Why have they only just bought in the face mask rule?

[Dualipa]

I don't get it, why only now when everything else is lifting? It seems odd to me. Also why do I have to wear one going into a shop but my children don't?

Sorry! Wrong mask related thread.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/14/shops-and-police-must-help-enforce-english-face-mask-rules-says-minister

Oh my, you really couldn't make his shit up.

"Mask wearing will be mandatory in shops from 24th July. You will be fined if you don't wear one. It's up to the police to enforce but retailers who don't have to wear masks themselves must play their part to ensure compliance because there aren't enough police to do so. There is no current strategy for this but we're working something out on the back of a fag packet. It is your patriotic duty to go shopping to re-build the crashing economy but it's likely there will be skirmishes around mask wearing that may prevent you from doing so. We think the virus may be more airborne than we previously thought but we're still not 100% sure so we're erring on the side of caution"

Is what I'm getting so far.

Anyone else feeling like giving it all up for a life of being a hermit till about 2030 when hopefully the world will have returned to its senses?

My personal view is that this government act primarily for economic reasons rather than.health based ones. So they are doing it now because they believe that it will encourage people to go to shops more and get the economy going quicker.

My problem with masks is too many people don’t understand cross-contamination - including a pub local to me. I was looking forward to heading there this weekend for a meal but because of their rules which encourage cross contamination I won’t be.

Because people on social media have started bleating on about it. They cant complain about people going out, "flocking" to beaches, having people in the house. But they can complain about people not wearing (non compulsory) masks... and complain they have!

@Vanillaradio

My personal view is that this government act primarily for economic reasons rather than.health based ones. So they are doing it now because they believe that it will encourage people to go to shops more and get the economy going quicker.

I think this could be part of it. However I think a lot of people are actually less likely to go shopping if they must wear a mask. Especially just for browsing. It will probably even out and they will not see much difference in footfall.

I suspect the timing now is partly to try to get people into the habit well before a winter season of the usual bugs, when we really will need everything we can, and partly to reduce transmission in more risky locations, especially hospitals, surgeries, etc.
I was really surprised to find out, around the time of lockdown easing up, that all staff in hospitals were at that point required to wear more PPE (not the whole lot but face covered etc) www.nursingtimes.net/news/policies-and-guidance/face-masks-and-coverings-to-be-compulsory-for-all-nhs-hospital-staff-05-06-2020/. Even workers very far removed from patient treatment and admin etc. I would think it must be an essential part of being able to re-introduce some of the non-Covid treatments and to have a greater chance of containment to specific areas.

We've been wearing masks whenever we go into an enclosed space/shop so no different for us. I don't understand the constant whingeing about why/when/who etc, etc. We're having to balance the economy (and protect your jobs and mortgages) with protecting the vulnerable who are emerging into the sunlight from their cupboard under the stairs. Masks will be around for a long time so get your kids to shape up, it never hurt spiderman after all, and if you're unwilling to wear one then just don't go the shops.

I know they wanted to save the PPE at the start but they are not the same sort as we wear now, even the blue disposable ones from Amazon and other shops are not proper PPE and they could have just said everyone wear cloth ones.

@Dualipa

It makes no sense to me but then I've only just started venturing out. I think that's us locked back in the house again as the masks scare my little one ☹️

Make wearing masks seem fun! Your child will follow your lead and won't be scared if you aren't.

The timing completely undermines it for me. The logical timing should have been for June 15th when non-essential retail opened.

But no, we've been able to go out and shop merrily for a month without it being necessary. Yet still transmission goes down, despute pubs opening, and clusters are identified through prolonged proximity in workplacrs as the main hazard.

Unfortunately for the government, I've caught up on a lot of latent spending, and other than school shoes have little need to buy anything other than food in person for some time.

I suspect they are looking at round two in America, looking at the research commissioned by Vallance about a winter second wave and consider even a smaller reduction in transmission now might reap benefits down the line? Or, maybe they are doing it because the shielded will be expected back at work at the beginning of August? Maybe they haven't seen the boost to the economy as they hoped and are banking on those waiting for the mask having bigger pockets? Or, maybe they did it for the shots and giggles? It is what it is.