Business owners will stick to Stormont guidelines if masks in shops becomes compulsory - but shop workers cannot be responsible for enforcing the rules, a retail group says.
Aodhán Connolly, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium, said staff have already faced abuse from irate customers during lockdown and “we don’t need another reason” for more grief.
He added that retailers “will always be guided by the medical advice” and that the “priority is the safety of staff and customers”.
Mr Connolly said: “If the Executive decides we need to do this, then we need to have common sense like time to allow it to be implemented.
"There has to be flexibility, for example allowing staff who are already working behind perspex screens or working in warehouses not to wear masks. But where retailers will abide by the letter of the law it is not retailers’ job to enforce the rules. We can put up signs and talk to people but we cannot have retail staff in harm’s way and see them facing abuse.”
The reaction came after Infrastructure Minister Nichola Mallon said she supports the wearing of face masks in shops being made compulsory.
The SDLP MLA said there is a “very clear logic and evidence base” for wearing them on buses and trains so the “same logic and rationale” should apply in shops.
The Stormont Executive is keeping the issue of mandatory face coverings “under review”, they said on Tuesday.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock formally announced in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon that anyone failing to comply with the order in shops in England from July 24 could face a fine of up to £100.
In Northern Ireland, there are calls to introduce a similar policy after face coverings became compulsory on public transport in the region last week.
Dr Tom Black, chair of the British Medical Association in Northern Ireland, said he feels confident face coverings will be worn in shops in the region soon.
He told Radio Foyle: “I would be fairly confident that most of us will be wearing face coverings inside where we have difficulty maintaining social distancing and that will happen gradually in the next few weeks.”
Retail NI boss Glyn Roberts has called for clarity from the NI Executive around their view and who would enforce such a rule.
He said: “Should the Executive introduce the compulsory wearing of face masks, then retailers and their staff should not be enforcing nor policing such rules.
“We have already had incidents of shop staff trying to police social distancing being abused by a small minority of customers.
“If it (mandatory face covers) is introduced in Northern Ireland, like England, the police should enforce the regulations.”
A spokesperson for the Executive Office said: “The use of face coverings is now mandatory on public transport, except where an exemption applies. They are also strongly recommended in indoor environments where social distancing may be difficult.
“The Executive keeps the issue of face coverings under continuous review and any changes to the advice will be communicated to the public.”
No additional deaths with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland were announced by the Department of Health on Tuesday, leaving the total number of people who have died at 556.
However, another two positive cases were recorded since Monday, bringing the total confirmed cases in the region to 5,790, according to official figures.
