LONDON: UK pharmacy giant Boots on Thursday said it will cut more than 4,000 jobs after the country's coronavirus lockdown slashed sales, especially affecting its opticians.

US-owned Boots said it planned "significant restructuring across its head office, store teams and opticians... resulting in a reduction of its headcount of more than 4,000 and the closure of 48 Boots Opticians stores".

Boots UK managing director Sebastian James said cutting the workforce by seven percent would allow the pharmacy "to continue its vital role as part of the UK health system, and ensure profitable long-term growth.