The Cumbrian co-founder of a nationwide campaign for the mandatory wearing of face masks in public, has welcomed the Government’s decision to force shoppers to cover their faces.

From next Friday, anyone in England entering a shop without a face covering could be fined up to £100 after new rules were officially announced by Government ministers yesterday.

Dr Helen Davison, Green Party Carlisle City Councillor, one of the founders of the Masks 4 All UK campaign and a persistent advocate of the importance of face masks in controlling the spread of Covid-19, has said the Government’s decision is a “huge relief”.

However, she feels the decision has come far too late.

“I am hugely relieved that the Government has finally recognised the importance of people wearing masks in public spaces to protect each other, and reduce the risk of transmission of the virus,” she said.

“Bit it is so sad it has taken so long for it to happen, because lives will have been lost as a result of it not happening.”

The Government has advised the use of face masks in shops since May, but until now has stopped short of making it mandatory - although their use was made mandatory on public transport last month.

Dr Davison described the Government’s attitude towards the issue of masks in public as “mixed messaging”.

The rules now introduced by the Government should go further still, she said.

“I would like to see the requirement in offices as well, where people are working in enclosed spaces for extended periods for time.”

While customers in pubs and restaurants cannot be expect to wear masks while eating or drinking, Dr Davison would like to see a requirement that all staff are required to wear face coverings to better guarantee their protection.

Some of Whitehaven’s residents are in agreement with Dr Davison that the change in Government policy has come too late.

One resident, Tracey Hilton, said the adoption of a mandatory mask rule “should have been done when shops first opened”.

Some of Cumbria’s businesses are not entirely certain how successful the mandatory adoption of masks in shops will be in encouraging more businesses.

One of Cumbria’s many shops in which the wearing of masks will soon be compulsory is the independent city centre store Food Glorious Food, on Crosby Street in Carlisle, run by husband and wife team Adam and Dawn Thompson-Howard.

Mr Thompson-Howard said he welcomed any measure that kept people safe and encouraged people to come to the city centre to shop, but said he was not entirely sure the new rule would improve customer confidence across the city, given the level of concern many residents have.