Paula Stratford at card and gifts shop Etc. in Camden Passage: ‘We’ve got to go with the flow’

A CALL to hand people a “personal choice” over whether to carry on wearing face masks has led to a mixed response from shops.

The government announced this week that nearly all coronavirus restrictions would be lifted on July 19 – with the issue of face coverings proving to be one of the most divisive of the remaining rules.

In Upper Street, businesses interviewed by the Tribune had differing opinions about whether customers should keep using them.

Spa Nails owner Tony Tran said the chief concern was getting them back in through the doors, masked or not.

“It’s been dead, we’ve been crying out for help,” he said. “If the government are saying people don’t have to wear masks, then it’s up to customers what they feel comfortable with.”

Paula Stratford, who works at the card and gifts shop Etc. in Camden Passage, said she and her colleague were waiting “to see what everyone else is doing”, adding: “We’ve got to go with the flow.”

But she said they are not too worried about masks becoming optional, as “most customers already use their own common sense”.

Ms Stratford added: “If they can see the shop is busy they wait outside – they’re really respectful.”

She said she would probably only ask a customer to wear a mask if they were “coughing and spluttering”.

Further towards Highbury and Islington station, the staff at Danish fashion store Wild Swans were a little more hesitant.

“I don’t think we will be asking customers to wear them, but in terms of us, we will have our masks on,” said staff member Emma.

“I don’t feel comfortable, if I’m honest.”

The staff, who said they already “get abuse sometimes” for enforcing Covid safety measures, are reluctant to issue strict guidance for customers following the lifting of restrictions later this month.

A few doors down, Sanjay Kumar at Hardware DIY said he is unfazed about going above and beyond the official rules.

“We’re still going to be asking people to wear masks,” he said. “It’s not guaranteed that Covid is going away.”

Polling by YouGov suggests that the majority of people living in the UK agree. Two-thirds of those asked say they are still planning on wearing face coverings on public transport and in crowded indoor spaces even after the big day.