Face Masks in shops

At last but too late for some

I'm with you Dancinjay. I have not worn a mask at all yet although I do have one in my handbag. I am very claustrophobic & am dreading the time I have to wear it.
I shop at a large Sainsbury's & everyone is very good about distancing & they let you in on a one out- one in basis so it has not been a problem at all. Everyone seems to be aware of keeping distances between shoppers & I have never felt worried at all.
Interesting that it does not come in until NEXT Friday- seems they are giving themselves time to see if it is popular or not.
Luckily they have self scanning so I do not have to queue & can just walk in & out happily & as there are very few people in the shop at any one time I can shop quite quickly- which is good as I am shopping for neighbours/friends too.
It will be interesting to see how many people DO wear a mask.

There is a correct way of wearing them though, I see so many people wearing them leaving the nose uncovered ... I live in France, this cartoon was in a surgery waiting room - self explanatory I think.

So glad to see some opposing views here! It sisdnt tart well as a debate. I am with dancing jay JenniferEccles and others. I am a fit & healthy almost 70 years old I have been going to Supermarkets since the outbreak with social distancing of course. I have not seen family and friends for months ( family and grandkids all live away). We are now getting back to normal and i hope to see them in the next 2 weeks. Since shops opened i have been to a few small shops and to some large ones. NO MASK! I have studiously washed my hands etc. We went to a restaurant near us this week- wonderful- the staff all wore masks but every now and again pulled them down from the front to talk!! ludicrous cross infection everywhere if you believe what we are told. I want us to get back to a norm as the infection subsides. the fear is madness. Yes i do object to compulsory face masks in shops!!!

I think it's the best thing for everyone . I think that in any enclosed places or busy areas face masks should been worn .

My sister works in a shop and is deaf so she relies on lip reading. I can see why we need to wear masks but there will be many others like her who will find it difficult.

Sorry typo- did'nt start well !!

I'm happy to wear one. However the people of Japan have been wearing face masks for a while now, presumably because of pollution, but it hasn't stopped the country being affected by the virus.

Surely this is the problem mbody one half of the population won't go to the shops if they have to wear a mask and the other half won't go unless everybody is masked. On balance I am happy to wear one but still not feeling any great need to 'shop' .

I agree. The worst thing about this in the early days was the fear, no-one acknowledged anyone else. Luckily here that soon relaxed and we started saying hello again, albeit from a distance. Politeness, smiles, manners make the day a lot better

I have also found that quite a lot of mask wearers especially older men, feel that if they are wearing a mask it’s ok to get up close and even lean over to get things in front of me. They may be wearing a mask but that doesn’t mean they can’t spread it.

Masks only help if you are in a confined space or HAVE to get close I.e. hairdressers, nail bars etc

I don’t think the government are seeing if people will comply, I think they’re giving people time to acquire the masks. People must comply. Not wearing a mask because it erodes your rights is exactly the same as not wearing a seat belt in the car or on a plane because it erodes your rights. Or choosing to smoke right next to someone because it’s your ‘right.’

This sums up very clearly why we're being asked to wear masks. It's to protect others, not ourselves, so the more people that wear them, the safer the environment is for us all.

It is about time. They may not be overly comfortable but if they save a life or stop an infection surely it is worth it.

I read an article yesterday about a 30 yr old in America who went to a 'Covid party'. Apparently one person is tested as positive and has a party as they do not believe it. This particular 30 yr old caught the virus and died. Before he died he said no one believed it was out there. Whether this is fake news or not, if it is true it is very sad.

I will be wearing a mask.

It’s great to see people standing up for their right to spread this lovely virus , Freedom is kinda limited in a hospital bed ... but each to their own in the search for the ultimate freedom ☠️

Better late than never ?.
It's such a small thing to do but every little may just help. I'm just curious about pubs and restaurants.....

I’m glad face masks are going to be compulsory in shops - I don’t understand the delay for it to be enforced! I’ve been shielding for months and after it ends on August 1st it’ll give me some reassurance if and when I feel safe to go to shops that people are wearing them.

Aerica55 when you say there is 'scientific evidence' can you quote which studies you are talking about please? I think results have been a bit inconclusive and we need to know size of study and number of cases before we can judge.

Absolutely agree with the wearing of masks. We are wearing them when ever we leave the house and I have health problems too, asthma. If I ever found out that I had passed the virus onto others I for one would be mortified. Don't forget masks are to help prevent YOU passing on bugs, that is if worn properly and not with nose poking out or around your neck sorry folks it does work that way.

Was the government worried that compulsory wearing of masks would deter shoppers and further delay the boost to the economy? It must be galling for the PM etc that they've finally had to follow Ms Sturgeon in this regard.
I made the old-fashioned washable surgical masks for all the family months ago, in the expectation that this would be introduced. Pipe-cleaner insert to put across the bridge of the nose, ties not elastic more comfortable for wearers of glasses.

I have made myself some fabric masks and given a few away to my family or friends. As soon as the news about face coverings was announced yesterday, i got several texts from friends asking if I would make them some masks - one friends asked me for 12 so that each of her family had three each! Not going to happen! I will make some more but am running out of elastic and nose clips so people will have to provide their own!

I have made myself some fabric masks and given a few away to my family or friends. As soon as the news about face coverings was announced yesterday, i got several texts from friends asking if I would make them some masks - one friends asked me for 12 so that each of her family had three each! Not going to happen! I will make some more but am running out of elastic and nose clips so people will have to provide their own!

Here in Orkney we have had a total incidence of 9 positive results of Covid-19 since records began. However, our population of 22,000 is exceeded several times over by visitors, and especially cruise ship passengers from all over the world, every year. DH and I have been wearing gloves - we sanitise the gloves and baskets on entering each shop - and masks unbidden for weeks now so that it will be second nature when the visitors begin to return. We are gradually learning to reduce the fiddling and adjusting, cope with the steamed up glasses and finding the most efficient way to divest ourselves of gloves and masks safely before entering our home so they go straight in the bin and washing machine (at 60 degrees). We have bought ourselves unusual masks - doves of peace, the strawberry thief, thistles and a colorful leopards' head so far - to make it fun. Our son thought the one with the leopard, which is on white fabric, looked like a posing pouch which gave rise to some hilarity.... I hope I don't catch the virus but neither do I want to infect others. We are not OCD by nature and have always been very relaxed on the housework front but this is a very serious situation, people, and we must do what we can to keep each other safe.

Its face coverings not masks so those who have problems with masks could try a scarf bandit style which leave the chin area free, or wrapma scarf arlund several times.

The Leopard 'posing pouch'...

@Riggie It maybe just me but I wear scarves normally and found I simply forgot to pull them up over my face on entering a shop hence the masks.