Local delight for businesses and shoppers as non-essential retail reopens By Simon Doyle It's the latest easing of Covid-19 restrictions. Queues are forming outside shops both locally and nationally as non-essential retail is allowed to open for the first time this year. The latest easing of Covid-19 restrictions is allowing customers without an appointment to go into a store. Shoppers are being urged to stay patient with staff, while also practicing social distancing. An 800 million euro boost for the economy is expected as a result of the pent-up demand from customers, who have not entered shops not deemed as 'essential' since December 2020.