The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) has called on the Scottish Government and councils to take early action to entice shoppers back to the city centre following the removal of restrictions on shops.
It is almost exactly two years since the first lockdown was introduced on 23 March 2020.
From today, two of the final restrictions on shops will end:
The regulations and statutory guidance affecting stores on the use of plastic screens, physical distancing in queues, floor markings and up to fifty other mitigations contained in the ‘retailer checklist’ will be rescinded.
The statutory duty on retailers with cafes, coffee shops, quick service restaurants and other eateries to collect customer details for contact tracing will also end.
However, the wearing of face coverings in stores - which has been mandated for the past 625 days, since 10 July 2020 - remains in place for now.
This new phase of moving beyond restrictions will mean much of the duty to keep shops and colleagues safe falls on businesses themselves.
It will now be up to retailers and customers to continue to show consideration while the virus remains a risk.
The SRC has called for a concerted effort and an upbeat message from policy makers to encourage and entice people back into city centres.
Its director David Lonsdale said: “The removal of most remaining retail Covid restrictions affecting stores is good news for customers and for retailers.
“Scottish Ministers and local authorities need to continue to support the industry in the coming months; and think creatively about what more can be done in the short term to entice and stimulate shoppers back, especially to our city centres where many retailers and hospitality businesses rely on the economic eco-system that office workers provide.
“The long-awaited return of commuters is vital to bringing back the shopper footfall and energy that is desperately needed in our city centres.”
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