All you need to know as masks in shops become mandatory

Fi Adams: Just back from the supermarket and everyone was wearing a mask/face covering, even the staff on the shopfloor. It’s not an issue out and about.

Stephen King: Was in a shop this morning. Didn’t wear a mask. Totally forgot. None of the staff were wearing one and about two other people in the shop were.

Tom Crawford: Four months too late. Few, if any, masks have been worn until recently and the virus was almost eradicated. How come? It will be interesting to see if the virus comes back now that everyone is being forced to wear a mask.

Dawny Gillott: Staff dont need to wear one — customers do.

Catherine Mcevoy:it’s only mandatory now because people won’t be responsible. So, in the interests of public safety the Government is exercising the power it has to make mask-wearing mandatory.

Hannah James: Yeah, because Covid wasn’t infectious on Sunday. Maybe it doesn’t like Monday mornings.

Jonathan Roberts: Okay, now I get why they didn’t recommend face coverings at the start, because of fears they could make things worse. I incorrectly assumed people have the common sense to use them correctly. It’s not rocket science.

Colin Greenaway: Did you hear the consultant microbiologist on GMU? “I saw people wearing masks on a bus. When they got off the bus, they took them off.” And what, pray tell, is wrong with that? It’s a transition from an enclosed space, where masks are deemed mandatory, to an open public space, where they’re not required.

Martin Kenny: I’ll just be shopping online.

Fra Mckenny: So, basically, it’s pointless.

Liz Watson: Most small shops will not enforce it.

Jean Buchanan: You know what you can do with your control and fear.

Neil Mcalinden: Not all can wear one... you’re under no obligation to carry one, or to explain you’re exempt.