Face masks and coverings to be compulsory in England's shops

[Gimme More 35,802]

Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England is to become mandatory from 24 July.

Those who fail to comply with the new rules will face a fine of up to £100, the government has announced.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said it would "give people more confidence to shop safely and enhance protections for those who work in shops".

The move will bring England into line with Scotland and other major European nations like Spain, Italy and Germany. 

Since mid-May, members of the public have been advised to wear coverings in enclosed public spaces, where they may encounter people they would not usually meet.

Mask-wearing has been compulsory on public transport in England and at NHS facilities across the UK since 15 June. 

Children under 11 and those with certain disabilities will be exempt.

The list of exemptions has not yet been published, but the rules for face masks on public transport exempt anyone who cannot wear one "because of any physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability", who would experience "severe distress" from doing so, or relies on lip reading, among other reasons.

Mr Hancock told the Commons: "Sadly, sales assistants, cashiers and security guards have suffered disproportionately in this crisis. 

"The death rate of sales and retail assistants is 75% higher amongst men and 60% higher amongst women than in the general population."

He added: "There is also evidence that face coverings increase confidence in people to shop."

The new rule will not apply to retail staff.

It comes as the UK recorded the deaths of a further 138 people who had tested positive for coronavirus.

Source: BBC

[Rio 5,088]

Too little too late. 
should have happened WEEKS ago

better late than never i guess

[TaylorSwift 162,471]

I was surprised that it wasn't compulsory before. 

[SlaeUrAnus 16,111]

About time, but should have been introduced earlier.

I do not understand why it is compulsory to wear in a shop, but not in a pub though 

[RAMROD 117,092]

Here I was thinking it was compulsory all these time

[Linus Gaga 8,499]

22 minutes ago, Rio said:

Too little too late. 
should have happened WEEKS ago

better late than never i guess

still remember back in March, a few of us on GGD talked about we should wear masks , and then we received lots of LMAO and they said it's useless " Stop buying masks" 

[Rio 5,088]

1 minute ago, Linus Gaga said:

still remember back in March, a few of us on GGD talked about we should wear masks , and then we received lots of LMAO and they said it's useless " Stop buying masks" 

Karens.....Karens everywhere, as far as the eye can see!

KARENS ON GGD 

[Luke78619 23,559]

1 hour ago, SlaeUrAnus said:

About time, but should have been introduced earlier.

I do not understand why it is compulsory to wear in a shop, but not in a pub though 

Same, my restaurant is opening on Monday and I’m not excited for it, gonna be right next to people taking their orders, giving them their orders and clearing their tables and dishes  

can everyone please order a takeaway rather than coming in 

[Modern Ecstasy2 2,202]

2 hours ago, Gimme More said:

The new rule will not apply to retail staff.

I don’t get it. Why would retail staff be exempt from this?

[Franch Toast 27,737]

1 hour ago, Linus Gaga said:

still remember back in March, a few of us on GGD talked about we should wear masks , and then we received lots of LMAO and they said it's useless " Stop buying masks" 

Yes, I can remember getting into debates with some users here who said masks are useless.  

I think some of them were worried about healthcare workers having enough PPE, but they could have at least promoted wearing cloth masks. 

[Doot 2]

Should also fine people for wearing them under their nose. Like wtf. 

[SlaeUrAnus 16,111]

13 minutes ago, Luke78619 said:

Same, my restaurant is opening on Monday and I’m not excited for it, gonna be right next to people taking their orders, giving them their orders and clearing their tables and dishes  

can everyone please order a takeaway rather than coming in 

Stay safe! 

[SlaeUrAnus 16,111]

1 minute ago, Doot said:

Should also fine people for wearing them under their nose. Like wtf. 

I'm in a bus station now and the amount of people wearing their masks under their nose is unbelievable.

It's basically natural selection.

[Doot 2]

1 minute ago, SlaeUrAnus said:

I'm in a bus station now and the amount of people wearing their masks under their nose is unbelievable.

It's basically natural selection.

There is a point where you still don't want people to get hurt or die, but they are doing it to themselves. 

All the stupid people, with corona and everything else, simply allowing nature to take its course. 

[Karl 3,575]

9 minutes ago, Modern Ecstasy2 said:

I don’t get it. Why would retail staff be exempt from this?

I don't know about other shops, but in the phone shop I work it, we have massive screens at our desks, and customers have to sit on a chair 2 meters away from that. We are also in there for 8 hours straight, customers maybe 15-20 mins, so for us we are protected and also have the protection for the customer with the screens, doesn't make sense to make us wear a mask as well.