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Jul 2021

Last Updated: 16/07/2021

Business

People urged to respect businesses' wishes as face mask order dropped

by Calvin Robinson

| 19 Jul, 2021

As the legal order to wear a face mask inside is dropped, businesses in Harrogate are continuing to encourage customers to wear one. Will you keep wearing a face covering after today?

The requirement to wear a face masks will be lifted along with other restrictions on July 19.

A Harrogate business organisation has urged people to respect the choices of traders as the legal requirement to wear a face mask is dropped.

Businesses across the district have been left to advise customers on whether or not to wear a face covering.

It comes as today has been dubbed "Freedom Day" because the remaining restrictions, including one metre plus rule and reopening of all venues without restrictions on numbers, are lifted.

However, while the legal requirement to wear a face mask has been removed, businesses are still encouraging people to wear one.

Matthew Chapman, manager of Harrogate BID, said some firms were keen to minimise risk of staff having to self-isolate.

He said:

“This is very much a matter of choice for both businesses and customers. Whilst some will immediately discard social distancing and enforced mask wearing, others will take a more cautious approach.

“I know of a number of retail and hospitality businesses will retain the existing measures, as they are concerned about staff having to self-isolate and are keen to minimise this risk.

“We also politely ask that customers respect the wishes of individual businesses, and not to take any frustrations they may have out on staff members.”

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North Bar, on Cheltenham Parade, is among the businesses encouraging customers to wear a face mask. It posted on its Facebook page that staff would be wearing face coverings and asked guests to do the same.

Elsewhere, Neil Mendoza, general manager at The Studley Hotel and Orchid Restaurant, told the Stray Ferret that staff would continue to wear face masks and social distance in the hotel and restaurant.

He added that he took the decision as he was worried about staff having to self isolate:

"I am particularly worried that it [covid] may hit one of my employees, which could affect business.

"For the safety of my team, we have made a decision to continue with wearing face masks from July 19 onwards for our staff and social distancing in our hotel and restaurant until we feel that it's safe, as we are also concerned and aware that some of our guests would still want to feel safe when they come to visit."

Meanwhile, Harrogate Bus Company has recommended that passengers continue to wear face masks on its services.

Alex Hornby, chief executive of the company, said:

“We want everyone to feel comfortable and confident every time they travel with us, and throughout the pandemic we have encouraged everyone to support us in helping to keep each other safe.

"With this in mind, we recommend that our customers continue to wear a face covering when travelling with us, especially at busy times, and just as they may choose to do in other busy places.

“A limited number of people have been legally exempt from wearing a face covering under the existing restrictions, and we ask everyone to remember that this may be why some customers will choose not to do so from Monday.”

Earlier this week, the Rail Delivery Group, the industry body that represents Northern and Transpennine services, said passengers should follow government guidance and wear a face covering if a carriage is busy.

LNER has said it will continue to ask customers to wear face coverings and to reserve a seat on its trains in order to avoid overcrowding.

Will you still be wearing a face mask even though restrictions have been lifted? Let us know at contact@thestrayferret.co.uk.

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People urged to respect businesses' wishes as face mask order dropped

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