What: Masks are imposed again in the UK, in spite of many incidents during which customers assaulted retailers asking them to wear masks.

Why it is important: All European retailers are watching the outburst of Covid-19 this winter and expecting to be hit by new measures.

With the expansion of the new Omicron variant, Covid-19 is now pushing the UK government to control entries on the territory, by imposing a self-isolation, as well as the permanent wear of masks in retail spaces. Retailers are faced with the dilemma of being proactive, and facing customers’ anger, or waiting to be forced to impose masks, and facing official backslash.

New variant fears mean compulsory face masks are back for English stores