By The retailers still unable to open
Today, retailers across England, including clothing stores, are reopening their doors to customers after almost three months. But due to social distancing measures, some retailers are still unable to open.
Changes have been made across stores to allow customers and staff to distance safely.
In many cases they have bene instructed to keep changing rooms closed and adhere to a 2m social distancing rule, but this has caused added complications for many retailers, and in some cases has prevented them from reopening at all.
For example, Paula Chappell in Silsden, West Yorkshire, has decided not to reopen her bridal boutique until July, as the current social distancing rules make it an unviable prospect.
Speaking to Sky News, Ms Chappell said that due to the nature of her business it would simply “be impossible”for her “to work within the government guidelines.”
She said that the government recommendations on who should and should not reopen, and how, are quite unclear.
It is thought that many independent stores may struggle to open due to a lack of space.
Since announcing the reopening of non-essential stores, Boris Johnson has commissioned a review into the 2m social distancing rule.
This follows calls by some of Mr Johnson’s own MPs to scrap it.
They have warned that large parts of the hospitality industry will not be viable with the 2m coronavirus rule in place.
The review will aim to be completed by 4 July.
Queues outside some of the nations major retailers began forming at as early as 5am today, with hundreds of people queuing by the time doors opened.
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