From 15 June, betting shops, phone shops, and food stores will be allowed to reopen.
The UK government announced yesterday (25 May) plans to kick-start the economy as it looks to come out of lockdown, with all 'non-essential' businesses able to get back to work.
Though some are already allowed to open, the full list of shops to reopen next month 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
However, due to the risk of infection being higher than in other settings, hairdressers, nail bars, beauty salons and the hospitality sector will remain closed.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Michael Gove said that while the news is welcomed it would require people to show some 'restraint' when shopping.
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He told the programme: "It's also the case that we need to ensure that some of the shopping habits people may have grown used to in the pre-Covid days are habits that we exercise a degree of restraint on.
"So when it comes to touching and testing goods, when it comes to trying on clothing, when it comes to trying make-up and so on, that all of us exercise restraint in not doing that and recognising that as these stores reopen, it is a new normal, but it will allow us to ensure there are a wider range of goods and will also ensure the economy can return to a new normal, that is absolutely vital for people's jobs."
It comes after the Prime Minister told the daily coronavirus briefing yesterday evening that new guidance was being published to help the retail sector get up to speed, 'detailing the measures they should take to meet the necessary social distancing and hygiene standards'.
Boris Johnson said: "Today I want to give the retail sector notice of our intentions to reopen shops so they too can get ready.
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"It is our intention to allow outdoor markets to reopen from 1 June subject to all premises being made Covid-secure, as well as car showrooms - which often have significant outdoor space and where it is generally easier to apply social distancing.
"We know that the transmission of the virus is lower outdoors and that it is easier to follow Covid-secure guidelines in open spaces.
"That means we can also allow outdoor markets to reopen in a safe way that does not risk causing a second wave of the virus."
"Then from 15 June we intend to allow all other non-essential retail - ranging from department stores to small independent shops - to reopen. Again this change will be contingent upon progress against the five tests and will only be permitted for those retail premises which are Covid-secure.
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"Today we are publishing new guidance for the retail sector, detailing the measures they should take to meet necessary social distancing and hygiene standards.
"Shops now have the time to implement this guidance before they reopen, this will ensure there can be no doubt about what steps they should take."
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: UK News, Coronavirus