Face Masks In Shops

[smurfchops]

Went into a Kingston on Thames newsagent yesterday, man in front of me didn’t have a mask, lady behind me didn’t have a mask. Guy behind counter had one, as did I, but he didn’t say a word to them. There is a police station across the road, six police sitting in a van outside. Nothing done.

[Mamyalynne]

Most shop workers won't get involved in any possible altercations.

Did you involve the Police?

[zebo]

I bought a paper at a petrol station, the woman behind the counter unmasked, a driver entered to pay for fuel, no mask, it seems to be very confusing for many people.

[scorpiojo]

Scroll to Section 3 here

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own#when-you-do-not-need-to-wear-a-face-covering

[smurfchops]

Not confusing, quite straightforward, just obstinate people refusing to do what they have been told. Mama the man in front had left the shop, by the time I had left the shop gone over to the police, they had listened, smiled, unbelted got out of the van .... the lady would have gone, police aren’t interested anyway.

[Bazile]

So staff in shops /supermarkets are not obliged to wear masks

So why should shoppers wear one ?

[Mamyalynne]

I see, so you discussed it and discovered they did not have a valid reason and they were simply obstinate.

I would simply have kept my purchase brief and got out.

[Mamyalynne]

Don't if you'd rather not Baz.

[CrapAtCryptics]

Its on the principle that a visitor only wears a mask for the duration of their visit whereas it is unreasonable to expect staff to wear masks for up to 12 hours depending on shift. Screens and proper distancing protects the staff.

[Bazile]

Well if the shop assistant has the virus , would you want her/ him to be in close proximity to, and serving you without wearing a mask

[andy-hughes]

No shop assistant is going to get involved in a row with a customer when it's not their shop, and no shop owner is going to turn away business, so the whole thing is a non-starter.

[mushroom25]

// So staff in shops /supermarkets are not obliged to wear masks //

legally, that's correct - and the same applies to the staff of train operators unless they're required to be up close and personal.

the shop can of course have its own rules - after all under H&S legislation, it's the employer who has to decide what's appropriate for their staff.

[pixie374]

I think it is obviously far too little too late and I can't imagine the type of masks most people seem to be wearing will offer any protection at all. I'll wear one wherever I am "supposed to". But it seems a shame for all the shops and businesses that have already been struggling, to put people off using them even further by this point.

[ichkeria]

I agree Pixie. I can’t be doing with all the fuss really. People moaning about having to wear them, people getting worked up because they’ve seen not wearing one and they’ve not been hauled off to the dungeons.
I’ve only seen one person so far (barring staff) not wearing one. And I seem to have spent half my life in shops the last few days.
I’m pretty sure it’s a pointless exercise and possibly even harmful if not done properly. It as I suspected, most people agree with it, a greater number actually do it, and we all bumble along good naturedly as usual :-)

[youngmafbog]

Well my daughter had a really bad experience in Zara today. She is profoundly deaf (from birth) and has to lip read as she cant hear even with aids. The shop assistant refused to remove her mask even when told, instead she just started shouting, which is useless too and just is embarrassing to my daughter. She left without the goods and wont be going back to the high Street.

The whole thing is a farce, too many anomalies and far to late.

Boris and Hancock need to go.

[ichkeria]

That’s disgraceful ymb. And very sad.

And to get back to the original question, I don’t think the point it thus all the same is to give the police an excuse go round nicking people it even telling then off. Or to give shop staff cause to behave rudely. It’s to get most people wearing them: rightly or wrongly.

[dannyk13]

Pixie, the masks are there to protect others from getting the virus , not to protect the wearer.

[Cloverjo]

That’s awful, ymb.
I agree it’s completely ridiculous.

I went to my local shop which I’ve been to almost every day during lockdown (without a mask) until now. I forgot to put my mask on today and they were a bit huffy with me, but didn’t say anything. They’re not going to turn away my business.

[ichkeria]

I’m not sure that distinction is all that clear any more. It all amounts to the same thing in the end anyway

[Mamyalynne]

Charities for the deaf have been pressing for a better understanding on this - either masks with clear windows or at the very least a notepad to write queries on.

[dannyk13]

Ymb, whilst I am sympathetic to the ill treatment of your daughter you can't honestly lay the blame for that on anybody other than the shop assistant., certainly not on Boris or Hancock.