Warning Supermarkets will turn away shoppers not wearing masks
SUPERMARKET shoppers are being told to wear masks – or risk being turned away from stores.
Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Waitrose all said they will start enforcing strict mask rules in their shops.
And Bristol City Council reminded local shoppers to follow the coronavirus rules in stores.
A council spokesperson said: “It has come to our attention that some Bristol residents are not wearing a face covering in supermarkets.
“Remember, unless exempt, this is a mandatory requirement and it must cover your mouth and nose. Please do the most you can do to protect our city.”
An Asda spokesperson said: “We have strongly encouraged customers to wear face coverings in our stores since legislation on wearing a mask in retail spaces was introduced in July.
“In September we introduced 1,000 Covid safety marshals in our stores to work alongside our security colleagues monitoring face coverings, offering free coverings to customers who have forgotten theirs and encouraging adherence to social distancing guidelines.
“We are grateful to our colleagues seen some customers trying to for their hard work in incredibly shop without a mask and shopping difficult circumstances and we in larger family groups.” implore customers to treat them Tesco said it has no plans as of with respect and comply with the yet to introduce a similar rule at its mandatory requirement to wear a stores, although it already has a face covering unless they have a number of measures in place. medical exemption. A spokesperson said: “The safety
“If a customer has forgotten their of our customers and colleagues is face covering, we will continue to our top priority and we already SIX more people across Bristol offer them one free of charge. But have extensive social distancing and its neighbouring areas have should a customer refuse to wear a measures in our stores to ensure died after contracting coronavirus. covering without a valid medical everyone can shop safely with us. The Department of Health also reason, and be in any way chal“We are asking all our customers confirmed yesterday 742 further lenging to our colleagues about Road yesterday, there was no secuto wear a face covering when visitpeople tested positive for the doing so, our security colleagues rity guard at the entrance but a ing our stores and have prominent deadly virus over the past 24 will refuse their entry.” member of staff was asking masksigns in place to inform customers hours in the West of England.
In a statement, the chief execuless shoppers on entry if they were of the rules. Two Covid deaths were tive of Morrisons announced it mask-exempt. “However, there may be some confirmed in Bristol, where 346 would be the first supermarket to A member of Post staff said: customers who are unable to wear positive lab tests were returned. make the change. “People seemed to be behaving a face covering for medical or safety Our city’s Covid rate per
David Potts said: “Those who are and only shopping by themselves reasons and we have asked our col100,000 people has increased to offered a face covering and decline or with one child. I only saw one leagues to respect that and to not 489.2 after 2,267 cases were to wear one won’t be allowed to person without a mask.” challenge them directly.” confirmed in one week. shop at Morrisons unless they are A security guard stood beside Health Secretary Matt Hancock North Somerset recorded four medically exempt. Covid-safety signs at the entrance praised Morrisons’ move. more deaths yesterday, with the
“Our store colleagues are workof the Morrisons on Peterson AveHe said: “That’s the right district’s infections have risen by ing hard to feed you and 117. your famnue, Hartcliffe, when we visited approach, and I want to see all ily, please be kind.” yesterday afternoon. parts of society playing their part in The daily rise in cases for each
Sainsbury’s said it will post Sainsbury’s chief executive this. part of the region is recorded trained security guards at shop Simon Roberts said: “I’ve spent a “Stronger enforcement is necesbelow, with the total figure during entrances. lot of time in our stores reviewing sary, and I’m delighted that the the pandemic in brackets:
The guards will challenge any the latest situation over the last few police are stepping up their Bath and North East Somerset: customers not wearing a mask or days and, on behalf of all my colenforcement. But it isn’t just about +120 (6,045) shopping in groups, following “a leagues, I am asking our customers the Government and the rules we Bristol: +346 (22,579) successful trial” over the weekend. to help us keep everyone safe. set, or the police and the work that North Somerset: +117 (7,254)
When the Post visited the Ashton “The vast majority of customers they do. It’s about how everybody South Gloucestershire: +159 Gate Sainsbury’s on Winterstoke are shopping safely, but I have also behaves.” (10,708)
Those who are offered a face covering and decline to wear one won’t be allowed to shop at Morrisons unless they are medically exempt
David Potts of Morrisons