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<p>Shops selling domestic garden supplies such as garden centres, are being asked
to close along with many other retail premises to minimise the risk of the spread
of the coronavirus.</p><p>At all times we have been consistently guided by scientific
advice to protect lives. The current advice from SAGE is that relaxing any of the
measures could risk damage to public health, our economy, and the sacrifices we have
all made. The Government has set up five tests that must be met before the lockdown
measures (including the closure of certain retail businesses) can be lifted. These
consider NHS capacity, death rates, transmission rates, availability of PPE, and avoidance
of a second peak of the virus.</p><p>It is positive to see the emerging thoughts on
how businesses such as garden centres can reopen safely, and in line with wider social
distancing measures – we will need to continue to work together on how easing measures
could work when it is the right time to do so.</p>
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