• 20,000 protective visors to land in stores following testing phase - one of the first retailers to do so
• 2,500 Perspex screens to be distributed to stores countrywide
• Increased guides to communicate social distancing to customers including floor stickers, colleague sashes and posters

Today, Boots UK announced additional measures to protect its pharmacists, colleagues and customers in stores. 20,000 protective visors have been ordered this week and will be landing in every store across the UK and ROI as an optional measure for store colleagues. This follows 2,500 Perspex screens for pharmacy counters – one per store – that are also being distributed countrywide, in addition to other equipment to help with social distancing strategies.

The protective visors have been tested this week by colleagues at the local Boots store in Victoria Centre, Nottingham, and will be available to colleagues should they wish to use them. Boots is one of the first retailers to explore this piece of equipment.

These actions are new additions to a host of precautions store leaders and the pharmacist are taking to ensure the safety of its essential workers, and to allow people to get the advice, healthcare, medicine and essential products that they need. As well as additional measures being taken within Boots UK warehouses such as social distancing guidance and increased hand washing facilities.

Tracey Clements, Chief Operating Officer of Boots UK and Ireland, explains further: ‘Our pharmacists and colleagues are frontline workers and it is our duty to protect their health as they work to support our customers, patients and the NHS. We are so proud of their dedication at this time.”

Boots UK says that in addition to steps like implementing Perspex screens, there are several simple but crucial safeguards being implemented.

Stores will have floor stickers to help customers understand social distancing and have temporarily removed seating to make more space for queues. Boots will be providing colleagues with sashes to communicate social distancing to customers; they are encouraging card transactions and are suggesting people bring their own pen to sign prescriptions. Each store is also regularly deep cleaned which may require short closures during the day.

Named an essential public service by the government, Boots UK is focusing all efforts on taking pressure off hospitals and the NHS as it comes under increasing strain.