hotels and other tourism hotspots like camping sites are also expected to be discussed for a possible July reopening.
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Ministers will continue to review the lockdown rules every three weeks and tweak them if they think it's right.
But on Wednesday night, Boris said he might be able to do it quicker than he thought - giving hope pubs may be able to return sometime in June.
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