Boots is set to temporarily close 60 of its stores in an effort to redeploy pharmacists to where they’re most needed in busier branches during the coronavirus pandemic.
The health and beauty retailer said most of the stores affected would be in airports, train stations, city centres and retail parks where there are almost no customers at the moment.
“We need to make sure that we have enough colleagues playing their vital role where it’s currently most needed and that we can send home those colleagues who are working in stores that are not busy,” Boots said in a statement. “To achieve this, we are temporarily closing a small number of stores that are very quiet at this time.”
The first wave of Boots stores affected is in London and they will close on Good Friday. The second wave of store closures – spread across the country – will be closed by Wednesday 15 April.
Boots has more than 2,400 stores across the country, and while some shop floor staff will also be deployed along with the pharmacists, other staff could be furloughed.
