It is farewell to makeshift masks, like scarves bandanas and pulled-up T-shirts: face-fitting masks are now the norm.
Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford says in general, only a small number of shoppers wear makeshift masks. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern yesterday announced under the red setting, proper masks must be worn at most indoor settings, like food and drink venues, close proximity businesses, events and gatherings, unless people are eating, drinking or exercising.
She said mask up, meant mask up.
"That means no scarves, bandanas, or, as some of us may have seen from time-to-time, t-shirts pulled up over the face," she said.
"This is to ensure that it is a mask designed to cover your nose and mouth properly."
Ardern said overseas evidence showed proper mask use pumped the brakes on Omicron transmission.
All workers who are legally mandated to wear masks now have to don a medical-grade mask.
"For example, a type 2R or level 2 mask or above, while working in public-facing roles. That includes, for instance, the widely available blue medical grade masks that many are already wearing."
We've been hearing a lot about masks this week, fabric, medical and N95. They've all got different layers of permeability.
— Morning Report (@NZMorningReport) January 25, 2022
Here's a quick demonstration of the differences. pic.twitter.com/YaAimXxskl
Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford said in general, only a small number of shoppers wore makeshift masks.
He said the rules did not solve the problem retailers were facing.
"The bigger issue is actually the people who just refuse to wear any kind of face coverings at all," he said.
"I think we've had a really clear message from the government that we do need to wear masks, they need to be proper masks, and it's a really important way that we can help stop the spread of Omicron."
Harford said anyone not wearing a mask would be reminded of the rules and retailers would call police if things turned sour.
While some people have genuine mask exemptions, he said others were just taking the mickey.
"There is a real issue with some of the processes around mask exemptions," he said.
"There's a lot of people out there who just don't like wearing a mask and have kind of asserted, on the base of their own feelings, that they're therefore entitled to a mask exemption.
"That's not the case. Masks are there to keep everyone safe and help stop the spread of Covid.
"It's really important that only people who genuinely have a medical reason not to be wearing one have an exemption."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern giving an update on mask rules on 25 January, 2022. Photo: Pool / Stuff / Robert Kitchin
The government is not recommending the general public wear N95 masks, saying they were expensive and difficult to source.
But on the streets of Wellington, accessibility was top of people's minds.
"I know they really recommend the N95 masks, but we were just looking at the cost of having enough of those to wear them four days on and four days off, and it's a little out of our budget," a student told RNZ.
"That can feel a bit harsh, because then there's kind of a financial block to having the best-quality protection, which doesn't seem very fair."
Another said they backed the government's rules to slow the transmission of Omicron.
"What I don't want is the N95 masks to create a hierarchy of people who are seen to care more or less about Covid-19, based on what they can afford."
Another person told RNZ the government should consider covering some of the cost of high-quality masks.
School students year 4 and up are already required to wear a mask - now they will have to keep them on while on public transport and Ministry of Education-funded transport services.
