Calderdale shops have their say on new face mask rule

Shoppers across Calderdale will have to don a face mask as of July 24.
Calderdale shops have their say on the new face mask rule. Photo by Bruce Fitzgerald.Calderdale shops have their say on the new face mask rule. Photo by Bruce Fitzgerald.
Calderdale shops have their say on the new face mask rule. Photo by Bruce Fitzgerald.

Wearing a face mask or covering will become mandatory in all UK shops and supermarkets from tomorrow.

The Government has said that shoppers that refuse to wear a mask face a fine of up to £100.

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Children under 11 and those with certain disabilities will be exempt from wearing a mask when visiting hops.

Aamir Yusuf, 54, is the owner of the Totally Awesome Toy shops, in Halifax, Hebden Bridge and York.

The shops have set up a sanitation station, and are asking customers to use hand sanitiser as they enter the store. Customers can bring their own mask or purchase one for £1.

They have introduced a traffic system inside the stores, so that staff and customers can keep their distance. Staff have also been equipped with face visors.

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“We don’t want the staff to face any confrontation, but we do want to take a proactive approach in order to ensure that all of our customers and staff can stay safe.

“The Government has been sending a lot of mixed messages about what we should or shouldn’t do.

“There’s been a real lack of clarity. Businesses have been left in the dark and some of the guidelines have been very vague.

“The general rule of thumb we’ve been using is going one step further than whatever the Government’s guidelines say. We’d rather be safe than sorry.”

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The team made the most of the lockdown closures, by preparing the new York store for its grand opening.

“I picked up the keys for the new shop on April Fools’ Day, which when paired with the fact the country was in lockdown, was quite unnerving.

“However a silver lining of lockdown for us, meant that we were able to dedicate a lot of time making sure the new shop was totally ship shape for when we were allowed to open our doors.”

Ross Denby, co-owner of the eco-friendly shop Just Gaia at the town’s Piece Hall, believes that the new rule is a positive but overdue change.

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“It’s a positive step to managing the Coronavirus situation, one that is very late in the day from our government, sadly.

“Had it been done at the start of the lockdown while we went to the few shops that were open, I think people would have adapted to it quickly. I can understand how people feel about it given it’s so late in the day now.

“But, people have been taking responsibility themselves to wear masks already and being incredibly mindful of social distancing rules since we have opened.

“If wearing a mask keeps vulnerable people safe and keeps The Piece Hall and Halifax town centre open, we should all embrace it as the right thing to do for everyone.”

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The shop opened in October 2019, and has already faced its fair share of ups and downs due to lockdown closures .

“Everything was turned upside down really! But we pulled together and got ourselves organised quickly to do what we could to keep going.”

Have your say. What do you think about the Government’s new face mask rule? Send your thoughts and photos to [email protected].