[Han]cock and bull story
In part justification for an illogical mandate for customers to wear masks in shops and supermarkets, the UK's health secretary is reported to have told Parliament:
There is also evidence that face coverings increase confidence in people to shop.
Matt Hancock, UK Health Secretary
The BBC didn't detail this evidence, or even whether Mr Hancock expanded further. It's not impossible that it's the finding of an in-depth, properly-designed, unbiased population survey; in which case, congratulations, Mr Hancock, your illogic has at least some grounding in reality. Or it could be that it's just the result of him talking to his mum.
Either way, the deciding factor in determining the effectiveness of the mandate, and the future health of high street retail, is the balance of people who feel more confident to shop, and do so as a result of the mandate, compared to those who feel less inclined to do so. Not that Mr Hancock's concerns lie with the health of high street retail per se, but it's something that's commonly trotted out whenever the evils
of online retail are discussed in the news media.
By shopping online, no one needs to wear a mask, or feel threatened by those that don't. I used to worry about the demise of the retail high street in the face of competition from online retailers. But not wearing a mask FTW! (thumbup)