Suburban shoppers mask up at Woolies

Suburban shoppers of all ages donned masks, some for the first time, after Woolworths asked customers and staff to start covering up.

As calls for people to wear masks in supermarkets, churches and on public transport grow louder, a quick trip around one Sydney suburb shows many are already on-board.

People of all ages were masked up in Marrickville, just outside the Sydney CBD, on Monday, with many donning colourful designs made by friends or housemates and even more using bulk-bought surgical mask.

Inside the Metro Woolworths, about half the customers were wearing masks, some seen putting theirs on just before they went inside, and almost all staff members had one on.

Students Isla and Cailyn headed out for lunch in their handmade masks and said they had started wearing the coverings nearly everywhere they went.

“I think it’s been made very, very clear that the health advice we should be following right now is to wear masks,” Isla said.

“Especially in places like supermarkets where you can’t always socially distance – you bump into people in aisles, people are talking … it just feels like an extra precaution we should take.”

Cailyn sewed the masks for her and Isla, and the pair feel it’s not only safer for them but also safer for the people around them.

“I am pretty much wearing it everywhere I’m out, and there’s a lot of people,” Isla said, adding she believes masks should be made mandatory.

“It’s a small act, really.”

Shoppers at Marrickville Metro Woolworths in Sydney's Inner West donned face masks after the supermarket ‘strongly encouraged’ customers and staff to cover up. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Hannah Moore

The masks were not without a downside though. Isla joked she’d never been more aware of her own breath, while new mask wearer Dani learned the perils of sneezing during a quick trip to Woolworths with her partner Richard.

“It feels so weird – and I just sneezed, and it’s in the mask, and it feels disgusting,” she laughed.

Dani has an auto-immune disease, and she says her mask is a good, proactive step in taking care of herself as the virus continues to spread through communities all over Sydney.

“I think we need to be more aware, be more proactive – I don’t think masks are a bad thing, I think they’re something we’ve got to get used to,” she said.

Dani added she and her partner had made the decision to wear masks out in public because of a new Woolworths policy that “strongly encouraged” mask wearing for customers and staff inside all of its stores, including bottle shops and hotels.

A bonus for the couple was that a friend designed them both a mask, each with an eye-catching fabric.

Uber driver Stanley said he didn’t like the feeling of wearing his mask, but he didn’t have a problem with it if it kept others safe.

He regularly sanitises his car and has a stash of disposable masks when he drives. Stanley said he’d always put one on if a customer approaches wearing a mask.

“If the health authorities think it‘s essential, fine,” he said.

“When I’m by myself I like to breathe.”

Dani and Richard wore their masks for the first time on Monday, noting the new Woolworths policy gave them a push to be more ‘proactive’. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Hannah Moore

Stanley’s wife does most of their grocery shopping, but he said he would gladly wear one to Woolworths if that was what they wanted people to do.

“If I go to Woolworths, I’ll have to wear a mask. You’re encouraged to? I’ll wear it,” he said.

“I think we will all have to wear masks in NSW quite soon, you know.”

Woolworths Group brought in the new policy as of Monday. Masks have been provided for staff members, and customers are strongly encouraged to cover their faces in stores.

The company also owns Dan Murphys, BWS, Big W and ALH Hotels, which includes pubs and restaurants. The policy is not mandatory, and customers will still be allowed to enter stores and venues without a mask.