Over the past couple of weeks, there has been an increasing drive by the government to reopen retail outlets, to encourage the economy to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. However, many retail owners are understandably cautious about reopening, in order to prevent a second spike of the disease through reduced distancing measures.
With retail giants including Debenhams, Primark and McDonald’s returning to business, it’s important to consider how shops should be adhering to safety measures to reduce the possibility of customers transmitting the disease. The UK, unlike many countries, has not made the wearing of masks compulsory for individuals unless they are using public transport. However, some retailers such as the Disney store has mandated mask wearing before permitting customers to enter the store.
Which shops are now permitted to reopen?
The following list has been issued by the government, to communicate which categories of store are now allowed to open their doors to business, once again:
- 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.
This is great news for the economy as lockdown is eased nationally. However, these retail sectors are required to take key steps to prevent the infection from spreading, as they open their doors to welcome customers.
What shops need to know to stay safe in the current climate
Gov.uk has made some clear recommendations for those shops which are considering opening this week. This includes enabling good hand hygiene by making hand sanitizer available on entry to stores and in toilets where safe and practical, and ensuring suitable handwashing facilities including running water and liquid soap are available.
They recommend setting clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets, with increased frequency of cleaning in line with usage. Use normal cleaning products, paying attention to frequently hand touched surfaces, and consider use of disposable cloths or paper roll to clean all hard surfaces.
If you are making preparations to afford safe reopening this week, let SureSan help. We have a range of hand sanitizer dispensers and products for keeping retail environments clean and safe during the Covid-19 pandemic. Browse our industry-approved solutions, to ensure your reopening goes smoothly, and your customers and staff are kept safe.
For more information visit the gov.uk website
Shop our Dispensers and Hand Sanitizers