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Non-essential retail stores, hair and beauty providers, gyms and leisure centers are among the companies that are reopening their facilities to the public across the country today following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions.
Cinemas, museums and galleries may also reopen, but food-serving pubs and restaurants will be closed until Friday.
After six weeks of closure and with the arrival of Christmas, consumer demand for in-store purchases is expected to have increased and many services are expected to be strong.
Retail Ireland predicts that € 1.2 billion will be spent on retail outlets this December above a normal month.
However, after a long period of closure, companies have faced many challenges in preparing for the reopening, including ensuring they have sufficient stock and staff ready.
Many have also adopted additional hygiene measures to keep staff and customers safe, and to cope with potential crowds and queues.
Local authorities have been working with retailers to establish guidelines for managing off-site queues.
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The first shoppers to walk through the reopened doors at Penneys on Mary St in Dublin at 6:42 this morning. Some said they had been queuing since 4:30 am. The number one item on their lists: pajamas. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/BcJWFc2uMB
– Will Goodbody (@willgoodbody) December 1, 2020
Some shopping centers have also installed temporary shelters outside for customers in case they have to limit the number of entrances due to overcrowding.
To match the influx, some retailers say they will stay open until tonight and tomorrow, while many others will open early and close later than normal.
The Dublin Town organization has said it expects about two-thirds of last year’s footfalls between now and Christmas.
Public transport capacity will be increased from 25% to 50% to meet the additional demand.
But the National Transportation Authority has asked the public to only use public transportation for necessary trips and to avoid rush hour trips to ensure there is enough capacity for essential workers and children traveling to and from school.
The latest government guidance is that face covers should be used in crowded or crowded outdoor spaces where there is a large congregation, such as on congested shopping streets.
People are also asked to continue working from home unless it is absolutely necessary to attend in person.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he is cautious about reopening from Level 5, but added that it is a “good day.”
He asked people in queues this morning to follow public health guidelines and wear face covers outdoors.
Donnelly said that retailers will take every precaution “as they did from the beginning,” but said people need to keep the basics in mind, but ultimately it’s about each person limiting their contacts.
Retail Excellence said many of the 50,000 retail workers who filed for pandemic unemployment pay in October will return to work starting today, but warned there will be more retail Covid casualties.
Its managing director, Duncan Graham, said he is hopeful that retailers will be able to trade as they did at the end of the second quarter, when there was a rebound after the first lockdown.
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Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he said it will be difficult to withdraw the money that was lost in November, but retailers are ready and have been waiting for this day for the past six weeks.
He said that shopping habits have changed over the last year and that there are many more channels open to shoppers than before, such as online and click and collect.
Graham said there will be more retail Covid casualties and these are likely to occur early next year when retailers face rent increases.
Speaking on the same show, Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called on people to use common sense and be responsible as restrictions are eased today.
He said it is possible to prepare for Christmas and enjoy the season and access our families, but also act responsibly and grown-up.
Ms. McDonald also said that doing the basics of hand washing, social distancing, and wearing masks will have a strong impact.
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