'Small minority' of people risk spreading Covid by refusing to wear face masks at Milton Keynes shopping centre

While most shoppers are complying, some are genuinely forgetting - while others are simply refusing to cover their mouths and noses, say intu bosses.

General manager Shelley Peppard said: “The vast majority of people are wearing a face covering. Some people genuinely forget to keep it on while on the mall and a very small minority of people don’t believe the rule applies to them.

She added: "It does. Wearing a face covering in the shops, on the mall and in Oak Court is compulsory and the rule is there to protect each person and help stop the spread of Covid-19.”

The #KeepitCoveredMK campaign aims to remind visitors that they must wear a face mask to help stop the spread of the virus while in a shopping centre.

It’s targeted at those who may forget to wear a face covering or may not be wearing it correctly.

“It’s fantastic to see so many people safely returning to the shopping centre and enjoying a spot of retail therapy, but we want to remind everyone to Keep it Covered and protect others,” said Shelley.

From 24 July, it was made mandatory by the government to wear a face covering when inside a shopping centre. While there are exemptions related to age, health or disability, the rule applies to all visitors whilst inside the stores and while on the mall.

intu Milton Keynes is working with local organisations, businesses, charities, celebrities, bloggers and individuals to share a picture of themselves in a face covering on social media, use the hashtag #KeepItCoveredMK and explain, from their perspective, why people need to comply.

Most brands have now re-opened at the centre and each week the number of visitors is increasing, says intu.

The successful Eat Out to Help Out campaign has helped to bring people back to Central Milton Keynes and brands such as Five Guys, Made in Sud, Starbucks and Kokoro have seen a huge demand throughout August.

The recent announcement that Next is to open a beauty, home and women’s fashion lifestyle store in the former Debenhams unit is further welcome news, said Shelley.

From September, intu Milton Keynes will extend its opening hours in a bid to welcome even more visitors.

“It’s great to see life returning back to some degree of normality and we want to keep it going in this positive forward direction. We can only do this if everyone plays their part and keeps washing their hands, maintaining social distancing and keeping their nose and mouth covered,” said Shelley.

To help keep Central Milton Keynes safe for all and to remind everyone to wear a face covering, take a photo of you, your friends, colleagues or family in a face covering and share it on social media with the hashtag #KeepItCoveredMK.