Supermarkets want customers and staff to continue wearing masks after ‘Freedom Day’ on July 19
Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Aldi all want customers to keep wearing masks after July 19 ‘Freedom Day’ as six out of 10 shoppers stay they’ll continue to cover their faces
- Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Waitrose have become the latest retailers to back masks
- Customers and staff will be encouraged to wear face coverings after July 19
- A raft of other safety measures will remain in man shops like social distancing
A raft of supermarkets have announced they will encourage customers and shop workers to continue wearing masks in their supermarkets from July 19.
Tesco, Asda, Aldi and Waitrose have become the latest retailers to say they will encourage customers and shop workers to continue wearing masks in their supermarkets from July 19.
On Wednesday evening, fellow supermarket chain Sainsbury’s said it will encourage all customers to wear a face covering if they can after ‘freedom day’.
It comes after the Government published guidance for businesses which said it ‘expects and recommends’ masks to be worn by workers and customers in crowded, enclosed spaces as the work from home order ends.
Boris Johnson said businesses were ‘perfectly capable’ of understanding new guidance on face coverings and guidelines.
A raft of supermarkets have announced they will encourage customers and shop workers to continue wearing masks in their supermarkets from July 19 after Sainsbury’s announced similar measures on Wednesday (pictured, stock image, Sainsbury’s worker wearing a mask)
It comes after the Government published guidance for businesses which said it ‘expects and recommends’ masks to be worn by workers and customers in crowded, enclosed spaces
‘We are moving away from legal but sadly the pandemic is not over and people must remain cautious,’ he said, speaking at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre in Coventry.
Tesco has said it will also leave a raft of virus curbs, such as distancing measures, in place across its shops.
Last week, the supermarket started an internal review regarding its mask-wearing policies ahead of the latest easing of restrictions.
The firm said it will continue to have capacity limits in its stores, protective screens at checkouts, hand sanitiser stations and regular cleaning after speaking with customers and colleagues.
A Tesco spokesman said: ‘Since the start of the pandemic, we have focused on ensuring everyone can get the food they need in a safe environment.
‘Having listened to our customers and colleagues, we will continue to have safety measures in place in our stores; these include limiting the number of people in store at any time, protective screens at every checkout, hand sanitiser stations and regular cleaning.
‘We’re asking our customers and colleagues to be on the safe side, and so from July 19 we’ll be encouraging our colleagues to wear face coverings whilst they work and encouraging our customers to do the same when they shop with us.’
Asda will have signage and announcements to encourage customers to follow Government guidance and will continue to provide face coverings in shops for people who wish to use them.
The supermarket chains say they will also retain other safety measures, with Asda announcing they will have signage to encourage customers to follow Government guidance
Tesco and Aldi were among the supermarkets who will be encouraging their customers to wear masks even when the rules change
A spokesman said: ‘We encourage customers to be respectful to each other and to follow the Government guidance on face coverings when shopping in our stores after 19 July.’
Staff and customers at Waitrose and John Lewis have also been recommended to continue wearing masks but said it will ultimately be up to individual judgment.
A spokesman for the John Lewis Partnership, the parent company of both brands, said: ‘In line with Government guidance, we will recommend that our customers and partners in England continue to wear a face covering, unless exempt, from July 19.
‘The decision over whether to do so or not, when in our shops, will be for each individual to take, based on their own judgment.
‘Across all of our stores we will be retaining perspex screens and hand sanitising stations.
‘We will also maintain all of the hand hygiene and store cleaning disciplines which have served us well since the start of the pandemic.’
The retail group added that it will continue to follow legislation in Scotland and Wales which requires customers and employees to wear masks, unless exempt.
Sainsbury’s also confirmed earlier this week that measures that will stay in place in stores to help continue keeping everyone safe.
Sainsbury’s chief executive Simon Roberts said: ‘As we respond to the recent change in government guidance, we know that safety is still top of mind for many of our colleagues and customers.
‘Our colleagues’ safety is vital and many of our colleagues would feel more comfortable if those who can wear face coverings continue to wear them.
‘We’ve listened closely to our customers too and they are telling us the same.
‘We’re asking everyone to be considerate and, while we understand wearing a face covering will now be a personal choice, we want to ensure we best support and protect each other in the weeks and months ahead.’
Supermarket Aldi has confirmed its position on masks in its stores, following confirmation from Tesco and Sainsbury’s that they will be asking customers to continue wearing them
An Aldi spokesperson said: ‘From Monday 19th July, we’ll continue to encourage customers and colleagues to wear face coverings when they’re in store. Other measures like hand sanitiser and screens will also stay in place.
‘Face masks are still required for customers and colleagues in our Welsh and Scottish stores, in line with the latest guidance.’
Supermarkets are no the only businesses to insist on the continuation of face coverings.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked TfL to enforce the use of mask wearing on buses and trains as a ‘condition of carriage’, even after legal restrictions have been lifted on July 19.
Unless people are exempt, they will be required to wear a mask on public transport even after the laws change on Freedom Day.
It also comes after Health Secretary Sajid Javid suggested it would be ‘irresponsible’ not to wear masks in crowded places, while cabinet ministers Rishi Sunak and Robert Jenrick previously indicated they are keen to ditch masks as soon as they are no longer mandatory.
