There is much excitement about our local high street reopening on Monday, with non-essential shops given the go-ahead to open their doors again.
However there are guidelines each store planning to open must follow, and if they're not met they risk being told to remain closed.
There is already a list of businesses banned from reopen on Monday, June 15 such as hairdressers, beauty salons and gyms but even the most popular high street retailers could find themselves on this list if they don't comply with new rules.
There are four key rules businesses reopening must follow in order to meet the Government guidelines.
Before being allowed to reopen on June 15, businesses will need to have completed a risk assessment, in consultation with trade union representatives or workers. They will need to be confident they are managing the risks going forward and have taken the necessary steps to become ‘COVID-19 secure’, in line with Health and Safety legislation.
To protect staff and customers, the government has outlined the following four safety measures shops should consider putting in place:
- Placing a poster in the windows to demonstrate awareness of the guidance and commitment to safety measures.
- Storing returned items for 72 hours before they go back on the shop floor.
- Using protective coverings on large items the public may touch, such as sofas or beds.
- Regular cleaning of objects and surfaces that are frequently touched, including trolleys, self check outs, betting terminals and coffee machines.
See how lockdown has changed where you live
The government has stressed that it will be working with local authorities to carry out spot checks on businesses to ensure guidelines are being met, and following up on any concerns raised by members of the public.
To enforce action, tough powers are in place including fines and jail sentences of up to two years.
