Masks and distancing should remain compulsory in shops, says Usdaw

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw’s general secretary, said: “The Government should not be weakening safety measures in shops at the same time as opening up other venues.

“There is no reason why requirements to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing in busy public areas like shops cannot continue.”

Lillis added that expecting stores to make their own decision on regulations was not as powerful as a Government directive.

He said: “Retailers may be able to attempt to enforce their own face covering policies, but in the absence of a legal requirement, as has already been highlighted by the British Retail Consortium, this is likely to result in further significant increases in abuse, threats and violence towards retail workers.”

Lillis has written to Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng to call for the current regulations to be maintained, and said that shop workers are vulnerable.

He said: “Many retail workers are at a greater risk of catching the virus and brining it home to their families.”