The coronavirus crisis rumbles on, with Britons changing how they live their daily lives in order to adapt. Supermarkets, where Britons buy essential goods, were among the first to adapt. Do you have to wear a face masks to the supermarket?
Tesco
Currently wearing masks in Tesco is not compulsory for staff or customers.
The store is providing them to staff who wish to wear them.
Tesco is still limiting the number of face coverings that can be bought in store or ordered online to three.
Sainsbury’s
A spokesman explained: “Masks are available for all our colleagues who wish to use them while they work or travel to their place of work.”
However, wearing masks is not mandatory.
Asda
Customers and workers at Asda have the option to wear face masks if they choose.
A spokesman said: “We are complying with all Government guidelines and we welcome customers wearing face masks or not.
“Our colleagues all have the option of wearing face masks which we have supplied and the colleagues in clinical settings (pharmacy and optical) have been required to wear masks since the start of the pandemic as per the government guidelines on clinical workers.”
Morrisons
Morrisons has not made masks compulsory.
Aldi
Aldi gave all staff masks at the beginning of the pandemic.
A statement said: “Aldi will be providing the option of face masks to all its store-based colleagues to further support their safety as they continue to feed the nation.
“This move is in addition to the previously announced provision of gloves and clear screens that are being installed at more than 7,000 checkouts.
“Colleagues can also now access the Governments Covid-19 testing programme for critical workers.”
Some will be asking why masks aren’t compulsory in the UK where in other countries, including Spain, the face coverings are.
Transport minister Grant Shapps gave some insight. He told Sky News why the rule is in place on public transport and not elsewhere.
Mr Shapps said: “The big difference on public transport is that you’re likely to be stuck in a space for a longer period of time.
“Whereas in a supermarket, you might go past somebody quite quickly.
“It is also a factor of the amount of time you spend with somebody – on public transport you could be there for 10, 20 minutes, half an hour, or longer.
“So that actually becomes more important.
“In other settings, in shops, we are recommending people wear it where they might find themselves in any kind of congested area.
“Generally speaking we are asking people to avoid those areas – if you are in a shop you are unlikely to be stood next to somebody for 10 minutes or longer.”
