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In England and Wales, corona measures were relaxed significantly on Monday. The reopening of pubs and non-essential shops led to some retailers being overwhelmed.
Queues
The first pubs reopened their outside seating areas as early as midnight. This included a pub in Bexleyheath, where 18 customers were waiting. The reopening of the catering industry in England and Wales is limited to the terraces. Those who want to enjoy a beer or a meal had better dress accordingly.
Besides the pubs, non-essential shops have reopened their doors as well. Apparently the freakish weather didn’t deter shoppers, because there were long queues at several Primark branches early this morning, reports The Mirror. In Croydon (south London) and Nottingham, for example, the queues were huge.
According to the New West End Company, which represents some 600 retailers and catering outlets on some of London’s main shopping streets such as Oxford Street, the number of visitors today was around 44% of a normal day in April. CEO Jace Tyrrell spoke of an encouraging start to the reopening. “But until international shoppers return, businesses in the West End will continue to need additional government support,” he told The Guardian.
Vaccination goes well
In the UK, a new strict lockdown came into force during January. The fact that major relaxations are now again possible has everything to do with the rapid vaccination: some 60% of adult Britons have already received their first dose of the corona vaccine.
The new rules only apply in England and Wales. Scotland will not open non-essential shops until 26 April.
