Shops may insist on face masks

CLOTHES shopping may require face masks and changing rooms could be kept shut in efforts to reassure customers and help stop the spread of Covid-19, a professor of infectious diseases has said.

Managing the flow of people and ensuring social distancing rules are adhered to will be the principal problem in clothes shops, according to Stephen Baker from the Department of Medicine at the University of Cambridge.

His comments come after the Government said most nonessential retailers could reopen from June 15.

Scientists have said there is a lack of evidence about how long viruses stay on fabrics, and Prof Baker said the use of hand sanitisers will be a key measure among other possibilities such as face masks, changing rooms remaining closed or cubicles being sprayed with ethanol after every use.

On the issue of face masks, Prof Baker told the PA news agency: “The Government might bring it in, but also then clothes shops... or places with confined areas may actually stipulate that to enter the premises you have to wear a face mask. It might just be a way of reassuring people when they go into shops.”