I tried my best, but shopping just isn’t enjoyable any more when I know the risk of coronavirus is still here

While very necessary, safety measures in shops serve as a stark reminder we are far from out of the woods when it comes to the virus, says James Moore

Customers wear masks as they shop at Primark in Oxford Street (AP)

Shopping is an activity I usually put on a level with cleaning the bathroom or doing the washing up. A chore, in other words, which is why I usually prefer to do it online.

That said, because I find myself writing a lot about retail at the moment, I’ve periodically donned a mask and set out to test the temperature of various retail centres in and around London.

Naturally I’ve included a couple of places I actually enjoy visiting to make this a less onerous task. They include a record store that boasts an impressive selection of new and interesting vinyl, and a pop culture emporium to check out the latest graphic novels and other paraphernalia.