Shops open today: 7 rules shoppers must follow – from face masks to queuing

THOUSANDS of retailers are welcoming back shoppers today – but there are a strict set of rules customers will have to follow.

High street shops in England are opening their doors for the first time since January as lockdown restrictions are eased.

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Shoppers are being urged to follow seven simple rules to stay safe

Retailers have spent millions of pounds making sure they’re Covid-secure for customers and staff so that they can reopen safely.

Measures you’ll see include perspex screens at tills, personal protective equipment for staff and social distancing markers throughout stores.

To help stop the spread of the coronavirus – and any further lockdowns – shops are calling on the public to play their part too.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC), a trade body which represents over 5,000 businesses, has put together a simple set of rules for customers to follow when they are heading in store.

Timeline for businesses reopening after lockdown

PRIME Minister Boris Johnson has outlined his roadmap for easing England out of lockdown.

Businesses will be allowed to reopen on the following dates, as long as the “four steps to freedom” are met.

TODAY – April 12

Retail
Hospitality outdoors
Hairdressers
Zoos
Self-catered staycations with one household

May 17

Indoor hospitality
Indoor exercise gyms
Bingo halls
Cinemas
Sports stadiums to reopen but capped to 10,000 fans
Saunas
Spas

June 21

Nightclubs

Here are the seven rules shoppers should follow when heading back to the high street today.

1. Be respectful to staff and customers

Customers are being urged to be respectful to shop staff and workers.

It comes after warnings by retailers that staff are often in the firing line of angry customers infuriated by the new measures.

Many shop workers are returning to work for the first time in months after being furloughed during lockdown shop closures.

Primark workers revealed secrets of the popular store before it reopened today.

2. Wear a face covering

Shoppers are reminded to wear a face mask while inside stores, unless they are medically exempt.

They are already required in shops that have remained open during lockdown such as supermarkets.

As part of government guidelines, you can be fined for disobeying the rules – again, unless you are exempt.

Here are The Sun’s pick of the best reusable masks you can buy online.

Who is exempt from wearing a face mask?

THE following groups of people don’t need to wear a face mask when in a public place:

This includes:

Children under the age of 11
People who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or disability
Where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
If you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate
To avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others
Police officers and other emergency workers, given that this may interfere with their ability to serve the public.

3. Social distancing

Shoppers are also being asked to maintain social distancing, just like they do in supermarkets and other essential shops which have remained open during the latest lockdown.

That means avoiding close contact with others, including staff and fellow shoppers.

Many shops will be limiting the number of people that can be in stores at one time so that everyone can stay far enough apart.

Primark, John Lewis and Argos are among the retailers reopening today with social distancing in place.

4. Queue considerately

Customers should also be considerate when they are queuing, either to pay at till points or when entering the store.

With limits on shoppers in place at many stores, that might mean having to wait outside.

The biggest retailers are likely to have queuing systems in place outside and even traffic light systems to manage eager shoppers.

Many will also have staff on doors to manage queues and offer help.

Shoppers have been spotted queuing outside of Primark from dawn for the first chance to grab a bargain as shops reopen.

5. Follow shop signs

Signs that have been put up around shops should be adhered to.

This includes notices asking people to follow the one way systems, which are in place in many shops so everyone can stay socially distanced and avoid walking closely past each other.

There are likely to be reminders about wearing a face covering and staying socially distanced too.

6. Regular handwashing

Extra hygiene measures should be followed, such as regularly washing hands.

Hand sanitiser stations have been installed at doors and throughout stores by many retailers.

7. Shop alone

Where possible, customers should shop alone to reduce the number of people in stores at the same time.

This will also help other customers to social distance while shopping.

Supermarkets have asked shoppers to do the same throughout the latest lockdown.

The BRC warns the three national lockdowns have cost non-food stores around £30billion in lost sales so far.

Helen Dickinson, chief exec of the BRC said: “While we expect an initial surge in spending when shops first open, the real test will be how this holds up.

“Many of us will be looking forward to returning to our favourite shop in the coming weeks, and we all have a duty to keep each other safe.”

Primark, Next, New Look and John Lewis are among the retailers that will open doors again from next week.