Published
Jun 18, 2020
Download
Download the article
Print
Text size

Scottish stores to reopen at end of this month

Published
Jun 18, 2020

Non-essential stores in Scotland will be able to open from June 29 as the devolved government eases the country’s lockdown rules, despite being more cautious overall than England about ending various lockdown measures.


Savills/Fred Perry



The coronavirus has contributed to the deaths of more than 4,000 people in Scotland, a country with a population of only 5.25 million.

The June 29 date will see shops of all sizes able to open but they must have outdoor entrances and exits, which means that shopping centres will have to remain closed, excluding any essential stores within those centres as these are allowed to operate.

While the UK as a whole saw its economy shrink by more than 20% in April, Scotland specifically saw a smaller fall, although with a GDP contraction of 18.9% during the month, it wasn’t that far behind. It also has the highest unemployment rate in Britain at 4.6%.

As well as strong safety measures on the part of retailers, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that consumers have a part to play in making shops safe when they reopen. “All of us customers have a role to play,” she said. “When shops reopen, I ask everyone to exercise patience and stick to the measures that are in place for our safety, and at all times please respect retail staff, who will be asking you to shop in a slightly different way.”

Copyright © 2024 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.