Facing up to the new normal

Traders say customers have been showing responsibility about wearing masks as new laws on face coverings come into effect

Traders in Meath are confident their customers will comply with new regulations, which make the wearing of masks compulsory in shops.

Businesses across the county have experienced high compliance already over the past two weeks and aren't expecting many problems this week as it becomes compulsary by law.

Jack Kiernan in Navan's Trimgate Street said that people have been very good about wearing their masks.

“People have been brilliant about wearing masks, particularly over the past ten days,” he said.

“I often see them putting on the mask outside the shop before they come in. Even the few that haven't been wearing them would realise they had forgotten them.

“The only problem is, I don't always recognise my own customers,” he laughs. “We wear visors so they know who we are.”

Mr Kiernan said the shops has been getting busy again, particularly now that people are back playing football and getting ready for children going back to school.

Jim Bird of Birds Supervalu in Navan said people have been very compliant.

“We have seen a huge increase in people coming in with masks, both young and old. It is now mandatory and we will be reminding people that they have to wear them, for their own protection and ours.

“It is widely known that they are mandatory and we sell them in the shops so there is no excuse.

“It is not something we want to get used to, but out of necessity we have to,” he said.

William Boshell of Pat's Centra in Laytown said that up until last week, about 60 per cent of customers were wearing masks and he noticed that now more and more people are wearing them.

“When they see others with them, they are embarrassed into wearing them or reminded that they have to.

“People are wearing them for their own protection but it is five months too late, and we still have an open door at the airport.”

He said they have signage up and will be doing their best to implement the regulations.

William Maguire of Hugh Maguire Butchers in Ashbourne said that for the last two weeks 90 per cent of their customers have been wearing masks.

“It was a smaller number before that, but now people are complying. There has been a big improvement.

“We have signs up to ensure all customers wear them. There may be the odd difficult one, but we will just have to see how it goes,” he said.