The First Minister has unveiled fresh Covid restrictions which it
is believed will come into force this Friday. This includes
re-introducing measures on physical distancing and managing
crowds in Scotland’s 22,000 shops and making working from home
legally enforceable.
Scottish retailers are already facing difficult trading
conditions. The shop vacancy rate is at a six-year high, shopper
footfall has fallen by a fifth and retail sales are down by a
tenth compared to prior to the pandemic.
David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail
Consortium, said:
“Retailers fully appreciate the need for government to act
quickly and get on top of the public health situation.
Shopkeepers have been playing their part, investing significantly
to make stores as Covid-secure as they can be for customers and
staff and going above and beyond existing Covid baseline
measures. Retailers will strive to implement and operationalise
these latest changes, albeit they are being asked to do so at
incredibly short notice, without sight of the detailed
regulations or guidance, and slap bang during what is for many
the busiest trading weekend of the year.
“Coming on top of the work-from-home order, these new rules will
serve to make life even tougher for Scotland’s shops and retail
destinations, particularly over the next two crucial weeks of
pre-Christmas trading and post-Christmas discounting. It
reinforces the need for greater visibility over the potential
next steps with restrictions, should Ministers seek to elevate
them even further, and for Ministers to potentially enhance their
fiscal support for the sector if trading deteriorates.”
Mr Lonsdale added:
“Customers will see differences to their usual shopping routine
and what is expected of them too over the coming days. We all
have a duty to keep each other safe, and each of us should be
considerate and respectful to fellow shoppers and hard-working
shop staff. This way we can all enjoy shopping and support our
local communities."
