Shops to be allowed to reopen from next month, Boris Johnson announces

Boris Johnson set out his plans for the staged reopening of shops in England at his Downing Street press conference this evening, Monday, May 25.

From June 1, outdoor markets and car showrooms will be allowed to open, provided they can do so safely.

From June 15, ‘all other non-essential retail’ will be allowed to reopen, so long as the war on the virus is still going well and businesses are "covid secure".

The Government was making the announcement now in order to give businesses time to prepare, he explained.

"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,” he said.

"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.

"We know that the transmission of the virus is lower outdoors and that it is easier to follow Covid secure guidelines in open spaces."

The Prime Minister said new guidance was being published for the retail sector "detailing the measures they should take to meet the necessary social distancing and hygiene standards".

"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."

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.

The Prime Minister said he regretted the "confusion and anger" caused by the Dominic Cummings row.

"Do I regret what has happened? Yes, of course I do regret the confusion and the anger and the pain that people feel,” he said.

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