Chichester reacts to wearing a mask in shops - your poll results revealed

Almost 2,000 people responded to the poll on Facebook, which asked people for their views on whether wearing masks in shops should be compulsory or not. Just a few hours later, the government announced it will indeed soon be mandatory to wear face masks in shops. People will have to do so from July 24, or face a £100 fine. Of the 1,900 people who voted in our Facebook poll, 1,100 people (57 per cent) selected ‘yes, face masks should be mandatory’. Meanwhile, 737 people said ‘no, wearing masks should be a choice’. People took to the comments to share their views about the matter. Commenting below, Kathy Simmonds said: “I think that wearing a mask in shops is the only considerate and sensible thing to do. By not wearing one in shops or on public transport, one is sticking two fingers up to all our efforts during lockdown and to our valiant NHS.” And Melissa Hamilton wrote: “If you don’t wear a mask in my salon you’re not coming in! They aren’t nice to wear, but I’m sure neither is Covid-19.” But Imogen Moo took a different view. She said, “I will be doing all my shopping, eating and drinking at home for the foreseeable future if masks become ‘mandatory’ !” The facts about wearing a mask - and myths debunked Wearing a mask in public is considered to lower the risk of the wearer spreading coronavirus. Evidence suggests wearing a face covering does not protect you, so social distancing should still be followed. Though concerns have been spread online about masks causing people to breathe in more CO2, there is no evidence for this. Another claim is that wearing a mask could limit a person’s supply of oxygen. However, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says, “The prolonged use of medical masks when properly worn, does not cause CO2 intoxication nor oxygen deficiency.” The WHO says people should not wear a mask while exercising. People with respiratory problems who may struggle to breathe are also exempt from having to wear one. Face masks will soon be mandatory in shops - here’s when the new rules come in A message from the Editor, Gary Shipton: In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news, I am asking you to please purchase a copy of our newspapers. With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspapers. Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.