Primark and Wilko want you to keep wearing masks from Monday

PRIMARK and Wilko are among the retailers urging shoppers to keep wearing masks from Monday.

Wearing a mask will no longer be a law from July 19, but the stores are insisting you continue to for the safety of other shoppers and staff.

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All lockdown restrictions are due to end after the weekend but the new covid policy says the Government “expects and recommends” masks to be worn by workers and customers.

The advice is for situations especially in crowded, enclosed spaces as the work from home order ends in a few days time.

Masks are to remain mandatory in Scotland and Wales though.

In England it won’t be a law anymore so you will have every right not to wear a mask in the public spaces.

But the major stores have come forward with advice to shoppers on acting with the safety of others in mind, and in most cases highly encouraging them to carry on wearing masks.

Brits currently face a fine of up to £6,400 for not wearing a mask in shops, but this legal obligation will be dropped after the weekend.

Social distancing will not be required either, meaning retailers won’t legally have to restrict the number of customers in stores.

It means that we might not have to queue up outside shops anymore and we might see the back of one way systems, but decisions like that are up to the stores themselves.

We reveal what the chains have said so far, ahead of the changes coming into force on Monday.

Primark

Primark hopes customers will continue to follow the recommendations on wearing masks in stores as well as promising to keep up perspex screens and hand sanitisation stations.

A Primark spokesperson said: “We want our customers and colleagues to continue to feel safe in our stores.

“Even though it will no longer be a legal requirement, we hope that people will continue to think of others and wear a face covering if they can.

At the moment the store limits the number of customers allowed in at any one time to allow for social distancing and this is expected to continue after the weekend too.

There’s also clear signage and floor decals to remind you of the current rules but we’re not sure if they will remain beyond Monday.

Wilko

Wilko is very keen for shoppers to continue wearing masks from Monday so everyone in store can stay safe.

A Wilko spokesperson said: “Our customers and team members know we’ve a way to go before we get back to normal.

“Safety remains a top priority and we’ll be continuing with our enhanced measures.

“We’ll be following government guidelines but, in the meantime, we’re recommending face coverings for team members.

“We ask customers show their support by wearing theirs while shopping too.”

You might have heard tannoy announcements in Wilko during your last shop, reminding you to socially distance and wear a mask, as this is how the store is currently enforcing the rules.

There’s also regular cleaning and sanitiser stations dotted around the store too.

It’s not expected the perspex screens at tills will come down after Monday either.

John Lewis

John Lewis has recommended that shoppers wear masks in line with what the government has said.

That means wearing masks and socially distancing won’t be fully enforced but shoppers can chose to do so at their own will.

The retailer said: “The decision over whether to do so or not, when in our shops, will be for each individual to take, based on their own judgement”

At the moment the store sanitises baskets, and routinely cleans touch points to stop the spread of the virus.

Plus hand sanitiser is provided at the entrance and around the shop which customers should be able to continue to use after Monday.

Poundland

Poundland has said it will continue to follow the guidelines that have been issued.

A spokesperson for the retailer said: “We recognise that the rules in England change on Monday to make mask wearing a personal choice and we’ll update our signage to reflect that.

“While it’s a personal choice in England, we understand why many customers and colleagues will want to still wear them.

The store said it screens at checkouts and sanitising stations will stay for now so customers can continue to shop with confidence and colleagues can be supported and protected.

The store currently gives out free masks if customers need one but as the rules change on Monday you might have to purchase the protective coverings yourself if you wish to wear one in store.

B&M

We haven’t heard back from B&M yet on whether the store will enforce the mask wearing rules after the weekend, but we’ll update this story once we know more.

At the moment B&M stores have protective screens at checkouts so these will likely remain from Monday.

Staff have sanitizer, face masks and gloves and will probably be given the choice to continue using the protective measures after the restrictions lift.

Until Monday, you still have to wear a mask in store and there are limits on the number of people allowed in at one time.

You’re also asked to use contactless payments where possible.

All the major supermarkets are encouraging shoppers to continue to wear masks too, and they are insisting on leaving signage up that recommends this.

You’ll also be expected to wear a mask on public transport, especially if it’s a busy service, and table service is recommended to continue in bars and pubs too.

It comes as health agency figures showed two-thirds of adults in the UK are estimated to have received both doses of a Covid-19 vaccine already.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk