That’s a relief! Councils are ordered to REOPEN public toilets for shoppers and parkgoers after they were closed for lockdown
- The Government has encouraged councils to reopen their public toilets
- Non-essential shops are set to reopen tomorrow after being closed in lockdown
- The Chancellor said a review into the two-metre rule has been ordered by the PM
- Here’s how to help people impacted by Covid-19
The Government has told councils to reopen their public toilets which have been closed since lockdown began as retailers begin to welcome shoppers back into stores.
Non-essential shops have been closed since March 24 and the decision was also made to shut public restrooms as the coronavirus lockdown was imposed.
However, with lockdown restrictions being lifted in recent weeks people allowing people to gather in open spaces such as parks, some people have complained about the smell caused by a lack of toilet facilities.
The Government has told councils to reopen their public toilets which have been closed since lockdown began
Non-essential stores are set to reopen from tomorrow and councils have been asked to reopen their public restrooms to accommodate the return of shoppers
The Sunday Times reports that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “While decisions to reopen public toilets are for councils, we strongly encourage them to open wherever possible.
“We’ve published guidance to help them ensure facilities are safe where they are open, including increasing cleaning of touch points.”
The published guidance suggests public toilets to have automatic hand-sanitiser dispensers and electric hand dryers to reduce physical contact in public places.
Restroom staff are also advised to clean handrails and gates more often and rubbish should be collected more frequently.
In a bid to encourage shoppers back into stores the Prime Minister Boris Johnson will visit a high street tomorrow, though it is unknown where in the country he will visit.
Guidance from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government suggests public toilets should have automatic hand-sanitiser dispensers and electric hand dryers to reduce physical contact in public places
Speaking this morning, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said that a ‘comprehensive review’ into the two-metre social distancing rule has been ordered
Meanwhile the Chancellor Rishi Sunak spoke to Sky News this morning and confirmed that a ‘comprehensive review’ into whether it is safe to reduce the two-metre social distancing rule has been ordered by the Prime Minister.
The Chancellor said that despite the review the Government ‘must make sure it’s safe to do so’.
He also confirmed on the Andrew Marr Show that it is safe for shoppers to return to high streets when stores reopen from tomorrow.
The Chancellor also spoke to the Sun on Sunday about the need for shoppers to start visiting shops again: ‘I am very conscious that there will be anxiety. For some time, many people have not been inside a shop and, in a way, we all have to relearn the behaviours we took for granted.’
Despite encouraging people to visit high street shops again, the Chancellor acknowledged that it would take time for consumer confidence to grow back to pre-lockdown levels.