Welsh retail body welcomes loosening of Covid rules

By David Shrimpton in Industry News 28th January 2022

The relaxation of Covid rules in Wales should help give a boost to retailers despite the fact that masks are still mandatory in shops, says the Welsh Retail Consortium (WRC).

Sarah Jones, head of the WRC, said: “Today’s move to Covid alert level zero will be welcome news for Welsh retailers who have been hit hard by the impact of the pre-Christmas tightening of restrictions.

“The removal of social distancing and the changes to the hospitality restrictions in cafés and eateries is undoubtedly a positive move and will hopefully encourage more people back to our high streets.”

Jones added that although face masks would eventually become non-mandatory in Wales, as they already have in England, other measures would last longer.

She said: “Many of the safety measures we have invested so heavily in will remain, such as Perspex screens and sanitising stations, and we encourage all shoppers to play their part in the continued downward spiral in Covid cases by complying with the measures in place.”