Thousands of high street stores will be able to reopen next month, as the UK gets back to business following a 10 week freeze on the economy.
Outdoor markets and car showrooms will be able to reopen from June 1, providing a checklist of Government safety measures are met - including on how cash must be handled.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said as with garden centres, the risk of transmission of the virus is lower in outdoor and open spaces.
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 able to follow from June 15 if the Government’s five tests are met.
This allows them three weeks to prepare, though the Government has warned that any rise in UK coronavirus cases in the interim could put all proposed reopenings back on hold.
So what does this mean for department stores?
In line with the measures, department stores such as House of Fraser and John Lewis will be allowed to reopen on June 15.
However, Debenhams has already warned that 15 stores will not re-emerge from lockdown after the company went into administration for the second time this year in April.
All stores in Ireland have also now permanently shut - with no plans to reopen when lockdown measures are eased.
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.
The British Independent Retailers Association said it's disappointed that shops will not be able to reopen until mid-June at the earliest.
Chief executive Andrew Goodacre said many independent retailers are ready to reopen now, having already worked hard to put measures in place to keep both customers and staff safe.
"Independent retailers have been preparing to re-open since the idea of opening as of June 1 was first mentioned. Many retailers have measures in place that will keep both employees and customers safe," he said.
"It is therefore a little disappointing for the smaller retailers not to be able to open until June 15, especially as they can make it safe to do so.
"We really hope that this extended closure period will be used to good effect by local authorities to ensure that the high streets and public spaces can be adjusted to allow for social distancing whilst shopping with the prospect of multiple queues."
