Police on the Isle of Wight will only intervene as a last resort to enforce the law over wearing face coverings in shops.
Police superintendent for the Isle of Wight, Sarah Jackson, told the Isle of Wight Council Health and Wellbeing Board the police had seen the population largely stick to the regulations but said it would be a joint effort to ensure people wear their masks.
She said:
“We very much need, and expect, retailers to take responsibility for their staff and customers and be really clear about their requirements and manage their own premises.
“We will adopt the same approach as we have to all the regulations which is where if we are asked to we will talk to that person and explain to them why they need to wear a face covering.
“Ultimately, if needs be we will move to enforcement but only as a last resort.”
Health bosses told the board it will be ‘vital’ to wear face coverings and take other precautions to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Members of the board and other officials are trying to spread the message ‘the Island has got it covered’ as a way of asking residents to protect not only themselves, but others as well.
Director of public health for the Island, Simon Bryant, said social distancing really needed to be promoted and people needed to be okay with having the ‘difficult conversation’ about getting people to move away from you if needed. He said:
“It is not about being protected from someone else, it is about you protecting other people.
“Social distancing is the key for us to stay apart. We need to remind people all the time that we need to wear a face covering and not forget.”
Michele Legg, chair of the Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, said the British Medical Association was advising GPs not to write exemption letters for people wearing face masks because of the difficult situation a GP would be put in, legally, if a person were to catch and spread the virus after being given an exemption letter. She said:
“Social distancing, hand washing and face coverings are absolutely vital to keep this virus at bay and informing people it is still out there, in the community.”
Cllr Clare Mosdell, Isle of Wight Council cabinet member for adult social care and public health, said:
“I have seen on social media more of a message from people who don’t want to wear a mask.
“If you are asymptomatic and if you have a face mask on, you are protecting the person next to you because you are not giving it to everyone else.
“I think we will be amazed from tomorrow how many people will wear a face covering.
“It is not a sheep instinct but you want to do what is right for your community and most people don’t want to stand out and be the one who is not wearing one.
“I know I feel happier walking along a busy street with my face covering on — it is a bit like second nature now. You just get out the car and put one on, it is not that hard.”
Dont wear them its not law
You shouldn’t need the law to tell you to be a decent human being.
Decent people do not become politicians, and do nothing but lie! shame there is not a law for that eh?
I am a decent human being i just no this virus aint nothing but a seasonal flu my body strong and my immune system is strong because i have not locked my self up once im a free man so no masks for me and if you were wise you wouldnt either there bad for your health
These references to the ‘regulation’ tends to downplay the issue. Its THE LAW
5 months too late
Well, let’s face it, there are plenty of masks around now, not like previously when they were touted as “useless”, so of course, it’s “enforceable” to wear one.
More like 8 months too late if you consider the initial transmission in Wuhan and where people could have spread it to before lockdown.
Claire Model said …it’s not a sheep instinct …but most people don’t like to stand out by not wearing a mask…. isn’t that a contradiction. So they will wear a mask primarily not because they want to do what is right… but because they don’t want to stand out not looking like a sheep. ???? Very odd.
The plan is working I’m afraid. Second spike about October, then mandatory masks eveyway you go,2nd lockdown about xmas, then miracle vacation (optional) about Feb, mandatory by may,all already for the covid passport in the shape of a chip! So I will see you all again ,with a told you so,in Oct if not before.
Sadly you could well be right in your ‘big bro’ viewpoint. Even Yahoo have banned all comments on their articles now.
We are rapidly having freedom of speech, and views taken, unless it coincides what those who control such ‘wish’ us to believe.
For until now, with massive computers such action by authorities would have been impossible but still desirable, NOW they can control without force, just subtle brainwashing and quashing any decentres views.
No one awake yet ???
I have a condition for not wearing a mask…it is called intelligence !!!
I actually thought for a moment we lived in a free country !
Living in a free country is what we do but we still have laws.if you break them you deserve to be done.
Sheep
How big is your criminal record mr perfect.
Agree Bob. Sheep = followers! And follow they will at whatever the cost!
Well ,,, went to B and Q earlier yes all the customers wearing face masks as ordered by Borris , BUT none of the staff are wearing any facial gear protecting me as probably my eyes are my weakest point unless I wear full head gear as well as mask.
The staff are wandering around the store within kissing distance of each other nothing on them protecting me ,it only takes a cough a sneeze and I could get infected ,
iwill not be shopping at B& Q again until they give me the protection they expect from me .
absolute mockery nd poor responsibility from management and staff there
Shop workers wear them as choice not mandatory I’m afraid but at least if you’re wearing yours it will give you some protection. Having said that if they’re working on the shop floor for 8 hours I wouldn’t want to wear one for that long.
Protection!? Heres your tin hat,now over the top and run at the machine guns! You’re be ok,you have your tin hat for protection! I dont know , should I laugh or cry!
to me its not law if shop works dont use them. Im sure i read somewhere its mandatory to wear a face covering in shops and id say works in shops are in shops and most shops have more than one person working. Bit of a pee take really
muzzels
Went in a shop today with my jumper pulled up over my mouth and nose was told it wasn’t acceptable by the shop keeper. Yet a bit of personalised cloth from EBay with 2 bits of elastic attached to it is.