Primark shoppers wait in huge queue on the Moor as Sheffield store reopens

After closing in March due to concerns about the spread of coronavirus a number of shops have started trading again today, with queues building outside a number of city centre stores.

Meadowhall shopping centre has also re-opened after Prime Minister Biris Johnson eased lockdown rules.

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Zoos and safari parks are also welcoming back visitors, places of worship can open for private prayer while some secondary school pupils will begin returning to their classrooms this week.

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With official figures showing the economy shrank by a fifth in April, ministers are keen for businesses to start trading again to save jobs.

In order to reopen shops must be ‘Covid-secure’, and they will be expected to place a notice on display so customers and staff can see that they are complying with the Government guidance.

Anywhere reopening is expected to have carried out a risk assessment, overseen by local authority staff and the Health and Safety Executive.

Shops must have developed hygiene procedures such as increasing the frequency of hand-washing and surface cleaning.

Items returned or ‘extensively handled’ should be isolated for 72 hours or cleaned, guidance states.

Retailers will be expected to take steps including limiting how many customers there are inside their building at any one time and frequently cleaning and checking objects and surfaces.

Environmental Health and Trading Standards officers will monitor compliance with the regulations, supported by the police.

Breaches could result in prohibition notices and fixed penalties.

Customers in many stores will be greeted by floor markings indicating one-way systems and signs reminding them to keep two metres apart from other shoppers as well as staff.

The Government has said that fitting rooms should be closed when possible due to the challenges in operating them safely, but if they cannot they should be cleaned frequently.

Store layouts may need to change to limit the amount customers handle merchandise, which may include different methods of displaying products or regularly replacing frequently touched stock.