Outdoor markets and car dealerships will reopen from next Monday

The prime minister has announced that shops across the country, outdoor markets and car showrooms will be allowed to reopen next month.

Speaking during the daily No 10 press briefing, Boris Johnson said from June 1 both markets and car dealerships will reopen for business, as the transmission rate for the virus is much lower outside. The PM said due to the ‘progress we are making’ the country can now move to phase two of Covid-19 restrictions.

From June 15 all other non-essential retail, ‘ranging from department stores to small, independent shops’ will also be allowed to reopen, he added, as long as death tolls and infection rates continue to fall.

Fresh guidance will be published today for the retail sector so they can start plans for implementing safety measures to make sure they meet the social distancing and hygiene standards.

Visit our live blog for the latest updates: Coronavirus news live

He said: ‘It is our intention to allow outdoor markets to reopen from June 1 subject to all premises being made Covid secure as well as car showrooms, which often have significant outdoor space and where it is generally easier to apply social distancing.

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

‘That means we can also allow outdoor markets to reopen in a safe way that does not risk causing a second wave of the virus’.

Mr Johnson said that non-essential shops will be allowed to open from mid-June ‘as long this change will be contingent upon progress against the five tests and will only be permitted for those retail premises which are Covid secure’.

‘Shops now have the time to implement this guidance before they reopen. This will ensure there can be no doubt about what steps they should take,’ he added.

‘While the vast majority of businesses will want to do everything possible to protect their staff and customers I should add that we will, of course, have the powers that we need to enforce compliance where that is required.’

Mr Johnson said the retail sector can learn from supermarkets and other essential stores which implemented social distancing at the beginning of the crisis.

Yesterday the PM announced that schools will also be reopening from next Monday in a ‘phased’ manner.

Reception, Year One and Year Six will be the first to return, while secondary schools will provide ‘some contact’ for Year 10 and 12 students from June 15.

According to the government’s 50-page document setting out the coronavirus exit strategy, families may also be able to extend their ‘social bubble’ and mix with one other household during phase two.

Cultural and sporting events should also be allowed take place behind closed doors, according to the documents, however Mr Johnson did not mention whether measures around social life or such events would be eased.

The PM’s speech was somewhat overshadowed by questions regarding his chief adviser Dominic Cummings’ statement earlier, regarding a trip he made to Durham while his wife was suffering with coronavirus symptoms.

He backed his top aide once again but admitted he ‘regrets the pain and confusion’ the scandal had caused the nation.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.