Sainsbury's and Tesco to encourage mask-wearing from Monday

The UK's two largest supermarkets will slotxo continue to ask shoppers to wear masks, even after the legal requirement to do so in England is dropped on Monday.

Sainsbury's and Tesco have joined the bookseller, Waterstones, which has said customers should wear masks to protect staff and other shoppers.

Sainsbury's said signs and tannoy announcements would remind shoppers to cover their faces.

Tesco said it wanted to "be on the safe side".

The chain will also continue to limit the number of shoppers in store at any one time.

The government has said it "expects and recommends" shoppers in England to wear face masks from Monday. But the legal requirement to cover your face in enclosed spaces will end. Different rules apply in the devolved nations.

The new guidance leaves firms to decide their own safety policies after 19 July when Covid rules are lifted.

The decision poses a dilemma for businesses, however, since it is not clear whether encouraging mask-wearing will put off or attract shoppers.

Primark has said it won't have signage requesting customers to wear masks but hopes they will continue to do so. John Timpson, founder of the keycutting and shoe repair chain, said the decision would be left to customers.

Sainsbury's said its strategy reflected feedback from customers and colleagues, with the majority of those surveyed in favour of keeping the mask policy in place.

The chain said some Covid measures, such as screens between self-service checkouts and checkout queues, would be gradually removed. However screens between checkout staff and customers will remain in place.