NI Executive urged to allow non-essential retail businesses to reopen on June 15 after Boris Johnson announcement

Commenting on the Prime Minister’s announcement that English retail businesses on the ‘non-essential’ list can reopen from June 15, Retail NI Chief Executive Glyn Roberts said: “This is a welcome announcement by the Prime Minister, and we believe that June 15 should be the target date set by the Executive for Northern Ireland retailers on the ‘non-essential’ list to reopen in line with medical guidance.

“If the Executive give them the green light, retailers who are currently on the ‘closed’ list can consult and train staff, produce a social distancing plan and retrofit their stores to ensure the safety of shoppers and shop staff by June 15.”

Mr Roberts added: “The NI Executive also needs to begin work on a wider reopening plan for our town and city centres, which will ensure the right health and safety guidance for retailers, key businesses in town centres, their employees and also consumers.

“It is vital that we create confidence in shoppers that our high streets will be safe in the event of a wider reopening plan.”

Thousands of high street shops, department stores and shopping centres across England are set to reopen next month once they are COVID-19 secure and can show customers will be kept safe, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has confirmed on Monday.

The UK Prime Minister has set out how in England:

*Outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to reopen from 1 June, as soon as they are able to meet the COVID-19 secure guidelines to protect shoppers and workers.

*All other non-essential retail including shops selling clothes, shoes, toys, furniture, books, and electronics, plus tailors, auction houses, photography studios, and indoor markets, will be expected to be able to reopen from 15 June if the Government’s five tests are met and they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines, giving them three weeks to prepare.

*Shops like supermarkets and pharmacies have been trading responsibly throughout the pandemic. The British government said that building on this and in line with the Government’s roadmap, reopening non-essential retail is the next step towards restoring people’s livelihoods, restarting the UK’s economy, and ensuring vital public services like the NHS continue to be funded.

*As per the roadmap, hairdressers, nail bars and beauty salons, and the hospitality sector in England remain closed, because the risk of transmission in these environments is higher where long periods of person to person contact is required.

Businesses in England will only be able to open from these dates once they have completed a risk assessment, in consultation with trade union representatives or workers, and are confident they are managing the risks. They must have taken the necessary steps to become COVID-19 secure in line with the current Health and Safety legislation.

The government is taking action to help businesses re-open and protect their staff and customers, including:

The government said that new, updated guidance takes into account the best practice demonstrated by the many retailers which have been allowed to remain open and have applied social distancing measures in store. Measures that shops should consider include placing a poster in their windows to demonstrate awareness of the guidance and commitment to safety measures, storing returned items for 72 hours before putting them back out on the shop floor, placing protective coverings on large items touched by the public such as beds or sofas, and frequent cleaning of objects and surfaces that are touched regularly, including self-checkouts, trolleys, coffee machines and betting terminals, for example.

UK Business Secretary Alok Sharma said about the situation in England: “The high street sits at the heart of every community in the country. Enabling these businesses to open will be a critical step on the road to rebuilding our economy, and will support millions of jobs across the UK.

“The guidance we have set out today provides a vital framework to get shops open in a way that is safe for everyone. It explains how retail workers who are not currently working can go back to work as safely as possible and feel confident in their workplace. And it reassures customers that shops are properly assessing the risks and putting in place measures to protect them.”

Josh Hardie, CBI Deputy Director General, said: “As our high streets slowly reawaken, this new guidance is important for businesses on the ground. Our shops are doing all they can to keep the public and their staff safe, and we’ve seen many retailers leading from the front with innovative solutions to do just that. As more and more businesses turn their attention to reopening, this guidance will help them plan to do so safely and securely.”