B&QUEUE
Thousands of shoppers queue at B&Q as chain reopens 155 stores during coronavirus lockdown
THOUSANDS of shoppers are today queuing outside B&Q after the chain reopened 155 stores during the coronavirus lockdown.
Hundreds were seen queuing outside a store in Ashfield, Notts, with people keen to carry out refurbishments while they stay at home.
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Others were seen buying plants and gardening tools from a B&Q in Leeds while pictures showed more cars on motorways this morning.
Meanwhile, one group of lads ignored social distancing rules to play football in London's Southwark Park.
The picture caused concern for one minister who said there is a "risk" people are starting to ignore the rules.
MP Brandon Lewis told of his fears people will be struggling to stick to the lockdown after so many weeks cooped up inside.
RISK
He said: "I think there is always a risk when you are doing something like this, particularly those living alone, will be finding it really difficult.
"We've got to look at the success we've had in flattening that curve. We've lost too many lives already.
"When you follow the guidelines, when you stay home, you are doing something directly personally that is not just helping the NHS, but saving lives."
B&Q had been closed since the end of March since the introduction of lockdown measures to try to contain the spread of Covid-19.
Customers had been able to use click and collect services to purchase goods after hardware stores were included on the government's list of essential retailers.
When you follow the guidelines, when you stay home, you are doing something directly personally that is not just helping the NHS, but saving lives.
MP Brandon Lewis
The store carried out a trial in 14 stores over the weekend and opened them fully - with restrictions.
It today opened a further 155 stores and pictures show Brits following rules as they patiently queue to enter.
A B&Q spokesperson said: "As an essential retailer, we’re committed to providing the best possible service to support customers’ home improvement needs at this difficult time, while keeping customers and colleagues safe.
"Having watched other essential retailers support social distancing in their stores, we are now following their best practice and are re-opening some stores with strict social distancing measures in place.
LOCKDOWN
"Similar to shopping at a supermarket, we’re strictly limiting the number of customers in store at any one time, and so customers are typically queueing before entering stores.
"All stores have a designated queuing area outside and these have two metre markers to help remind everyone to respect each other’s personal space.
"To further support social distancing, we have two metre floor markers throughout the store and have also installed perspex screens at the checkouts.
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"We’re urging all customers to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines, to shop responsibly only for what is necessary and to be patient whilst we give them the best possible service in the safest possible way."
The warm and sunny weather has made coronavirus lockdown even harder for Brits, with it forecast to be hotter than Lanzerote today and tomorrow.
It brings fears the temperature will be too tempting for some as the weekend arrives at the end of five weeks of being stuck indoors.
Most of the country will enjoy the balmy weather, with temperatures hitting 23C in Wales and 18C in Scotland.
The shocked journalist who saw the footballers in Burgess Park yesterday tweeted: "Not surprising that Southwark is one of the worst-hit London boroughs from #COVID19.
"Out for my walk in Burgess Park today and there’s people sunbathing, drinking in groups and even a 6-a-side football game ongoing - the worst I’ve seen it in lockdown."
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As the death toll hit 18,000 yesterday, Hyde Park in London was packed with young Brits exercising, while a group of paramedics were seen enjoying a well-deserved break in the sunshine.
In the government press conference, it was announced that traffic on Britain's roads is beginning to increase during lockdown.
Graphs show all motor vehicle traffic spike since yesterday - the first significant rise since April 14.
Housebuilder Taylor Wimpey said it plans to resume work on its construction sites from May 4, after ordering its sites, show homes and sales centres to be closed in March.
Meanwhile, shoppers at The Range in Southampton, Hants, were seen loading up with supplies yesterday - some which could be deemed "non-essential" - to help keep them occupied while they stay at home.
Some shoppers were seen bringing trolley loads of non-essential gardening materials, plants and compost back to their cars as Britain basks in warm weather.
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Under the rules to stop the spread of the virus, people can only leave home for a limited number of reasons:
- Shopping for basic necessities, for example and medicine, which must be as infrequent as possible.
- One form of exercise a day, for example a run, walk, or cycle - alone or with members of your household.
- Any medical need, including to donate blood, avoid or escape risk of injury or harm, or to provide care or to help a vulnerable person.
- Travelling for work purposes, but only where you cannot work from home.
Chris Whitty admitted lockdown measures will be needed until the end of the year to control coronavirus - until a drug or a vaccine is round.
The Chief Medical Officer said that some form of the measures Britain is going to have to be in place for a long period of time to make sure the transmission rate doesn't grow and begin to
It was "wholly unrealistic" to think a return to normal life is possible anytime soon, Mr Whitty told the Downing Street press conference this evening.
There will be a "series of choices" and ministers will decide a mix of measures to try and get back to a new normal.
The only "exit" from lockdown will be a vaccine or drugs to treat coronavirus, he said.
Strict social distancing measures introduced last month to help tackle the spread of the deadly bug say Brits should only leave home to shop for "basic necessities" like food or medicine.
But there is confusion at guidance on what is a "reasonable excuse" to leave your home during the UK's Covid-19 shutdown.
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LOCKDOWN END DATE?
On March 23, Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered all "non-essential" shops to shut while urging Brits to stay at home to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The Cabinet is now said to be split into “doves and hawks” over how and when to end the UK-wide shutdown, which is ravaging the country's economy.
Some ministers are said to be against ending the lockdown too early to avoid a second wave, while others want to lift it to avoid a bigger economic crisis.
And guidance from senior police leaders issued last week on what is permitted has confused many.
The National Police Chief's Council (NPCC) and College of Policing's three-page document laid out "reasonable" excuses to leave home.
They advised that "buying paint and brushes, simply to redecorate a kitchen" was "not likely to be reasonable".
But the advice, which is to help police officers interpret the lockdown rules, says buying "tools and supplies to repair a fence panel" is "likely to be reasonable".
Brits are allowed to sit down for a moment to catch their breath or eat their lunch, but only if they are on a long walk.
"A short walk to a park bench, when the person remains seated for a much longer period" is not considered reasonable, the rules say.
The new guidance come after accusations of over-zealous policing of Brits.
Downing Street slapped down policing tactics, saying stores are “free to sell what they stock” after officers from Cambridge Police patrolled “non-essential aisles” for shoppers.
A police force had to apologise after one of its officers told a family they couldn't use their own front garden.
Northamptonshire Police Chief Constable Nick Adderley was forced to backtrack after saying cops could "start" to "marshal supermarkets and check the items in baskets."
He said the public had enjoyed a "three-week grace period" and said his force would slap fines and arrest those caught outside for non-essential reasons.
He said: "We will not, at this stage, be setting up road blocks.
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"We will not, at this stage, start to marshal supermarkets and check the items in baskets and trolleys to see whether it's a necessary item.
"But be under no illusion, if people do not heed the warnings and the pleas I'm making today, we will start to do that."
Home Secretary Priti Patel has repeatedly refused to give in to police chiefs' demands for even more power, saying earlier this week they already had enough measures for enforcement.
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