Usdaw welcomes Scotland’s decision to be stricter on masks than England

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The continuation of compulsory mask-wearing in Scottish shops has been welcomed by retail trade union Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers).

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The Scottish Government’s decision to make masks mandatory in shops contrasts with the position in England, where government guidance is that customers and stores can make their own choice about mask-wearing after 19 July, when general lockdown restrictions are due to ease.

Tracy Gilbert, Usdaw regional secretary for Scotland, said: “It is right that requirements to wear face coverings in Scotland’s shops continue, which is what Usdaw called for.

“We are asking retailers to promote to customers the wearing of face coverings, continuing with hand hygiene and maintaining social distance.”

Gilbert added that because retail workers come into contact with large numbers of people they are “at greater risk of catching the virus and bringing it home”.

Last week Usdaw also asked that masks be made compulsory in shops in England, although so far the only place that masks will still be compulsory is on London Transport, following a decision by London mayor Sadiq Khan.