Will face masks make you more likely to shop and eat out?

[CamDram]

I understand the reasons for making face masks compulsory. But I’m not sure whether I’ll want to go out into the shops or restaurants and spend money on the high streets unless I really need something specific once everyone’s faces are covered.

Will compulsory face mask make you:

YES - MORE likely to go out shopping/ eating out on the high street

NO- LESS likely to go out shopping

W

@RosesAndRoses

I haven't been shopping since early March. With masks being mandatory I will finally venture out to the high street. I think psychologically wearing masks and seeing others in masks is a reminder that coronavirus is still present and will make people stay 2m away more.

No masks make people think it is fine and they can get as close as they like. The worse 'offenders' in shops have been the gloves and masks wearers. If you think it will all be masks with 2m you are likely to be very disappointed.

I will avoid shops as much as I can.

I've been food shopping throughout.
Since June I've been going to stores like Decathlon and Go Outdoors as the DCs have grown throughout and needed new trainers, t-shirts etc. They've been with me as something to do and social experience in their 5.5 month gap off school and normal social networks. Last week DS1 and I went into town to go to a museum and while we were there, wandered into Waterstones, hand a lovely browse and came out with a couple of unplanned books.

DS1 has autism. I will not be making him wear a mask.
DS2 has asthma. I will not be making him wear a mask.
They are under 11 so this hopefully should not be a problem.

I am reluctant to cover my face because of claustrophobia, struggling to breathe warm humid stuffy air (which is a PITA at this time of year anyway), and I lip read a lot due to Auditory Processing problems; it is probable that like DS1, I do have wider (but milder) sensory issues and I have occasionally had panic attacks in public places where I've been overwhelmed by sensory input. I am also reluctant to distress DS1 by covering my face so that he can't manually read my expressions and meanings.

So many of the people pertaining to be wearing masks out of being civil-minded have shown utter contempt for a vast range of hidden disabilities/ medical conditions. Over the past 4 months I've hated the Covid Top Trumps were any other health and well-being concern has been utterly dismissed.

I don't like masks and we've come a long way on social distancing policies, and I find the timing very illogical. It should have come in during June as shops re-opened and would have had much more acceptance. This timing feels like pure politicking around between parts of the UK playing off on each other.

Tbh if the people who wont wear one at all wont go out, that's not a bad solution anyway

I've always been someone who enjoyed high street shopping (though didn't spend much, not having much to spend).

I had to go into town for the first time since lockdown (i.e. any shops other than chemist or supermarket) this weekend just gone, and it was a thoroughly unpleasant experience. I've been working all through lockdown and haven't normally worn a mask walking in the street as it was quiet enough to avoid other pedestrians. In town this weekend I did wear a mask in the street and the shops. The combination of the masks, the queues and the one-way systems has made me think that there is just no point bothering. It's fair enough to make us wear masks. They can't force us to go out, though.

Agreed. Suits me even better if they're not around and therefore I'll be more likely to go out. Win-win.

That comment was to @Hazelnutlatteplease. It's actually cheered me up reading that so many aren't going to be in shops in the future.

I won't go anywhere. I'll just get shopping delivered and will get signed off work with stress. I cannot tolerate anything over my face. I'll panic, harm myself, eventually throw up and if the panic inducing situation continues long enough I will eventually faint.

The combination of the masks, the queues and the one-way systems has made me think that there is just no point bothering. It's fair enough to make us wear masks. They can't force us to go out, though.

I agree with this entirely.

For those saying that there are those who are "whining" that they are "too special to wear a mask", some of us just don't like them. They freak me out and then I start having breathing problems (exacerbated by actual breathing problems brought on by, ironically, coronavirus). That doesn't mean I would refuse to wear one, it just means I will actively minimise the places and amounts of time I need to.

They aren’t compulsory for restaurants and bars. Only shops.

They aren’t compulsory for restaurants and bars. Only shops

And that makes no sense!

What's the result of the poll? I'm on the app and it doesn't say and it won't let me log in on browser for some reason

70/30 in favour of it being less likely to go shopping.

@LinemanForTheCounty

That comment was to *@Hazelnutlatteplease*. It's actually cheered me up reading that so many aren't going to be in shops in the future.

Will it cheer you up when the shops aren’t there any more? Because that’s what will happen.

@HorseChestnutTree

70/30 in favour of it being less likely to go shopping.

Thanks! No surprise for me, I also won't be going if I have to wear a mask.

@Alsohuman I guess I'll see how I feel if that happens. So far though this has been an overwhelmingly encouraging thread - lots of people happy to wear them and those who don't want to not flouting it but just staying away. Certainly better than the USA anti mask crew.

If we continue to have Covid outbreaks and lockdown as is happening in Hereford and Leicester there won't be any shops to not wear masks to.

Masks aren't going to kill the shops Covid will do it much quicker if it keeps reoccurring.

You will not have to wear them in restaurants - I don't see how one could! I'm fine with wearing them in shops though it will not change how often I go into one.

They aren’t compulsory for restaurants and bars. Only shops

Thank christ, I can do my food shopping in 10 mins, beer garden on a sunny day is usually a good four hours.

[quote LinemanForTheCounty]@Alsohuman I guess I'll see how I feel if that happens. So far though this has been an overwhelmingly encouraging thread - lots of people happy to wear them and those who don't want to not flouting it but just staying away. Certainly better than the USA anti mask crew.[/quote]
I agree. But it will be interesting to see the first month’s trading figures after 24 July. If they nose dive, as I strongly suspect they will, retailers will start lobbying for masks to become discretionary again. I give this policy six weeks.

I plan on doing less of both of those things in general but it's less to do with face masks specifically and more to do with general nervousness about covid

can't understand why anyone want to wonder around a shop with MORE possible airborne particles of Covid than less.

Very glad masks are mandatory.

I think internet was already killing the shops. Covid has given it the extra kicking.

Very glad masks are mandatory

They’re not. And won’t be for another ten days if the rumours are true.

@Alsohuman

You know what I meant.

@Alsohuman I dunno. There's so many variables re the possible effects on retail - local lockdowns, local unemployment rates, how town and retail centres are configured, public transport provision, parking provision etc. Plus I should imagine most retailers are expecting a drop after the initial flurry of everyone spending when they finally could. It would be difficult to pinpoint trade being directly and solely affected by masks so a tricky one to argue.

I won't go anywhere. I'll just get shopping delivered and will get signed off work with stress. I cannot tolerate anything over my face. I'll panic, harm myself, eventually throw up and if the panic inducing situation continues long enough I will eventually faint.

Harm yourself? This sounds dreadful!