‘Shoppers have to wear masks’ – store bosses
SUPERMARKET chiefs have reiterated that customers must wear a face-mask unless they have a valid medical reason, following separate complaints from shoppers.
Chris Henry, from Crawshawbooth, who has lost a family member to Covid-19, contacted the Free Press with concerns about customers in his local Asda store.
And another reader Jonathan Wild said he was dismayed upon a visit to the Co-op in Waterfoot, and copied us into his complaint to their head office.
After a visit to Asda on January 25, Mr Henry said: “I have had to walk past two people in my local, Rawtenstall branch, blatantly without masks nor it would seem, any consideration.
“As my brother has died of this virus, I am understandably concerned that these actions by selfish members of the public, will only transpire to increase the infection rate in Rossendale.”
The Co-op shopper’s complaint, relating to a visit on January 28, asked why Co-op wasn’t enforcing their face-mask policy.
It read: “At least half of the customers weren’t wearing masks. If that wasn’t bad enough, three maskless women came down the one-way aisle the wrong way - chatting amongst themselves, and pushed into me.”
Mr Wild added: “I must say the staff are excellent, polite and helpful and always wear masks.”
Supermarkets across the country tightened their rules last month in the face of a new spike in cases of coronavirus.
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 for their hard work in incredibly difficult circumstances and we implore customers to treat them with respect and comply with the mandatory requirement to wear a face covering unless they have a medical exemption.
“If a customer has forgotten their face covering, we will continue to offer them one free of charge.
“But should a customer refuse to wear a covering without a valid medical reason and be in any way challenging to our colleagues about doing so - our security colleagues will refuse their entry.”
A Co-op spokesperson said: “Keeping our front line colleagues safe is a priority as they work hard to make it as safe as possible to shop in our stores.
“To help us do that, all shoppers must take responsibility for wearing a face mask when shopping with us, except those with an exemption.
“We’ve increased our in-store messaging to remind customers and government guidance does state that the police can take measures if members of the public don’t comply with this law.
“We’re together.
“So would ask our customers to be kind and considerate to our store team; they’re doing their best to help.” all in this