Will everyone wear masks in shops? Maybe not!

Judging by what's happening today, just a week before the wearing of masks become compulsory in shops in the UK, it seems there is still a macho refusal by a large section of the population who will refuse to cowtow to such an edict. And one of the reasons why this is the case is that no one right now is responsible for enforcing it. Security officers at supermarkets never seem to step forward to ask customers not wearing masks if they could be so kind as to wear one, and no one inside shops says, "Hey you, put a mask on". The supermarket I went to this morning was full of people without masks, just wandering around in the way they have done since forever as if there is no such thing as a pandemic in the country and across the planet, killing people. From July 24 the wearing of masks in shops, as well as on public transport, will be compulsory. But guess what, the police have been put in charge of enforcing it and fining people £100 if they fail to wear one. The police? They can't plant constables outside every shop in the land for heaven's sake. And why should they when the obvious solution is for shop owners themselves to have the responsibility and just refuse entry to anyone who is not wearing a mask. It's so simple. Large notices should be outside every shop saying enter ONLY with a mask on. Shops have for months had signs saying "Please only one customer at a time". No problem. Most people see the sense in that. But with masks it's going to be more difficult because there seems to be a basic mentality which is opposed to masks. So if a customer refuses to put a mask on before entering a shop and starts getting agry and pushy, then the shop owner can call the police. But the idea that police officers are going to spend all their time standing around to catch people not wearing masks is ridiculous. A lot of people will realise the stupidity of this government decision - to put the police in charge (thinking to themselves, "Well I had a burglary at my house last week and they didn't bother to turn up") - and will carry on as normal. The only thing that might happen is that right-minded citizens who obey edicts and who see a lot of people walking round the supermarkets without masks might start to get increasingly angry. Then there could be trouble. Boris is already talking with foreboding about a second virus wave in the autumn and has set aside £3 billion to cope with the rush of patients. But even that probably won't change the mentality about wearing masks. Masks have been compulsory on public transport for some weeks. Has that worked? No. Every time I have been on a train or bus there have been a handful of people sitting there on their phones or eating food and no sign of a mask. The poor police are going to be very very busy from July 24.