Quote Originally Posted by ramAnag View Post
Anyway...back on topic...
Anyone else bewildered by our leaders’ latest volte-face?
Overnight it appears they’ve concluded that face masks must be worn in shops...from 24th July!

No problem with the decision...it makes sense...almost as if we’ve looked at the examples of Scotland, Wales, Spain, Germany and others and the ‘penny has dropped’, at last.

But why wait another ten days? If it’s so necessary why not asap...and if it’s a good idea now why were those such as Johnson, Trump and Gove so opposed to the idea when the epidemic was far more virulent than it now appears to be?

It’s just another example of how lamentable the advice and leadership throughout so much of this pandemic has been and begs the question...why, with so many contradictions, should we believe and trust a word they say?

Doubtless Johnson and Williamson will continue to insist that all pupils return to school in September...and I understand how important and desirable this is...but how can people trust that it will be possible to make them all such safe environments for such increased numbers against a background of contradiction where dentists remain closed and theatres and sports stadia are only likely to function at about 30% of capacity?
Yawn.

Consider this, if masks had been recommended/mandated earlier, then that would give lockdown breakers a "pink ticket" to do what they wanted as long as they took a mask with them to sneak on when they say a distant rozzer approaching. Much better to keep the fear factor out there as opposed to making people think wearing a mask was a universal panacea.

Why wait 10 days? I'm not too sure but I expect its related to giving retailers and police time to establish process. How will it be enforced? As usual there will be maybe an 85% natural compliance but what of the remaining 15% who think they are invincible or just don't care. There aren't enough police to do it and I'd question their jurisdiction on private property such as in a shop or a mall. I assume non conpliance is a civil not criminal offence?

And what do the shops do? Refuse admission to non maskers? How do they enforce that? Private security staff? Retail needs the business for recovery, but they are being asked to turn it away? Perhaps shops will be expected to supply masks - a quid each with your quid refundable against a purchase over a tenner perhaps?

It isn't and wasn't as easy a decision as ivory towered anti government-ers suggest, and it sure as hell will be impossible to enforce: but it's probably better on balance to require it.

But then again, why not in offices, although there is a more fixed bubble there?