It is almost exactly two years to the day since the first lockdown was introduced on 23 March 2020.

From today two of the final Covid era restrictions on shops will end including:

• The regulations and statutory guidance affecting stores on the use of plastic screens, physical distancing in queues, floor markings and up to fifty other mitigations contained in the ‘Retailer Checklist’ will be rescinded. These became legally enforceable on 17 December at the same time as the work-from-home mandate.
• The statutory duty on retailers with cafes, coffee shops, quick-service restaurants and other eateries to collect customer details for contact tracing will also end.

However, the wearing of face coverings in stores - which has been mandated for the past 625 days, since 10 July 2020 - remains in place for now.

This new phase of moving beyond restrictions will mean much of the duty to keep shops and colleagues safe falls on businesses themselves, not Covid-related regulations. It will be up to retailers and customers to continue to show consideration and good sense whilst Covid remains a risk.

The SRC has consistently called for a concerted effort and an upbeat message from policy makers to encourage and entice people back into city centres.

David Lonsdale, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said: “The removal of most remaining retail Covid restrictions affecting stores is good news for customers and for retailers. Retailers have spent twenty-four months complying with significant Covid restrictions and have spent tens of millions of pounds in Scotland to make shops as Covid-secure as they can be.

“Some shops will likely maintain some existing measures in place such as plexiglass screens for a while longer in order to keep customers and colleagues safe. While the use of face coverings remains mandated for a little while longer, there is now a real sense of hope shops can get back to trading arrangements far closer to normality.

“We encourage Scots to get out and visit their favourite shops and retail destinations over the coming weeks knowing every purchase they make and every item they buy is a local job supported and a high street helped. Unlocking consumer spending will be central to Scotland’s economic recovery.”

He added: “Scottish Ministers and local authorities need to continue to support the industry in the coming months; and think creatively about what more can be done in the short term to entice and stimulate shoppers back, especially to our city centres where many retailers and hospitality businesses rely on the economic eco-system that office workers provide. The long-awaited return of commuters is vital to bringing back the shopper footfall and energy that is desperately needed in our city centres.”