UK retailers unhappy with new compulsory facemask wearing rule

Retailers across the UK have said they disagree with the Government’s decision of having to wear face coverings while working in store at all times.

Store owners told Asian Trader that they felt wearing a face covering during long shifts was not sanitary and uncomfortable.

The latest restrictions were introduced last week across the UK in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus as case numbers continue rise.

Around two million people living in Liverpool, Hartlepool, Merseyside Middlesbrough and Warrington became the latest areas to enter a local lockdown as of yesterday.

Local lockdowns across have also been rising in Wales with two thirds of counties now banned from mixing with other households.

Six areas in England have now been added to the coronavirus watchlist which include Barrow-in-Furness, East and West Cheshire, Chester, Luton, Rotherham and Wakefield.

Several London boroughs are also on the verge of entering local lockdowns are Brent, Redbridge and Havering all recording high case numbers.

Camille Grant, who has been helping run her father’s shop SG Convenience Stores on Nunhead Lane in Peckham for over 30 years said a local lockdown will greatly impact the business.

She said: “Anything is possible we are between Brixton and Dulwich so a highly populated area, we did close for a while during the national lockdown.

“We just to live with the times, at the end of the day the Government gives out the rules.

“My dad is elderly and if there is another crisis he will have not be able to work and I can’t manage all the work here on my own.”

Ms Grant said that despite having a sign reminding shoppers to wear a mask not everyone complies with the recommended measures.

“At the end of the day if customers don’t want to keep their distance or wear a mask that’s their problem. What am I going to do? Everybody has to look after themselves,” she explained.

“If we tell people to stay away because they don’t want to comply with the guidelines then they won’t come to our store.”

At Nisa Store on King’s Road in Brentwood, store owner Musa Atek also shared his thoughts on the new regulations, saying: “I do not agree with it as we keep having to touch money and readjusting our facemasks in between serving customers.

“I don’t find it comfortable or think it’s hygienic at all to keep constantly wearing them for that period of time.

“If there was a local lockdown in the area I don’t think it’ll be as bad as last time. Everything was still available to buy even throughout the panic buying.”

For Tahir Sattar, who has been running Premier Express on Broad on- the-Lane in Bolton for 20 years, also felt compulsory facemask wearing was unhealthy.

“I disagree with it, especially went you work seven to eight hours,” he said. “I don’t think its good for your health either as in you would be breathing in the same air.”

With Bolton being under local lockdown for almost two weeks, panic buying of paper towels and toilet rolls within Mr Sattar’s shop has also returned.

“I have begun rationing again of only two items per customer.” he admitted.

“The last lockdown we had to head to the wholesalers at 2am to make sure we had everything for customers. If you are not in the first ten or so people in the queue, you properly wouldn’t get anything.

“It’s been stressful. We had a local resident who was a customer that passed away last week. You hear of so many deaths but I hadn’t heard of one of anyone I knew until then. It makes you more cautious of everything.”

As of Thursday, 1st October a total of 6,914 people has tested positive while 59 people have died bring the total number of deaths to 42,202.