Masks required: ‘We’re worried people won’t shop with us’

The British government said from Tuesday it would be compulsory for everyone to wear face coverings in shops and public transport in the UK, as a precaution against the new Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

But store owners fear this could seriously affect their business, at a time when violence and verbal abuse against retail and hotel workers is at an all-time high. .

Here’s what everyone in the field has to say.

Katie Pitts, co-owner of Leeds-based fashion boutique The Dressing Room, worries that pandemic frustration could affect consumer spending behavior this Christmas.

“We have a lot of lovely clients that have helped us through a difficult time, but everyone is a little bit disappointed,” she said.

“We’re a non-essential retailer, so if they don’t want to wear a mask, they can’t come in.”

Even though The Dressing Room has a website, 70% of sales still come from going to the store, because customers like to try on clothes before they buy, Ms. Pitt said.

So far, no customer has refused to wear a mask, and Mrs Pitts hopes it stays that way.

“It’s not a discussion we want to have, it’s not our rule, it’s the rule we have to follow,” she said.

Nigel Bourne, owner of Sussex-based cookware retailer Rye Cookshop, told the BBC that face covering rules “never go out in the first place”.

He said he wished the government would “be more aggressive in advertising” how people should wear masks, after some customers wore them the wrong way.

The store owner, based in Rye, East Sussex, said he didn’t have to call the police for people not wearing masks because no one had abused them yet. But he had to ask people to leave his store.

“Controlling it is difficult. We do it for ourselves and for others. I don’t want to work in a store where people don’t wear masks properly.

“If the law says you have to wear it, wear it.”

The Department of Health and Social Affairs (DHSC) told the BBC that guidance on how to enforce face coverings in shops and public transport would be due in due course.

The National Council of Chiefs of Police said the police force would “continue to enforce coronavirus regulations as necessary to do so” and would assist transport and retail workers in ensuring people wear a face covering.

It is unclear whether the punishment for those who refuse to wear a mask without good reason will change. Previously, people faced a £200 fine, then reduced to £100 if paid within 14 days.

The fine doubles for each subsequent offense and can go up to £6,400 for a sixth and subsequent offence.

Assistant Superintendent Constable Owen Weatherill said officers will respond to incidents where “individuals are violent or abusive towards employees or members of the public” and will be more prevalent in towns. and shopping mall.

Follow National Statistics Office, 85% of adults said they had worn a face covering outside the home in the past 7 days, with 70% saying they often or always wear a face covering when shopping.

However, only 18% of shoppers said that everyone or almost everyone they see wears a face covering.

According to consumer expert Kate Hardcastle, business owners are especially worried about abuse, especially when it comes to enforcing social distancing rules.

“Small businesses say they feel threatened – one person told me they feel unable to run their own shop,” she told the BBC.

“They feel they have to have another presence there to support, in case something happens.”

Retailers are concerned about damaging relationships with their customers, at a time when they can’t really afford anything else, Ms. Hardcastle said.

“Not only is it frustrating to deal with, but a lot of store owners are having recruitment issues. It’s not going to get someone into a retail career if they’re facing ongoing abuse,” she said. .

But most of all, Ms Hardcastle said businesses were truly “terrified” of being ordered to close by the government again.

Rebecca Morter, executive director of sustainable fashion boutique Lone Design Club, said she has previously encountered a number of customers unwilling to follow Covid’s rules on masks and social distancing.

She agrees with Ms. Hardcastle that retailers are most concerned about being forced to close again.

“Anything that helps stop the new variant and stops the virus from spreading is a good thing,” she said.

“I understand that some people disagree, but we really, really don’t want to go into another lockdown, so for us it’s important that people follow the rules so that we don’t have to. I can open up.”

Manchester Center shopping center told the BBC it would deploy staff to hand out free face masks and encourage shoppers to wear face coverings unless they get free.

Doug Russell, health and safety officer for the Usdaw store workers union, told the BBC it was “extremely regrettable” that the government did not apply current regulations on face masks when the country opened up. return.

However, workers do not have the power to make customers wear them, he added, and that is unlikely to change at this point.

In fact, Mr. Russell added that the problem of “attracting too much aggression from a small number of people” was a “social barrier”.

He said the new rules would inevitably lead to more “flashes” between store employees and a small group of people who refuse to wear masks.

“Store employees have been at the forefront throughout the pandemic.”