Usdaw calls on government to work with retailers to agree face mask advice

Hancock today confirmed that face coverings will be mandatory in England’s shops and supermarkets from 24 July.

He told the Commons: “The death rate of sales and retail assistants is 75% higher amongst men and 60% higher amongst women than in the general population.”

He added: “There is also evidence that face coverings increase confidence in people to shop.”

In response, Usdaw general secretary Paddy Lillis, said: “It is right to make the wearing of face coverings mandatory in shops, but there must now be clear and detailed guidance from the government. We urge them to develop and agree that with Usdaw and retail employers, as we successfully did on joint safety guidance for the reopening of high street shops with the British Retail Consortium. We had hoped to have heard that in today’s Commons statement, but the commitment wasn’t forthcoming.

“It is still not clear who will enforce the wearing of face coverings, with Matt Hancock today saying that shops would be expected to turn customers away. Usdaw expects the guidance to make it clear that shop workers will not be enforcing the wearing of face coverings. They are already dealing with more abuse than normal and this could be another flashpoint.

“We also need assurances that guidance will confirm that the established two-metre social distancing will remain, along with screens at tills, existing hygiene facilities  and limiting the number of shoppers in-store at any one time.”

He added: “Today’s statement leaves many questions unanswered. We also need a public information campaign to explain the correct use of face coverings, who is exempt, and the importance of maintaining existing social distancing and hygiene measures.”

Meanwhile, Retail NI has urged the Northern Ireland Executive to clarify if there are plans to make face masks mandatory in Northern Ireland.

Retail NI chief executive, Glyn Roberts, said: “With England and Scotland making it mandatory to wear face masks in shops, we need the Executive to clarify if it plans to do the same. Retailers in Northern Ireland have always had the safety of their staff and customers as their top priority and will always follow the science to ensure they play their role in avoiding a second wave.

“Should the Executive introduce the compulsory wearing of face masks, then retailers and their staff should not be enforcing nor policing such rules. We have already had incidents of shop staff trying to police social distancing being abused by a small minority of customers. If it is introduced in Northern Ireland, like England, the police should enforce the regulations.”