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).

I'll wear them if they're compulsory, but as someone said - what actually is the point now?
I mean, why not from the start?

Our high street (in Scotland) was the busiest it's been for months on Saturday. The vast majority of people were wearing masks and still managed to maintain distancing. I have worn a mask in shops for weeks and am grateful to those who return the favour. Better late than never, imo.

Other countries have managed to wear masks and bring their transmission rate down, it’s about time the UK made them mandatory.

So compulsory in shops and supermarkets but not in the pub, restaurants or cafes they are keen for us to frequent? Why the wait too? Feeling somewhat cynical about it all especially as the few mask & glove wearing people I have encountered seem to feel ok to rub my baby’s head or stand way too close. That and the science is varied on them, with evidence for and against.

There has been no media pressure...just scientists published in the media.

There is an ABUNDANCE of evidence that they lower transmission at this point.

And how will they enforce that?

@EasterIssland

That’s good. Thanks god we don’t have to wear it when we go to the pubs with friends. Cuz we all know that the virus stops at the door of the pub and also we socially distance when meeting friends. And familys.

Cuz alcohol kills it don't you know

Being cynical would say Boris and his mates have now invested in a mask producing company last week.

Not being cynical, why now? Possibly by getting most adjusted by sneezing winter season it will be something we all do. It's a culture shift but if all wear masks community transmission will be less.

And on an individual basis gives time to establish good mask hygiene.

Yes it's pants, no I don't want to wear one I like faces, but it's a small concern overall right now.

Why now, honestly this would have made sense 4 months ago. At this point it’s like putting a condom on once you’ve already shot your load.

And waiting until now to bring it into force but wait 10 days for it to be enforced is just farcical

This is an entirely political decision based entirely on the need to be seen to be doing something. They’ve totally screwed this up, as usual.

100%. When you can travel backwards and forwards between most countries in the world without having to be tested or self isolate, this makes exactly zero sense.

@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.

i suspect there's a difference between being sat in a chair for 30 minutes starting at yourself in the mirror and walking round in a busy supermarket or cloths shopping

Yes indeed @ComDummings cross posted

At this point it’s like putting a condom on once you’ve already shot your load

Eloquently put lol Agree though

Teens here largely seem to be wearing masks, but brands like hype and ASOS have bought a range out, so I guess, weirdly it's cool amongst their peers. I think it's good, and I suppose the less people out shopping because they disagree with it, the more room for social distancing.

So is it 11 and under that are exempt or would an 11 year old have to wear one?

Now, because the studies have been done, the evidence is clear, and the virus is still out there. It’s been suppressed by lockdown but will come roaring back without measures.

Probably not encouraged to wear them at first as not enough proper masks to go around. Science has now shown that although not 100% homemade masks/face coverings do help stopping the spread, useful now we are starting to get out more

This is a good move.
I don't see why it will kill off the high street. People in other countries have managed to get used to wearing masks, I don't see why we can't.

just saying

Good job we get supermarket delivery then

@AlecTrevelyan006

final nail in the coffin for the high street

Yet there seems to be no mention of them being worn in pubs and restaurants (and yes, I realise that you can’t eat and drink with a mask on). At least in shops you’re not likely to spend much time hanging around and are pretty much constantly moving around, unlike in eateries and pubs where you’re seated in an enclosed room for some time and, as has been reported, social distancing is forgotten about by some once alcohol is involved. Same with cinemas and gyms, not a word mentioned about those but they’re just as enclosed a space as a shop.

Thanks

@Gurtcha

This is an entirely political decision based entirely on the need to be seen to be doing something. They’ve totally screwed this up, as usual.

100%. When you can travel backwards and forwards between most countries in the world without having to be tested or self isolate, this makes exactly zero sense.

I honestly think this has been done solely so that someone can say 'actually, we did make wearing face coverings compulsory' in a public enquiry hearing in 2022.

@NothingIsWrong

There goes distancing then. I've already experienced those wearing masks thinking they don't have to bother.

I won't be going back to the high street now

I had to ask a man in the supermarket to take three steps back from my 7 year old the other day, "But ive got a mask on" he said. I told him I didn't give a shit. He did eventually but with added tutting.