Retail - The Coronavirus Pandemic, London

LONDON, UK - MAY 15: General view of customers practising social distancing at home improvement store B&Q in Chiswick as lockdown restrictions start to ease after 7 weeks on May 15, 2020 in London, England. The chain, part of the Kingfisher Group was classed as an essential retailer during the coronavirus lockdown. Shops were close in March but the chain was offering “contactless” click and collect services. Now as restrictions are eased in the eighth of Lockdown, all 288 UK B&Q stores are now open. Following the example of supermarkets, B&Q is limiting the number of customers in store at any one time and has put strict social distancing measures in place. These include sanitiser stations for trolleys; safe queuing 2 metres apart before entering the store; 2 metre navigational markers on the floor and directional arrows to guide customers through the store; perspex screens at checkouts; and card and contactless payments only. The prime minister announced the general contours of a phased exit from the current lockdown, adopted nearly two months ago in an effort curb the spread of Covid-19.