Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Just been to M and S - then Tesco

216 replies

leafygarden42 · 06/08/2021 16:19

and noticed that very few people are wearing masks. I know you don't have to etc etc but I thought that these shops were 'encouraging' people to wear them.

In M and S out of around 12 staff that I saw, only one was wearing a mask.

I felt like a bit of a weirdo for wearing one Confused -

OP posts:
Xmasbaby11 · 06/08/2021 17:25

Sheffield here. I am seeing masks less often but it still depends on the shop. Sainsburys and Marks - most people. Morissons - under a third. This is just anecdotal though - not like I've been out hundreds of times!

readytosell · 06/08/2021 17:27

Was in M and S food the other day, it's a fairly small one. No staff were wearing masks and only a few customers. It wasn't too busy though.

Definitely gradually declining where I live that I've seen.

AngryWhompingWillow · 06/08/2021 17:28

I'd say that 85-90% of people are wearing masks where I come from - (North Cheshire.) The main demographic not wearing them is the young (under 30s.)

Not having a go by the way, as the rule is you don't have to wear them now. (Unless the place says you HAVE to.)

I don't have an issue with people not wearing them now, but it's nice to see many people still wearing them. Smile

Sugarandtime · 06/08/2021 17:30

I have a no idea if it’s true or not, a friend told me that our local Asda uses a facial recognition of people entering the store and every time somebody enters without a mask they play the announcement encouraging people to wear a mask.

DartmoorChef · 06/08/2021 17:31

I'm in okehampton and the vast majority of shoppers in the supermarkets are wearing them. I have mine with me and do wear it if I'm close to other people. It doesn't bother me and if it gives the elderly or nervous in our community peace of mind then I'm happy to keep any germs I might have to myself..

RampantIvy · 06/08/2021 17:34

@PurpleDaisies

They were in my local m and s yesterday and Tesco a week ago. Probably around 80% of people anyway.

Perhaps it’s your area.

Most people still are where I live as well.

@Xmasbaby11 I was in the big Sainsburys in Hillsborough the other day, and most customers were wearing masks.

hellywelly3 · 06/08/2021 17:35

I work in a shopping centre and less and less people are wearing them every week

Finknottlesnewt · 06/08/2021 17:35

Just been to the large co-op near Lewes East Sussex. Was there about 30 minutes . Didn't see anyone without a mask. Customers or staff. (Except kids of course .

Dasher789 · 06/08/2021 17:36

I am not wearing a mask anymore.

Some shops, are still requesting their staff wear them. I'm not sure whether this is legal or not but I can understand some people not wanting to stick out or cause a fuss with their boss etc.

It should be entirely your choice. If it makes you feel safer, wear it. If you don't want to, don't. The government have confirmed it is no longer required so there shouldn't be judgement to worry about either way.

ProfessorInkling · 06/08/2021 17:38

What was the point in me having two vaccinations if not to get to this point, where I do not need to wear a mask?

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 06/08/2021 17:38

The majority were wearing masks in Waitrose and in Sainsbury last time I was there.

In O2, no staff were wearing masks. I chose not to stay.

TheVanguardSix · 06/08/2021 17:40

West London. Hardly anyone wears them, but when they do, who really bats an eye?

Don't feel weird for wearing one, OP. Seriously. If it makes you feel better, then wear one. I'm all for just doing what you need to do to feel comfortable and at ease. I think the majority of people do not share this poster's view regarding your choice to wear one:

I felt like a bit of a weirdo for wearing one

Good. That’s the way it should be; it is weird.

kowari · 06/08/2021 17:41

Popped into Waitrose after work. I didn't see one other face, I think I was the only one without a mask

campingfever · 06/08/2021 17:42

We are still in the depths of the pandemic and its seems such a massive mistake for everyone to stop wearing masks from a public health perspective. And on a 1-2-1 level a selfish move to be risking infecting individual people we meet by not wearing one. So depressing.

Stuffin · 06/08/2021 17:46

@campingfever

We are still in the depths of the pandemic and its seems such a massive mistake for everyone to stop wearing masks from a public health perspective. And on a 1-2-1 level a selfish move to be risking infecting individual people we meet by not wearing one. So depressing.
Yes I am more than happy to be judged by you as selfish. Still won't wear a mask now it's legal to show my face Grin
UniversalAunt · 06/08/2021 17:47

Oddly, it is younger people here who are wearing masks - walking down the street in the open air. What gives?

Whereas the local M&S & Tesco etc have pensioner posses who tore off their masks many weeks ago.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 06/08/2021 17:48

In My local M&S , no masks on staff but nearly all customers have continued. Tesco all staff wearing very few not.

allthegoodusernameshavegone · 06/08/2021 17:48

Customers not (sorry I bought gin)

RampantIvy · 06/08/2021 17:50

@ProfessorInkling

What was the point in me having two vaccinations if not to get to this point, where I do not need to wear a mask?
Google the Swiss Cheese theory.

The best defence against covid is vaccination and mask wearing and good hygiene and social distancing etc en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_cheese_model#/media/File:SwissCheese_Respiratory_Virus_Interventions-ver3.0.png

VinoEsmeralda · 06/08/2021 17:50

In Oxford yesterday, the majority of teenagers& young adults were wearing masks but not so much the middle age or above....

Loubiemoo · 06/08/2021 17:50

In my local undercover shopping centre people seemed to not wear them whilst wandering around but I’d say at least 70% put one on when entering a shop.

ChilliChoco · 06/08/2021 17:50

Went to Waitrose - I would say 90 % of people wearing one.
Went to Iceland soon after - literally I was the only person as well as till staff wearing one.

Think its crazy not to wear one. Doctors are livid that restrictions are easing. There are a lot of people in hospital struggling with Covid. It is tough there. Just under 30,000 new cases today.

Imnothereforthedrama · 06/08/2021 17:51

It’s not law so if you don’t want to wear one you don’t . The best thing is keep social distance.

LindaEllen · 06/08/2021 17:52

@ShitShop

I went in a shop today where I’d been made to feel like a leper a few weeks ago for not having one on (exempt). Today none of the staff were wearing one - even someone I know to be ECV. Don’t know what they think has changed to have done such a 180 on it!
Erm - the law?
itsgettingwierd · 06/08/2021 17:53

@TiddleTaddleTat

Just stopped at a service station where literally under 10% of people were wearing masks...
I stopped in one last summer when masks were still mandatory and experienced the same!

No SD (there were spots to wait on) and people literally jumping all over the place and getting up close to others - half the people there seemed unable to just stand still 🤣🤦🏼‍♀️

Huge service station on a main route and people from all over country there.

Mask wearing in my area is still quite high. I'd say pretty much what it was when mandatory