Yes, says chief constable
Devon and Cornwall's chief constable says if you don't wear a face mask when shopping when it becomes law on Friday "you could be leaving in the back of a police van."
Shaun Sawyer's made a polite request for people to "respect shopkeepers" by wearing facial coverings. But he's clear that if people refuse, it's much like being drunk or disorderly. Police could be called and, if you don't comply or leave the premises, then arrest will follow.
Some people are baffled about why the covid emergency hasn't been serious enough until now to require masks. Others are eager to comply.
Wearing a cloth mask over the mouth and face is said to reduce the risk of transmitting infection by 85 yo 90 per cent, as one consultant explains in this short report from BBC Spotlight. It also includes the chief constable and shoppers at the Bakery Stores in Winkleigh.
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