Government quietly scales back quarantine period on returned goods and clothes
QUARANTINE measures for returned goods and tried-on clothes have been quietly scaled back by the government from 72 hours to 48 hours.
The change in guidance means retailers are now advised to keep items off shop floors for two days, as opposed to three days.
The states that in order to reduce the spread of coronavirus, shops must store "items that have been returned, donated or brought in for repair in a container or separate room for 48 hours".
The guidance covers unwanted goods that have been returned to stores, clothes that customers have tried on, and charity shop donations.
Before being put back on sale, these items must be placed in a separate room or container to make sure they are safe.
Alternatively, retailers could also choose to clean items thoroughly if they want to get products out on shop floors sooner.
Five steps businesses need to take
BEFORE reopening, businesses are encouraged by the government to follow these five guidelines:
Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment
- carry out a risk assessment in line with the
- consult with staff or trade unions
- share the results of the risk assessment with staff and on company websites
Develop cleaning, handwashing and hygiene procedures
- encourage people to follow the
- provide hand sanitiser around the workplace, in addition to washrooms
- frequently clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that are touched regularly
- enhance cleaning for busy areas
- set clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets
- provide hand drying facilities – either paper towels or electrical dryers
Help people to work from home
Businesses should take all reasonable steps to help people work from home by:
- discussing home working arrangements
- ensuring they have the right equipment, for example remote access to work systems
- including them in all necessary communications
- looking after their physical and mental wellbeing
Maintain 2m social distancing, where possible
- put up signs to remind workers and visitors of social distancing guidance
- avoid sharing workstations
- use floor tape or paint to mark areas to help people keep to a 2m distance
- arrange one-way traffic through the workplace if possible
- switch to seeing visitors by appointment only if possible
Where people cannot be 2m apart, manage transmission risk
- consider whether an activity needs to continue for the business to operate
- keep the activity time involved as short as possible
- use screens or barriers to separate people from each other
- use back-to-back or side-to-side working whenever possible
- stagger arrival and departure times
- reduce the number of people each person has contact with by using "fixed teams or partnering"
It applies to retailers in England, with separate guidance in place for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The quarantining of products was introduced after that the risk of infection from coronavirus on a surface is likely to be "reduced significantly" after a three-day period.
A spokesperson from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) told The Sun the update was based on Public Health England advice, although they couldn't say when the guidance was altered.
The spokesperson added: "We regularly review scientific advice and continue to work at pace with the sector to develop guidance.
"As a result, Public Health England now recommends returned goods are quarantined for 48 hours to ensure the safety of workers."
As well as returned and tried-on items, households have also been advised by researchers from the universities of Bath, Bristol and Southampton to leave packages that have been delivered to their homes for 72 hours.
There has been no update on whether this guidance has also been scaled back.
The majority of “non-essential” retailers have kept changing rooms shut since reopening on June 15 to help stop the number of items that need to be quarantined.
Some retailers have also started offering contactless returns.
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