Most shoppers in Town are happy to wear a face mask

Most shoppers thought that the majority of people inside shops were using face coverings, following last week’s plea by chief minister Deputy Peter Ferbrache to follow the strongly recommended guidance. Supermarkets also reported a turnaround in compliance.

In Market Square, Emma Moyles said she had no problem with wearing a mask.

‘It’s not just about protecting yourself it’s about protecting the community because there are some people who can’t get the vaccination for medical reasons.

‘I understand that some people medically struggle with masks, obviously I’m not saying people have to wear masks, but personally I think it’s a good idea, you can just whack it on for 10 or 15 minutes whilst you’re in a shop, it’s really not that hard.’

Madi Le Flocq had asked her friend for a spare mask because she had forgotten hers.

‘Seeing everybody makes it a really big reminder that actually we should be doing what we can, I’ve got plenty of masks at home so in future I will bring one, especially now that the cases are getting more and more.

Peter Mudge, 88, was wearing his mask in shops and using it as a chin-warmer outside in the street.

‘I don’t mind, I can go along with it, it makes it safer for everybody.’

The Pratt family were all wearing masks and mum Julie thought more people could do their bit.

‘I’m happy to wear a mask, I think they should be worn if they need to be, I think there’s more people without a mask than with.’

One shopper, who asked to remain anonymous, said he was not convinced that masks were necessary.

‘I’m fully vaccinated and I do a lateral flow test every Tuesday, there’s no clarity on whether they work, and also they get smelly and they make my ears stick out.’

But that view was not shared by Armando Salonia who said it was no great burden.

‘I work in healthcare so I’m used to wearing masks, it’s good that there are a lot more people wearing masks today after the announcement by the States.

‘I’m not sure if it needs to be law, that might make people scared and it gives some people something to fight against, when something is encouraged it lowers the temperature I think, so today looks good but we have to see if it continues.’

At Vinyl Vaughan’s in the Commercial Arcade vigilance was uppermost, with big bottles of hand sanitiser at the entrance and stickers on the floor reminding shoppers to give each other a bit of space.

Owner Vaughan Davies said from Monday the shop would be asking all visitors to wear a mask.

‘It’s very difficult, you can’t really make it mandatory because there are people that panic when they’ve got masks on, but we will ask people to wear one and we’ve got spare ones that we can offer them.

‘These numbers are increasing all the time, we as a shop can’t afford another lockdown, it would be detrimental to our business, so we’re abiding by all the guidance and rules and we hope that everyone else is.’