Retail ‘will remain open’ under strictest local lockdowns, PM says

Boris Johnson announced in the House of Commons this afternoon that shops would not be impacted under the new ‘three-tiered system’ being introduced by the government in a bid to combat the spread of Covid-19. 

The announcement will come as a welcome boost to retailers with just weeks to go until the Black Friday and Christmas trading peaks. 

The prime minister said local areas across the country would now be categorised as being in the medium, high or very high alert levels.   

Johnson said the medium alert level would “cover most of the country and will consist of current national measures” including the rule of six and the 10pm curfew on pubs, bars and restaurants.

The high alert level will ban different households or support bubbles from socialising indoors and the rule of six will continue to apply in outdoor locations. 

Any areas already facing local lockdown restrictions will automatically move into the high-level tier. 

The very high level will apply where transmission rates are rising “most rapidly” and could start to put the NHS under pressure. 

In those locations, Johnson said all socialising between households – indoors, outdoors and in private gardens – will be prohibited, while all pubs and bars would be closed. 

He said the government would work with local authorities to decide on “additional measures” that may need to be taken. These could include further restrictions in the hospitality, leisure, entertainment and personal care sectors.

However, Johnson said retailers, schools and universities “will remain open” even in those areas where tighter controls are required. 

Johnson said: “The weeks and months ahead will continue to be difficult and test the mettle of this country but I have no doubt that we will succeed.”