BY LUCAS VOSS
New rules come into force in England today, Friday 24th July, that require you to wear a face covering in shops and supermarkets by law. This is in addition to the rules that already applied to users of public transport since 15th June. The government also suggests wearing a face covering in other confined spaces where social distancing may be difficult.
If you don’t have a mask already, you may be worried how you will shop this weekend with this new rule in place. The government have noted that a face covering does not have to be a mask. It could be a scarf, bandana or home-made covering – they have even provided instructions to make your own! It has been stated by the Cabinet Office that face coverings are ‘largely intended to protect others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth, which are the main confirmed sources of transmission of virus that causes coronavirus infection’.
The protection of others is important as you may be carrying the virus, and unknowingly infect others who then develop COVID-19. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), early data suggested that ‘80% of infections are mild or asymptomatic’. In recent weeks, lower estimates place asymptomatic carriers around 40%. The virus is mostly spread through droplets when speaking, coughing or sneezing. Covering of the mouth and nose can reduce the likelihood of these droplets ending up on a surface that is then touched by someone else. Students are often young and in good health, so may not worry about becoming seriously ill themselves. However, it is possible for anyone including young people to become severely ill even without known pre-existing health conditions.
Shops now have increased responsibility to be prevent this asymptomatic transmission, and will have the right to refuse entry to customers not wearing a face covering. If necessary, police have the power to issue a fine of £100, which will reduce to £50 if paid within 14 days. During your visit to a shop, you may be required to remove a face covering for age verification. You shouldn’t necessarily be alarmed at the sight of a shopper without a face covering, as exemptions include children under 11 years old or reasons regarding a physical or mental illness, impairment, or disability. Further exemptions do also apply.
Since this pandemic occurred, there has been a low uptake of face coverings in the UK, with usage of masks in public places as low as 21% according to a YouGov survey. This is far lower than recent increases in mask usage in other hard-hit nations including Spain at 86%, with Italy close at 85%. Dr Claudia Pagliari, psychologist and eHealth expert for the Usher Institute at the University of Edinburgh, links poor public response to masks with world leaders shunning their use. Pagliari says this conveys messages to the public that “this disease doesn’t pose a serious threat to health” and “I do not think masks are useful”. Whether attitudes change or not, the sight of masks will become more common in public now.
In recent weeks, some universities have already communicated with their students with plans for masks to be worn, including Durham and the University of Birmingham. According to The Tab, ‘an email circulated to students yesterday by the University Executive, proposed reopening operational principles include plans to equip each member of the Durham University community with 2 reusable face-masks’. Similarly, The Tab was also made aware of Birmingham students receiving an email stating “in September the University will be issuing all students with a washable, UoB branded, face covering”.
Whether students at the University of Plymouth will be issued with any face coverings at the start of the new academic year, or be required to wear them anywhere on campus is yet to be known. Unfortunately the SU and President-elect Chukwudi Kosi Ezenyi did not respond to our request for a comment for this article. Currently all university buildings are inaccessible to students, with most now accessible in a very limited capacity to staff and only when absolutely necessary, as part of the re-occupation plan with lockdown slowly easing.