Why are Sainsbury's (and others) asking for continued mask wearing?

[jowly]

To keep their staff well? ( many don't wear one even now)

To give customers a sense of security?

I'm very willing to wear one if there's a reasonable reason to.. and I get all the theories why we may be wise to. But why are supermarkets going for this request? Why is it in their interest?

Am I missing the obvious?

@TheKeatingFive

Despite the stupidity of those ignorant of science.

If you have any scientifically proven data to show that non-clinical mask wearing has any effect on omicron spread then please share it.

Indeed. One scientist has said wearing a non clinical mask to stop covid is akin to putting a chain link fence around your house to stop flies getting in.

Because covid has not gone away plus they probably don't trust Boris' bullshit.

Me and DH have never stopped wearing our masks and won't be stopping now. I would say the majority of people over about 40 have been wearing them all along where I live. In the supermarkets it has been very unusual to see someone without a mask

To encourage people who do wear were masks and are fearful to continue to shop in their stores. Also to take some of the customers from the shops that do not require it.

Ds works for a train company (he is a driver) the company are struggling because they have so many people off with covid, predominately those who work within the trains, carriage staff etc, apparently trying to provide a decent service for customers is proving to be a logistical nightmare for managers, as well as an expensive one having to pay overtime to "healthy" staff to cover the shifts of those off sick.
My friends son is a bus driver he has caught covtd in each wave, and despairs of the passengers who don't/won't wear masks. His wife has not worked for 18 months, she is suffering with long covid and is in a bad way.
I think people have forgotten just how serious this all can be, what is the problem with just doing one little thing, mask wearing, that just might make a difference when you are somewhere where there are many people in an enclosed space.

@TheKeatingFive

Covid hasn't actually gone away.

And it isn't going to, so the logical conclusion of your point is what? Wear masks forever?

There comes a point where the benefits of wearing masks are outweighed by the disadvantages. Some people are there already. Some won't be for ages. Hence the current situation.

If you want to "follow the science" then yes, you should wear masks forever. (And incidentally you shouldn't do anything that burns fossil fuels, which cause climate change and also separately kill around 8m people a year).

But science is not the only factor here. There's politics, ethics and economics.

Masks do make a difference - we have lots of evidence of this in my work place when we’ve had outbreaks it’s usually when staff have socialised together. Those who have been with them at work but wearing a mask have avoided it.

It's the opposite in my Father's workplace. They're a small team but due to the nature of the job wear full PPE and in December every single person on their team developed Covid over 2 weeks. They don't socialise out of work either.

I plan to still wear a mask in shops anyway, especially in winter, people coughing and sneezing everywhere, I’d rather have a mask on

After the mask mandate was removed last July cases actually FELL.

They don’t work. Loads of covid in Scotland, including schools, where masks required for months and months now.

Crack on if you want to wear one, but don’t adopt the moral high ground

Don't socialise with each other outside of work that should say.

Well, I imagine there'll be a big rise in cases in March and it will be back to wearing them for everyone.

what is the problem with just doing one little thing, mask wearing, that just might make a difference

There are disadvantages to mask wearing, some of which are very impactful for indivuduals. So I don't think we should be promoting them on the basis that they 'just might' make a difference. We need more than that.

Sainsbury's asked people to continue to wear a mask after 'freedom day' last year too - or at least my local store still had a sign outside asking people to wear a face mask. Most didn't bother, no-one was policing it, and they're hardly going to turn people away who are spending money, whether they choose to wear a mask or not. IMO it's to try and encourage the nervous to shop in Sainsbury's rather than one of their competitors.

Maybe they are listening to the WHO and not buffoon Boris? If people are sick, they can't work. If too many employers are sick, the shop has to close. If the shop is closed, customers are inconvenienced (at best), frustrated, left without the ability to get food,etc.

@TameDucksAtChatsworth

Well, I imagine there'll be a big rise in cases in March and it will be back to wearing them for everyone.

But even when they were mandated everyone wasn’t wearing them.

This is what happens when pandemic rules are made and unmade by a lying toddler who patently doesn’t follow them himself… no-one knows who to believe anymore and society takes things into their own hands.

If the PM was a (fairly) respected leader I think most organisations and individuals would show a more united approach. It’s each to their own now.

@2X4B523P

After the mask mandate was removed last July cases actually FELL.

What happened after the summer holidays once people got back to work properly and schools went back….?

The UK is so weird about masks.

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun

The UK is so weird about masks.

Most people have no issues with masks.

It’s a loud minority screaming about it but most people crack on without any fuss.

They’re experiencing MASSIVE staff shortages because their staff keep catching covid from all the customers too selfish to wear a mask for a ten minute shop.

Look, we all know that the only reason Boris Johnson changed the rules about masks in shops was because that day all the headlines were calling for his resignation. He wanted to change the lead story, and he did.

I’m still wearing a mask where I think it is appropriate, as I have done since March 2020, well before the government admitted they were effective.

Do you let Boris Johnson tell you when to put up an umbrlla? Or do you look at the clouds?

@OrangeBlossomsinthesun

The UK is so weird about masks.

What do you mean?

I don’t think any info shows masks do much with omicron but it’s an over hang over previous measures

And it’s easier to help those who do want to wear them as those who don’t just won’t.

Because, forgive the pun, every little helps?!! Covid is not going anywhere sadly 25% of students and 30% of staff currently off at my youngest’s school - similar %s at my elders’ senior school too. It’s not fail safe but whatever % wearing a mask limits transmission by at the moment must be worth it to keep schools & services open. It’s such a small thing, just do it out of social responsibility if nothing else🤷🏼‍♀️

@Stuffin

It's what happened last time and personally I think they are trying to win over everyone.

Those that want the security of a mask think they will enforce it and go but those that don't will find that no one will say anything. It's a win win for them irrespective of how the individual feels masked or not.

This, exactly.

Because of this decision on masks Sainsbury's got a mention in the covid section of the BBC news page, one of the most read areas of a very high traffic site (and elsewhere). It was a positive mention too. That sort of publicity is very valuable. It's purely a marketing tactic.