While the future of the high street has long been a source of debate, the pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated the decline in traditional bricks and mortar retail.
It is profoundly dispiriting to see the current state of our town and city centres.
The lockdown and closure of non-essential retail are important measures in the face of an alarming surge in coronavirus cases but the fear is that the empty streets and shuttered buildings are a precursor of bleaker times ahead.
We must hope that all the businesses currently impacted by the restrictions are able to get back to normal trading as soon as it is safe to do so.
However, the grim reality is that some stores will not reopen, some big name brands that were once the stalwarts of high streets and shopping centres will no longer have a visible presence.
Some of this transformation is down to changing habits.
The move to online shopping, particularly in fashion, has been growing steadily in recent years.
With most of us stuck at home, one of the most familiar sights has been the courier van making regular deliveries. Even those previously reluctant to buy online have embraced this option out of sheer necessity.
The issue for a reopened high street is whether they can lure back the customers who have migrated to the internet.
The experience of some of the biggest names in the business suggests that it could be a struggle.
Yesterday came news that the Debenhams brand and website had been bought by online retailer Boohoo for £55 million.
The purchase did not include the company's 118 stores in the UK, which are expected to close by March.
Meanwhile, Asos is in talks to buy the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and HIIT brands and online businesses from administrators for Sir Philip Green's Arcadia empire.
This deal would also result in the closure of stores, and both developments would impact thousands of jobs.
In Northern Ireland, the loss of anchor tenants from shopping centres will also present a wider difficulty as retail adapts to what has been a transformative period.
Hopefully, within a few months we will see shops, hospitality and other services open their doors again but as well as targeted support for those badly affected by the pandemic, we also need to focus on how we can revive and sustain our town centres.
