Midland shops still open under lockdown urged to beef up Covid measures
Shops staying open during lockdown have been urged to beef up Covid safety measures to help combat rising infections.
Supermarkets and other businesses have been asked by council leaders to “return to the measures and vigilance” seen during the first lockdown to keep people safe.
Measures suggested include having Covid marshals onsite during opening hours, reintroducing one-way systems, keeping two-metre distancing rules in place and ensuring staff are regularly tested.
A statement from the leaders of Birmingham, Sandwell, Solihull, Dudley, Walsall, Wolverhampton and Coventry councils says retailers have a “major role” to play in public safety over the coming weeks and months.
Birmingham Council leader, Councillor Ian Ward, said: “Supermarkets and their staff worked extremely hard during the first lockdown to introduce measures that kept shoppers and workers safe.
"Now we need a return to the measures and the vigilance we saw last year and that means hand washing and sanitising, enforcement on the rules around face coverings and better social distancing, including the reintroduction on one-way systems.
“These are very worrying times and we all have a role to play to keep people safe.
"Although people must once again stay at home as much as possible, many of us will still be visiting supermarkets, so it’s essential that stores are as safe as possible.”
Other proposed safety measures include tightening up compliance of mask wearing and operating strong infection prevention and control and messaging in stores.
The leaders wrote to Business Secretary Alok Sharma MP in November expressing concerns at the easing of safety measures in supermarkets.
Boris Johnson announced the third national lockdown earlier this week. Under the rules, people are required to stay at home except for a handful of permitted reasons, one of which is to shop for basic necessities.
Supermarkets are allowed to remain open as well as some other businesses proving essential services, including pharmacies, garden centres, builders merchants, market stalls selling essential retail and petrol stations.
