With more shops and businesses reopening to customers from this morning (Monday 15 June), Sandwell Council has urged shoppers to continue following key advice to keep safe.
There is also a package of advice and guidance on the council’s website and the Think Sandwell website to help businesses safely reopen.
Four key pieces of advice for shoppers are:
- If you feel unwell, you must stay at home
- Keep a safe distance – 2 metres where possible – from other people
- Consider wearing a face covering inside shops
- Use hand gel if you can and wash your hands as soon as you get home
People are also encouraged to avoid shopping in groups, walk or cycle to the shops if they can, and to pay by contactless rather than cash whenever possible.
For businesses, the Government, Health and Safety Executive and Business Companion have detailed advice on reopening and risk assessments on their websites.
Key advice for businesses includes:
- Continue to work from home, if you can.
- Carry out a Covid-19 risk assessment, in consultation with employees and trade unions.
- Check the maintenance of your premises, including the safety of your water supply and prevention of Legionella.
- Maintain 2 metres social distancing, wherever possible
- Where people cannot be 2 metres apart, manage the risk of transmission
- Reinforce cleaning processes
- Limit cash handling and encourage contactless payment when possible
- Talk with your workers about preventing the spread of coronavirus
Go to our webpage for more detailed advice and to download a poster to display at your business showing how you have carried out five key steps to manage the risk of Covid-19.
There is also a poster for businesses to promote social distancing to shoppers and to state the number of customers allowed in a shop at any one time.
Council Leader Councillor Yvonne Davies said: “As more shops and businesses start to reopen from today, we want to support our business community and make sure everyone is safe.
“Our shoppers and businesses can play a leading role in preventing the spread of coronavirus. Maintaining social distancing, using hand sanitisers, wearing a face covering and practising good hygiene and cleaning can all help to achieve this.”
People are also reminded to only use public transport for essential journeys if they can’t walk, cycle or use the car – and that it is now compulsory to wear a face covering on public transport.
More information on coronavirus (Covid-19) is available on the Government and NHS websites.
