Face coverings to be made compulsory in England

[Redolent]

Sky News just reporting that from Friday 24 July it will be mandatory to wear a face mask in shops/stores in England. Fines of £100 if you don’t (reduces to £50 if payable within 2 weeks).

But @Pinkyyy people seem to be blaming the Government for the demise of shops whereas it will be because people can’t be bothered to put a piece of cloth on their face.

Other countries cope why are we so special and precious

@CeeJay81

Environment Secretary George Eustice told BBC Breakfast the new mandatory rule for face coverings in shops does not apply to retail staff.

My DC work in retail and neither will want to wear one.

I can’t read without glasses so any mask I wear will have to be removed whilst I look for prices, items etc.

I actually think the different rules are becoming so confusing. Neither of my kids shops have one way systems, one has just removed theirs, the other never did.

I was at a major attraction in Yorks Dales at weekend. Cafe/rest were in separate ‘bubble’ from gift shop, food shop and toilets. Meaning customers having drinks or food couldn’t access toilets without queuing for minimum of 15 mins. The manager said it was because she had to enforce a one way system by law ”Boris’ rules”. My son gently questioned that, knowing his shop didn’t have a one way rule and was more or less told to p**s off if he didn’t like it. She said she had already lost £1.5 mill. but admitted she was losing customers who wanted access to toilets when eating and drinking.

@ineedaholidaynow I don't think the government is to blame for the high street failing, they've just sped up a process that was already happening.

@Rebelwithallthecause must be, seems some go into other medical roles that don’t require mask wearing. I didn’t develop asthma until my mid twenties and have only had a few flare ups since. When not flaring I’d be find in a mask (though don’t like them for other reasons) when I am flaring, as now, it’s just not possible.
Asthma isn’t the only condition by far that prevents wearing them though, it’s a big range. Trust me those of us who can’t would love to be able to and avoid the shaming and disgust not wearing one will illicit from others. Most of us feel we’ll be confined again when we shouldn’t need to be

@BuffaloCauliflower that’s the awful thing. They are wanting it to be seen as the polite thing to be wearing a mask which effectively does shame people who don’t and many people in passing will just assume someone isn’t wearing a mask because they don’t care rather than because of a medical reason that isn’t obvious

DH was in Bath yesterday and said it was so quiet in the shopping streets you could hear a pin drop. Shops have security guards outside them, wearing visors, and enforcing social distancing, but DH said there was hardly anyone going in them.

He went for a coffee and found cafés open and some with indoor seating, but again footfall really down. He said he found the whole experience quite depressing. And it will only get worse.

Thing is if everyone who could wear one did, then they would be making it easier and safer for those who can't. Bit like vaccines for children.

Again it is the minority who spoil it for the majority.

I have seen posts where PP are saying that they will wear a mask of the thinnest material as 'that will show them'. Yes it will show you are an absolute dick. This isn't about you it is about protecting others.

The mixed messages from government are causing so many problems. Lack of PPE early on in the pandemic seemed to create a 'dont worry about masks' message. Now Europe and East Asia are wearing masks and health guidance recognises transmission is reduced with masks. The message from government needs to be clearer. Or doesnt make sense that masks are only needed in some confined spaces - where we think people will wear them. So shops, health care facilities it's essential but in schools, pubs and cafes it's not???

Either it's important or it's not. There should be an overarching expectation that respectful behaviour towards others means wearing a mask. I reduce transmission to you. You reduce transmission to me. If you don't wear one, that's obviously your decision. But it'll be like wearing an 'I'm an arse' sign. Some people will laugh and say they like your spirit. Others will think you don't care about transmission rates and only care about your own comfort. It's happened before with other diseases. (I won't wear a condom. I won't get vaccinated. etc etc)

Low income households should have them for free. Why isn't this happening?

I have asthma and I intend to wear a shield when I can't wear a mask. I don't intend to be mixing more than is essential.

At the moment it's a bit like sex. I choose partners for social interaction carefully. (Have they been careful about their health and the health of others) I use protection and I expect others to use protection too. It's not as fun or comfortable but it's considerate and respectful. I'm not going to throw caution to the wind and say who cares what happens. Because I do care. I want to live and importantly I want to live without post covid complications. Just like you don't want STDs. Maybe it's a deeper choice - what kind of person to you want to be? What kind if society do you want to live in? Covid full or covid minimised? What's your role in that? We all play a role and we all have a choice.

Regarding the high street, many of us moan about the demise of it, yet as already stated shop online. So we’re not helping the cause.
Going to the high street is now hard work. Have to queue, keep 2m apart, and now where a mask. People used to pop over to the shops for a mooch around, maybe stop for a cup of tea.
Sunday’s lots of people would wander around the garden centre, and then have a coffee in the cafe.
It’s now not a pleasant experience for many people.
So people will think sod this and not spend money in the high street. The end result is inevitable.
I’m not blaming the government, it’s no ones fault as such. But millions of people will lose their livelihoods with fewer opportunities to get another job.
Everyone has lost something due to covid 19. And we are being told this will be around for a very long time, with no end in sight.
It’s all very depressing.

@TheWindOnTheMoon If you take tourists out of Bath then it will always be much quieter.

If you take tourists out of Bath then it will always be much quieter.

Plus with some people struggling financially they won't be able to afford the extortionate cost of parking!

As mush as we like technology, it will be the demise of many people’s jobs too.
More people work from home, so these big Officer blocks are no longer needed. That means that support jobs will also be redundant, security guards, cleaners, maintenance men, and hospitality workers like chefs. Many of these big companies particularly in a London have all these types of jobs in just one building alone.
Then of course fewer people will get the train, so less rail staff is needed.
Then ,again in London for example, the cafes and sandwich bars lose money because the London commuters are not there to buy their goods. They have no customers to sell to. Go to Canary Wharf or the city on a normal lunch time and see how busy these places were.

**He went for a coffee and found cafés open and some with indoor seating, but again footfall really down. He said he found the whole experience quite depressing. And it will only get worse.

Indeed. I went to a pub restaurant and every other table was closed off. Operating at less than 50% capacity. Tell me how many pubs and restaurants and cafes can operate long term like this? Businesses will just close, ending lots of jobs in the supply chain.

@Hearwego I actually think there would be a demise of high street shops in small towns. Yes the big chains have to close their outlets in Canary Wharf and Moorgate, but i predict that many of the offices would be converted to coworking spaces or residential flats (and there would be rich people who would jump at the opportunity to invest in an area which would have been previously unattainable).

But all the shopping centres which are closing - Intu Watford, Intu Trafford are from outside London. I live in London and the shopping centres/Oxford St are packed. This is because of population density- for every person who refuses to go out in a mask, there are many others happy to do so. Small towns have low population density and if many of their residents are too scared to go to the shops and buy something, this has a negative effect. Plus the charm of a lot of lovely towns is that they have amazing independent shops which are in a worse position than the chains to weather a recession.

Agree it should've been done months ago. It's a fairly low cost way of keeping transmission down, but only really effective if about 90% of people wear them. If it's been done from the start, we might not have needed to trash the economy so much with such a severe lockdown. Countries like Japan wear them anyway. They didn't have a lockdown like ours, yet deaths are only at about 1k. Also Tailand have done quite well with low tech measures such as masks and hand sanitizer in every shop. I agree the reason BJ didn't say before is because there was a crisis sourcing PPE for medical staff and they wanted to prevent panic buying. Very incompetent and poorly planned by the government imo.

They are wanting it to be seen as the polite thing to be wearing a mask which effectively does shame people who don’t and many people in passing will just assume someone isn’t wearing a mask because they don’t care rather than because of a medical reason that isn’t obvious

They've said people with a medical reason don't need to wear one.

What more do you want? They can't stop people from being arseholes.

People without obvious disabilities face the same thing with disabled parking all the time.

The reality is, the chance of the virus flaring up again must be mitigated. The economy must get moving.

I'm sorry, but hurt feelings are just not as important.

What if the economy completely implodes and the services that help to deal with your health issues are massively cut. Wouldn't that be worse?

All the reasons I used to shop on the high street are gone. A wander round to see what catches my eye - now have to queue for ages and follow a one way system. The opportunity to try stuff on and handle products to have a look - not allowed. Events like markets - cancelled. Take DC to the play park in the town centre - closed. Nice lunch - difficult to just walk in off the street because of reduced capacity, increased prices. Not to mention that most restaurants have simplified their menus and have without exception crossed off the allergy friendly options! No more gluten free or dairy free because it’s too much hassle.

There is literally no reason for me to go to the high street now. I just order online. If thousands of others feel the same then the high street is dead.

I’ve just been to the supermarket, seen several people wearing them under their noses. One had it up and down all the way around. She was also licking her fingers to open bags up.
I think masks make a lot of people touch their faces and mouths more.

@Davodia I feel the same, I’m not happy about it

@PJ6M

They are wanting it to be seen as the polite thing to be wearing a mask which effectively does shame people who don’t and many people in passing will just assume someone isn’t wearing a mask because they don’t care rather than because of a medical reason that isn’t obvious

They've said people with a medical reason don't need to wear one.

What more do you want? They can't stop people from being arseholes.

People without obvious disabilities face the same thing with disabled parking all the time.

The reality is, the chance of the virus flaring up again must be mitigated. The economy must get moving.

I'm sorry, but hurt feelings are just not as important.

What if the economy completely implodes and the services that help to deal with your health issues are massively cut. Wouldn't that be worse?

Not too sure if you missed my point

I don’t think hurt feelings are more important than health services having sufficient funding.

Not too sure where that’s even come from

I was the same. I’d go to the high street to have a rummage in the charity shops. While I was there I’d grab a coffee and mooch around a sale. Look in a bookshop. Now the charity shops are shut and when I’ve been in other shops it’s been such a rigmarole, online shopping has just been a more sensible choice.

@justanotherneighinparadise that’s how I used to enjoy shopping too

I’m keeping the economy going with a new found online shopping habit that’s ramped up recently.

She said she had already lost £1.5 mill. but admitted she was losing customers who wanted access to toilets when eating and drinking. I thought there was a law which said anyone providing food to eat on the premises also had to provide toilets? It certainly used to be the case at one time. It's questionable as to whether that requirement is met if you have to queue in what is now effectively a separate establishment.

@ineedaholidaynow

Masks don't seem to have put too many people off going to the hairdressers, so not sure why it will kill off the High Street.

You can’t get your hair cut online.

Will we really be living like this until a vaccine comes along? Is it sustainable?
What if another illness comes along in another ten years time?
People’s quality of life have been drastically reduced. Possibly forever.
Is it realistic to think we will live like this forever??