The Government has announced that shops will be allowed to open 24/7 in the run up to Christmas as the penny finally drops that retail at this time of year is a vital part of the local and national economy.
High street giants including John Lewis, Next and Primark have already said they will be open day and night in an attempt to claw back profits lost during lockdowns. Other shops, including M&S, will extend trading to midnight.
Whilst opening hours will be extended, SAGE is warning shoppers not to spend more than 15 minutes browsing in stores because ‘the less time you are there, the safer you are’ from catching the virus. Professor Lucy Yardley, said ‘Covid-secure’ sites are ‘not 100 per cent risk free’ and people should therefore keep their browsing to an absolute minimum. On the other hand, if people are careful about social distancing and wearing their masks, she concedes that ‘nipping out for a bit of Christmas shopping is not one of the most dangerous things that you can do’.
This is despite the fact that the vast majority of so-called non-essential retailers in all sectors have been scrupulous about health and safety measures since they were able to reopen in June after the first national lockdown. Supermarkets, on the other hand, are thought to be responsible for up to 20% of covid infections.
The development comes as the Centre for Economics and Business Research predicts that the recently announced lockdown tiers will come with a £900million a day price tag for the rest of 2020 and into the new year. The gross domestic product of England is forecast to be 13 per cent less than it was in December 2019.
The Government will set out its economic case for the controversial tier system to ministers later today, Monday November 30. Whilst retail is set to reopen in all tiers, the hospitality trade is facing restrictions even more severe than they were before the national lockdown. More support cash may be offered to businesses facing all-out ruin through forced closures.
Online shopping has been booming all year, but there are fears that sky-rocketing demand will lead to serious delivery delays, with Royal Mail operating a somewhat reduced service due to staff shortages and restrictions.
