Frontline pharmacy teams have been advised to close their shop entrances to maintain the government's social distancing advice of two metres, if required.
A letter, signed by General Pharmaceutical Council, Royal Pharmaceutical Society and three other pharmacy bodies, said: If it is not possible to maintain the two-metre distance, the entrance of the pharmacy should be closed and entry controlled so that two metre distance can be maintained.”
The signatories said it was important that pharmacy professionals were aware of the latest public health advice which emphasised on social distancing as being the most effective protection against the spread of Covid-19.
The latest advice has been designed in order "to protect staff and users of the pharmacy," they added.
The letter further clarified that the measures did not negate the need for all pharmacy teams to have access to appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment)for specific instances where it is a necessary addition to social distancing measures, for example when working in small dispensaries.
According to the latest official figures, a total of 1,448 patients who tested positive for coronavirus have died in England and Wales so far.
The Office of National Statistics data, released today and to be updated every week, didn't include the deaths tolls from Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Sukhi Basra