Mask wearing requirements create atmosphere of fear, warns London business owner

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Lily Waddell27 January 2022

Mask wearing requirements create an “atmosphere of fear”, a London business owner have warned.

Plan B restrictions have been completely lifted in England meaning people are no longer required to wear masks under Covid laws from Thursday.

However, TfL have asked commuters to continue to wear masks on the Tube and on buses while supermarket giants have been encouraging shoppers to keep the coverings.

In the capital, one business owner voiced his concern people would be “fearful” and not travel into the capital while still being told to wear masks.

Hugh Osmond, founder of the Punch Taverns group, told The Telegraph: “Being told to wear masks on Tubes and buses creates a psychological message that people should still be fearful and not go back to work and not travel into the capital.

“It’s a signal for people to be worried, which has a tremendously damaging impact on the economy and specifically the hospitality sector.

“It’s a destructive message which keeps people away from what they would normally do, such as visiting pubs and restaurants, and other activities. That’s not only economically damaging, but also to their mental health and wellbeing.”

In recent days, Sajid Javid divulged he would continue to wear a mask in his local shop because it is a “small and enclosed” space.

“Will I be wearing a face mask? Yeah, I think I probably would be in a week’s time,” he told BBC Breakfast.

“Because prevalence is still high and there will be people there, especially if I am going to my local shop which is small and enclosed and can have quite a few people in there at one time in quite a small space, I don’t know most of those people, I think that would be sensible.

“I think it will be sensible on the tube in London, for example – quite an enclosed space. People will be asked to make their own personal judgment just as we do in fighting flu.”

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