Compulsory face coverings in shops

[Steevo]

Anyone else think this latest announcement will be the death of the high street once more?

Seems bizarre to me that they are encouraging people back to work, paying half their restaurant bill, wanting people to support their local pubs, all aimed at persuading people it’s safe to venture out....then they add this on top.

It’ll send more people online once more imo.

I wonder if it will apply to tractor dealers and industrial suppliers.

 

[TechWise]

Doesn't seem to be affecting things too badly here in Scotland. Shops I've been in have been quite busy. If anything, I think wearing a mask makes people feel a bit safer and things seemed a bit more relaxed all round.

 

[curlietailz]

If you have to wear a mask in shops shouldn’t you also have to wear one in ..... pubs restaurants gyms hairdressers etc. Anywhere inside. What’s special about shops

 

[Steevo]

If you have to wear a mask in shops shouldn’t you also have to wear one in ..... pubs restaurants gyms hairdressers etc. Anywhere inside. What’s special about shops

This is the hiccup. The reason for pubs/restaurants is because people can’t eat/drink with one on, and they clearly don’t want to discourage that sector of economy from getting back on its feet. I fear they have just tripped it up however and stalled public confidence.

I’d typically spend 10-15 mins in a shop max.....but several hours in a restaurant or pub. I know which I think poses the greater risk.

 

[Wombat]

Might have to dig out the old airstream

Face masks make my skin itch and I hate them on a good day

 

[TechWise]

This is the hiccup. The reason for pubs/restaurants is because people can’t eat/drink with one on, and they clearly don’t want to discourage that sector of economy from getting back on its feet. I fear they have just tripped it up however and stalled public confidence.

I’d typically spend 10-15 mins in a shop max.....but several hours in a restaurant or pub. I know which I think poses the greater risk.

You're still reducing the overall risk by wearing a mask in the shop though regardless of how long you spend in the restaurant. I've heard a few people insist that if you don't wear a mask all the time you may as well not wear it at all. I say that if you're going to use a grinder and you forget your safety specs, does that mean you should never wear your safety specs again?

 

[Clive]

wearing a mask is no big deal, can’t see it upsetting to many

i think farming / the countryside has got rather out of touch with how the majority in this country are living through this crisis - we have had it very easy indeed compared to most

 

[TechWise]

Might have to dig out the old airstream

We did spot someone in Asda in an airfed welding mask in the early stages of the pandemic.

I think they had the right idea. I find the airfed mask quite refreshing and far more comfortable than a mask with elastic straps digging into my ears.

 

[Steevo]

You're still reducing the overall risk by wearing a mask in the shop though regardless of how long you spend in the restaurant. I've heard a few people insist that if you don't wear a mask all the time you may as well not wear it at all. I say that if you're going to use a grinder and you forget your safety specs, does that mean you should never wear your safety specs again?

I can eliminate the risk by not going to the shop and instead buying online. Hence my point that it risks damaging the struggling high street further.

 

[Clive]

I can eliminate the risk by not going to the shop and instead buying online. Hence my point that it risks damaging the struggling high street further.

high street is dead and buried anyway - this can’t make it worse than it is

 

[TechWise]

wearing a mask is no big deal, can’t see it upsetting to many

i think farming / the countryside has got rather out of touch with how the majority in this country are living through this crisis - we have had it very easy indeed compared to most

Totally agree with you on this one Clive. If I had a pound for every time I'd heard "It's all these people in the town that are spreading it. It's safe out here in the country."

I had one member of staff at a machinery dealer very deliberately come far too close to me while laughing and saying I was the only customer he'd had in who was trying to keep a distance. I for one would welcome some farms and dealers getting fined. We're all in this together.

 

[TechWise]

I can eliminate the risk by not going to the shop and instead buying online. Hence my point that it risks damaging the struggling high street further.

Yes, I agree with you on that. I've always tended to shop online a lot and even more so these past few months. I think for many people though, the mask gives them a sense of security and gets them out and about.

 

[Doing it for the kids]

I would not want to own shops now, not be a good investment pot!

 

[S J H]

Anyone else think this latest announcement will be the death of the high street once more?

Seems bizarre to me that they are encouraging people back to work, paying half their restaurant bill, wanting people to support their local pubs, all aimed at persuading people it’s safe to venture out....then they add this on top.

It’ll send more people online once more imo.

I wonder if it will apply to tractor dealers and industrial suppliers.

I can’t understand why people are happy to wear a mask, then stand in an air conditioned shop.

And why aren’t garages using the night window so people can queue outside if they’re not buying anything else.

 

[Hesston4860s]

I’ve never worn a mask, not in the grain store/cleaning the baler/combine down nothing. They just make my glasses steam up and I can’t see what I’m doing where I’m going.

it would have to have a hole in it anyway or how can I smoke !.

 

[teslacoils]

Ironic, I feel, given a certain level of feeling towards other face coverings in recent times.

 

[Kidds]

Ironic, I feel, given a certain level of feeling towards other face coverings in recent times.

Had thought that myself

 

[Martin Holden]

The high street has been dying for years. Just look at most typical ones these days; littered with coffee shops and cafes. On line is easy and convenient. High street shopping is more about the physical experience these days - just something to do As opposed to a necessity. If I were to set up a retail consumer goods business now it would be on line only

 

[Bloders]

This is the hiccup. The reason for pubs/restaurants is because people can’t eat/drink with one on, and they clearly don’t want to discourage that sector of economy from getting back on its feet. I fear they have just tripped it up however and stalled public confidence.

I’d typically spend 10-15 mins in a shop max.....but several hours in a restaurant or pub. I know which I think poses the greater risk.

I do not disagree with you. BUT
in a shop, people mingle in and around goods (typically) in a random fashion.
In a restaruant, and to some extent pubs with the controls in place, you are in a single, nominated place for the majority of your stay.
This will change the risk and mitigation requirments a little.

I also think that maybe, if wearing a mask gives confidence, then it may encourage people to be out.
Personally, i dont want to wear a mask. so I avoid circumstances where they are erquired. I dont need a new TV, so ill just wait until masks are not needed and then ill go to the shop and buy one if that makes sense.

 

[4course]

I very rarely go to the high street or a shopping outlet park, stopped going to local town centres when they introduced parking charges and fell foul of a couple of private parking cameras so the shops/local council s had already lost my trade .From that side of things wont make much difference .Calling in at the local mini supermarket /shop for provisions or local services is a different thing ,I find it a pain remembering to take a bag with me everywhere I go now looks like a supply of masks /face coverings will be needed. Then there is my own pet theory that wearing a mask if you are in the early stages without symptoms of this virus through your own in and exhalation are increasing the re intake of the viral load which I reckon is part of the reason frontline carers are suffering more even if wearing ppe else why is the natural thing to do when having a cold is to sneeze to get rid of it That doesnt mean you shouldnt wear one for the protection of others you should just means im less likely to get back spending in the local economy