‘People feel scared about compulsory wearing of masks’
SHOPPERS AND RETAIL STAFF HAVE THEIR SAY
THE return of face mask wearing has divided Hull shoppers, with some grateful to avoid another full lockdown, while others say it will hinder life again.
Face masks will become compulsory to wear again on public transport and shops today due to the Omicron variant making its way into the UK.
Eleven cases have now been detected in the UK.
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson announced the return of masks in an announcement to the nation on Saturday.
In Hull, store owners stayed divided on how effective the restriction would be.
Tim Young, 35, works in a supermarket in the city centre. He believes the mask restriction would have the least affect on the people who need it the most.
He said: “We’ve seen it in previous lockdowns, you see people coming in without wearing a mask even though it is a national requirement and they kick off when you point it out.
“It will happen again, I’m sure. Those who don’t want to wear one will continue to do what they want. They are probably the super spreaders, too. So I don’t think it will help the cases, it will only add more stress for shop staff.”
Shopper, Peter Sykes, 68, agrees it may be hard to convince a select group of people.
He said: “You do get some people who are going to be against it, I am not one of them. We need to bring (the mandate) in. I am hoping it is not going to be a big problem again.”
Mandy Peach, 47, works with the elderly and is required to wear a mask for work almost all day. She said the implementation of masks would make no difference to her for that reason.
“I wear a mask all day and I know a lot of other people still wear masks when going out anyway, so it will not make a big differences to business, I don’t think.”
Previous national lockdowns have majorly impacted several businesses, however, smaller independent family-owned businesses probably faced the biggest brunt of the impact.
Situated in Paragon Arcade, stores Paper Rosie and Nordic
Rosie are owned by the Bean family.
Aisha Bean, 17, at Nordic Rosie said: “It is going to be awful. After the last lockdown, hardly anyone was coming out, we are still trying to get people to come shop.
“When you make it compulsory, it makes people feel scared about what is going on.”
Next door, at Paper Rosie, her sister Shannon Bean, 28, said: “If it is a new variant, wearing a mask is a small price to pay. I’m not sure of the impact it will have on businesses, if people feel safe then they will come, it is a difficult thing to say.
“We have hand sanitisers in store anyway to make people feel safe. If it prevents another lockdown then I am OK with it, but I can see a lot of people not being happy about it.”
Another shop assistant working in the Paragon Arcade, Chloe said: “To me it is just something to put over my face, we just need to do what is required of us right now.
“It is a slight concern what will happen with the business, but most of the customers we have are quite respectful anyway and would pull a mask over their face if they see us wearing one, too.”