The second national lockdown saw shops closing for the second time this year in a bid to curb rising coronavirus infection rates. Now, England’s lockdown is being replaced with a three-Tier system which will come into effect on December 2. The revised tier system was voted in by MPs in the House of Commons on Tuesday. The Labour party abstained from voting, with party leader Sir Keir Starmer saying his party has “serious misgivings” about the plans.
Are the shops open today?
The top 2 Tiers of coronavirus restrictions will apply to 99 percent ofd the country from Wednesday, December 2.
That means pubs, restaurants, and entertainment venues will either be allowed to open with new restrictions, or will be forced to stay closed.
However, yes, the shops are open today.
Lockdown officially ended at 12.01am today, meaning all shops, including those which sell non-essential goods, can reopen from this morning.
READ MORE: Are garden centres open in Tier 3?
Non-essential retail will be allowed to open across all 3 Tiers of the new system.
This includes high street stores, shopping centres, indoor and outdoor markets, and car boot sales.
Everyone must be wearing a face mask or covering in shops across all tiers, unless you are medically exempt.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: “From next Wednesday, people will be able to leave their home for any purpose and meet others in outdoor public places, subject to the Rule of Six.
Mr Jenrick said the 24-hour opening will make shopping “more pleasant and safer”.
Mr Jenrick said: “With these changes local shops can open longer, ensuring more pleasant and safer shopping with less pressure on public transport.
“How long will be a matter of choice for the shopkeepers and at the discretion of the local council, but I suggest we offer these hard pressed entrepreneurs the greatest possible flexibility this festive season.
“Therefore as Local Government Secretary I am relaxing planning restrictions and issuing an unambiguous request to councils to allow businesses to welcome us into their glowing stores late into the evening and beyond if they wish.”
Mr Jenrick said he hoped the changes would help “free our small businesspeople to get on with earning a living”.
The rule will be in place from Monday to Saturday, but restrictions on opening times will remain on Sundays.
Primark is among the first UK stores to confirm it will take advantage of the temporary change to trading hours.
British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “With just over three weeks until Christmas, shoppers will welcome the additional opportunities to shop that the Government’s statement supports.”