Sainsbury's and Tesco have joined the bookseller, Waterstones, which has said customers should wear masks to protect staff and other shoppers.

[UndercoverToad]

Good.

I had a bit of a row with my sister this morning about this, she thinks they should still be mandatory and doesn’t understand why people moan about them. Then she said, mind you I don’t often wear one, it’s only if I pop out to the CoOp or in a restaurant.

Yeah. Try working 14.5hr days wearing one and then come back to me.

[quote UndercoverToad]@bumbleymummy and if you are going to ‘lump under an umbrella’ my school age DD has been thriving, had an outstanding end of year reports and has learnt a great deal of compassion over the past year. So perhaps you are ‘assuming’ to fit your rhetoric. Her mental health has certainly not suffered.[/quote]
Well that is great for you.
The children I work with in deprived central cities have not had the same luxury I am afraid.
Absent parents, lack of IT facilities have really hit them hard.
This is no narrative, it is fact. Not all children are as blessed as yours.

The 33 000 suffering long Covid is an official statistic and it is hugely concerning. And has been diagnosed by professionals who know better than you or I. So don’t dismiss it - just so you can ditch your mask.

I think many shops will ask for masks as otherwise they will find less shoppers visiting.

@fromdownwest which is every reason to where a mask. Im angry with children being weaponised as a reason to ignore restrictions. It wrong to assume every school aged child is suffering. My daughters state school is in a deprived area and they have worked bloody hard to support all the children in that school.

*wear

@SonnetForSpring

I think many shops will ask for masks as otherwise they will find less shoppers visiting.

I suspect that will go both ways. I would be far more likely to browse in a bookshop, for example, without a mask. At the moment, I'm in and out of shops as quickly as possible or don't go into them at all as I can't wait to take my mask off. Good for minimising transmission but not necessarily so good for generating revenue for the shops.

And I’ve been absent from my daughters life for a fair amount of time as I’m caring for my Mum who is CEV and has bowel cancer.

My daughter has been absolutely amazing - and her school. I am immensely proud of her/her school.

I will be a continue to wear a mask until I feel safe.

@UndercoverToad

33 000 children currently suffering Long Covid - and all you care about is your personal ‘comfort’.

More children have been abused during lockdown.

@Rizzoli123

I will be a continue to wear a mask until I feel safe.

That'll be never then

@MyGardenSanctuary which is absolutely why we don’t want another bloody lockdown! Wear a mask!

I so feel for the staff trying to implement it. They shouldn't be in that situation.

@SonnetForSpring

I think many shops will ask for masks as otherwise they will find less shoppers visiting.

No I don't think so. I think the vast silent majority of people can't wait for no masks, despite wearing one and abiding by the law.

@fromdownwest

People seem to wear them as a badge of honour, to show how superior they are. LIke the inane Thursday night clapping.

Vaccines mean we can now move on.

Apart from the under 40's who aren't fully vaccinated yet.

and the under 18's and the people who can't be

[quote UndercoverToad]@bumbleymummy and if you are going to ‘lump under an umbrella’ my school age DD has been thriving, had an outstanding end of year reports and has learnt a great deal of compassion over the past year. So perhaps you are ‘assuming’ to fit your rhetoric. Her mental health has certainly not suffered.[/quote]
I've heard it all now.

@bhy123

Our local Tesco had constant tannoy announcements and signs saying that customers had to shop alone where possible during the second lockdown. Plus a member of staff on the door to supposedly enforce the rule. They did nothing at all and, as a result, 75% of customers were shopping in pairs or in families with both adults present. Appreciate some had a genuine need to have a helper or their kids but Tesco had zero interest in enforcing their own rule.

So, I won't be wearing a mask at Tesco from Monday. I've been vaccinated which reduces my risk of transmitting Covid substantially. I am not convinced that our mask hygiene (mine included) is that effective at stopping transmission. Most adults have been offered vaccinations and mask wearing is a small step on the road to getting back to some semblance of normality. I understand if others feel they want to wear their masks.

i was on the door our store (not tesco) and got physically assaulted because we were at capacity and people had to queue....he did not want to wait, pushed me over and walked in anyway

do you think retail staff should have to enforce that? its not zero interest at all.

I think the behaviour will end up equalling out.
There will be those desperate to go out without a mask, and those not wanting to go out because of the lack of distancing and masks.

It will be incredibly stressful and divisive though

@toastantea

Yes be heard they will bring back the security staff which shops had during the first lockdown. So yes, they will be inforcing it.

I never saw any additional security in shops. I did see people without masks though, because even though it was/is mandatory, the whole 'exemption' thing was handled so badly that it is so easily abused. Now the legal requirement is going to be lifted, why do you think security guards will suddenly be able to enforce mask wearing?

there never was any security staff.....it was regular shop floor staff on a rota for an hour or so at a time repeating 'heres the sanitiser, do you need a mask'

then they went back to their till position, or department, trolley collection or whatever they were doing. nobody hired security especially. if the store had a security guard for shoplifters, then they may have taken a turn on the door, but thats it!!

[quote UndercoverToad]@MyGardenSanctuary which is absolutely why we don’t want another bloody lockdown! Wear a mask![/quote]
No.

@UndercoverToad

whats not 'utter shut'....where have i said that? what are you talking about?

@herecomesthsun

And John Lewis. And I am selectively going to shop at those stores if I need something.

john lewis aren't doing anything about mask wearing......no stores are enforcing it. lol,they are just playing with words

are you falling for it?

I actually believe people just need to start understand each others views on masks. People are either goading each other and bullying each other over masks.

They are no longer mandatory therefore it is a personal choice.

Also I'd be careful over the Guardians figures, they've been known to embellish. I say this as someone who will continue to wear a mask but holds no judgement on other peoples personal choices. The world is turning into a rotten place and that's not just because of covid.

@EvilPea

I so feel for the staff trying to implement it. They shouldn't be in that situation.

I agree. But they won’t be, shops have (correctly in my opinion) said that staff will not be enforcing this.