Advice for businesses re-opening in June

Shops and retail have been told they can open their doors again from next month following closures due to the coronavirus crisis.

The Government set out a timeline and some retail reopened on Monday and further guidance has been published for how to operate safely to protect staff and customers.

Other shops and stores will be able to open from Monday, June 15, again if certain safety measures and checks are met.

The details are:

• Outdoor markets and car showrooms – these were able to reopen from June 1, as soon as they are able to meet the COVID-19 secure guidelines to protect shoppers and workers.

As with garden centres, the risk of transmission of the virus is lower in these outdoor and more open spaces. Car showrooms often have significant outdoor space and it is generally easier to apply social distancing.

• 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 June 15 if the Government’s five tests are met and they follow the COVID-19 secure guidelines.

Businesses 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.

Full details of the announcement can be found here: https://bit.ly/RetailTimeline.

Guidance for reopening can be found here: https://bit.ly/UpdatedRetailGuidance.

Testing advice can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-workplace-guidance

Councillor Alyson Barnes, Leader of the Council,said:

“The Government now feels it is possible to reopen the majority of shops and retail so restrictions are being eased but social distancing will be with us for some time. We want Rossendale to return to normal as quickly as possible – tackling this awful virus has badly hit our local economy – but public safety and the safety of workers is the most important issue here.”