Are shoppers wearing face masks? Independent traders in Bristol react to new rules

As of Tuesday, November 30, face coverings are once again mandatory in shops and supermarkets among other indoor places.

The restrictions have been imposed by the Government as cases of the new Omicron variant appear in the UK.

With the government guidance around masks changing again, traders in The Arcade in Bristol city centre shared their experience of the first day with the new rules.

Tayler Cox, of vintage clothing store Sobey’s. said people were abiding with the new restrictions.

“The majority of people coming in this morning (November 30) were.” said said.

“A lot of people never stopped.”

She’s double vaccinated along with all her staff and she said she is ‘more than happy to wear a mask and follow the rules’.

Asking if she thought most Bristolians are on board with the new mask regulations, she said: “I’d like to think so. A lot of people don’t want to go back into lockdown so they’re more than happy to oblige by the rules.”

Speaking about other precautions she was taking in her shop, she said: “We have hand sanitizer in the shop. We can [also] limit the amount of people in the shop if need be.”

She added that she was just happy to be trading again and was willing to follow whatever regulations to keep her business open.

Nearby, German Polosin, owner of Horological Underground Watchmaking Atelier, said he was waiting for a new poster to put on his door to let  his customers know that masks are mandatory again.

He wants support reminding shoppers of the new rules.

But Nikita Montuori, of A Taste Of Napoli restaurant, said she was worried.

The rules on compulsory face mask wearing don’t cover pubs or restaurants.

She said: “Alot of people were not wearing [masks] before. After all this time they’ve been without masks they might not want to wear them [again].”

She added: “If people don’t come with a mask we cannot kick them out.”