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All shops in England will reopen by June 15, Boris Johnson has said as he set out the next steps for easing the coronavirus lockdown.
Outdoor markets and car showrooms will be also able to open earlier – from June 1 – if they can meet the Covid-19 secure guidelines to protect shoppers and workers, the PM said at Monday’s Downing Street briefing.
Johnson said he hoped the move would help the economy bounce back from the pandemic.
“I’m certainly not going to discourage them [the public] from spending at all,” he said.
“I think that it’s early days but we are very much hoping there will be a bounce back over the next few months.”
New guidance for the retail sector “detailing the measures they should take to meet the necessary social distancing and hygiene standards” will be set out by the government, Johnson said.
“Shops now have the time to implement this guidance before they reopen,” he said.
“This will ensure there can be no doubt about what steps they should take.”
The prime minister said it was possible for outdoor retail to go first as transmission of the virus was less likely in the open air.
From June 15, “all other non-essential retail” will be allowed to reopen, contingent on progress in the fight against coronavirus and if the businesses are “Covid secure”.
He said: “We will set out our formal assessment of the five tests that we set for adjusting the lockdown later this week as part of the three-weekly review we are legally required to undertake by Thursday.
“But because of the progress we are making I can, with confidence, put the British people on notice of the changes we intend to introduce as we move to step two.”
Boris Johnson said the authorities would “have the powers we need to enforce compliance where that is required”.
“I want people to be confident that they can shop safely provided they follow the social distancing rules for all premises,” he added.
Responding to the news, Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “We welcome the announcement of the Government’s road map for reopening a broader range of shops next month, which provides much needed clarity on the route ahead.
“Safety is the fundamental concern for all retailers and they have been working hard to implement the necessary measures to operate safely over the past weeks.
“Now that we know which shops can open and when, retailers can begin communicating their plans with their workforces and customers. The industry stands ready to play its part in getting the economy moving again.”