BRITS who are desperate to hit the shops won't have to wait much longer for non-essential retail to open again.
Under Boris Johnson's four-step roadmap out of lockdown, the high street can welcome back customers from April 12.
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The roadmap out of lockdown will be done in stages, and is dependent on coronavirus cases remaining under control and the vaccine rollout staying on target.
See our box below for the four key tests the government must pass before each key date.
The first step of the roadmap came into action at the start of this week, when schools reopened on March 8.
The rules are then expected to be further relaxed on March 29, when either six people or two households will be able to meet outside.
What four tests does the gov need to pass before easing restrictions?
1. The vaccine deployment programme continues successfully.
2. Evidence shows vaccines are sufficiently effective in reducing hospitalisations and deaths in those vaccinated.
3. Infection rates do not risk a surge in hospitalisations which would put unsustainable pressure on the NHS.
4. Our assessment of the risks is not fundamentally changed by new Variants of Concern.
If all goes to plan, non-essential retail will reopen from mid-April at the earliest, along with pubs and restaurants which can offer outdoor table service and takeaways pints.
They are expected to open fully for drinking and eating indoors later on May 17 with table service only.
The rest of restrictions will be eased by June 21 at the earliest — with the hope of normality by July, when every adult will have been offered a first does of the coronavirus jab.
But what does the roadmap look like for non-essential shops?
When will non-essential shops reopen?
The PM said non-essential shops can reopen from April 12 at the earliest.
At the moment, only shops that are deemed essential by the government are allowed to open.
This includes stores that sell important goods such as food, medicines and DIY equipment for home repairs – see the full list below.
Shops that aren’t essential, and are currently closed for walk-in customers, are ones that sell items like clothing, toys and homeware products.
However, these stores have been allowed to stay open during lockdown for home delivery and click and collect orders.
Again, you can see a full list of what is closed below.
Mr Johnson placed England into its third national lockdown on January 5 as he urged households to stay at home to control the spread of coronavirus.
During the first lockdown, non-essential shops were closed from March 16 until June 15.
For the second lockdown, non-essential retail closed for four weeks, from November 5 until December 2.
Which shops and businesses are open during lockdown?
Here is a full list of "essential" businesses that have been allowed by the government to stay open during lockdown:
- Supermarkets
- Pharmacies
- Garden centres
- Building merchants and suppliers of building products and off-licences
- Market stalls selling essential retail
- Businesses providing repair services but only if they primarily offer repair services
- Petrol stations
- Automatic (but not manual) car washes
- Vehicle repair and MOT services
- Bicycle shops
- Taxi and vehicle hire businesses
- Banks and building societies
- Post offices
- Short-term loan providers and money transfer businesses
- Funeral directors
- Laundrettes and dry cleaners
- Medical and dental services
- Vets and pet shops
- Animal rescue centres, boarding facilities, and animal groomers
- Agricultural supplies shops
- Mobility and disability support shops
- Storage and distribution facilities
- Car parks
- Public toilets
- Motorway service areas
- Outdoor playgrounds
- Outdoor parts of botanical gardens and heritage sites for exercise
- Places of worship
- Crematoriums and burial grounds
Which non-essential shops are closed during lockdown?
The following types of retailers have been classed as "non-essential" and are therefore shut during lockdown.
They can still offer click and collect and home delivery services.
- Clothing shops
- Homeware shops
- Toy shops
- Vehicle showrooms (other than for rental)
- Betting shops
- Tailors
- Tobacco and vape shops
- Electronic goods shops
- Mobile phone shops
- Auction houses (except for auctions of livestock or agricultural equipment)
- Market stalls selling non-essential goods
The Prime Minister also announced that hairdressers will open from April 12 along with gyms.
Working from home measures will remain in place until at least June.
A full list of businesses that must stay closed until April 12 was revealed in February – with cinemas and bingo halls to stay closed until May 17.
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