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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Ivan Morris Poxton & Ryan Fahey

Tesco customer 'disgusted' by shoppers not wearing masks challenges them herself

A woman "absolutely disgusted" by the sheer number of maskless faces at her local Tesco confronted shoppers herself after staff said it was "not policy" to challenge them.

Sue Davies was doing her shopping at Tesco in St Stephen's Shopping Centre, Hull on Sunday, and was infuriated by people wandering around the aisles without masks on.

She claims staff did not challenge customers and was baffled when a store manager told her it's not their policy to enforce the rule.

Just before the UK Government resorted to plan B measures to stop the virus spread in December, masks were made mandatory in public spaces.

But in November the supermarket revealed it would not be enforcing the mask-wearing mandate.

After her chat with the supervisor, Sue took matters into her own hands and started challenging shoppers, Hull Live reports.

Sue, from Barton upon Humber, said: "Are people in Hull just stupid or are they above the law?

"I was absolutely disgusted whilst in Hull on Sunday a store as large as the Tescos in St Stephen's were not challenging customers that were not wearing face covering.

She claims staff didn't challenge shoppers and allowed them to wander around without masks on (Supplied picture)
Sue said she took it on herself to challenge people for not wearing masks in the store (Supplied picture)

"Over half of the customers and some of the staff were not wearing a face covering. Why was I the only person in the store challenging them?

"It was not just Tescos, people were coming in and out of the other shops in St Stephens without face coverings. Nobody seemed to be challenging them.

"I asked to speak to the store manager of Tescos about not challenging customers to be informed by her that it was not the company's policy to challenge those customers that were not wearing masks.

"The government has made the wearing of masks mandatory; while I accept that most of the country are becoming COVID weary and just want to get back to normal myself included; but stores should be refusing entry to non mask wearers to show that they care and support those hard pressed staff fighting to deal with those taken ill."

"Recovery from this pandemic will only happen if everyone does their part," added Sue.

Sue Davies was stunned by how many people were walking around maskless at a Tesco in St Stephen's Shopping Centre in Hull on Sunday (Harry Ingham)

Approached by Hull Live for comment, a Tesco spokesman said: "As we have throughout the pandemic, we are continuing to follow Government guidance to ensure the safety of our customers and colleagues.

"From Tuesday, November 30, it was a legal requirement to wear a face covering in our stores unless exempt in line with Government guidance."

Tesco staff are required, in line with government guidance, to wear masks unless exempt for medical or safety reasons.

The chain store operates other measures to reduce risk of transmission.

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