A cyclists goes past a social distancing sign on Commercial road in Bournemouth during the Boxing Day sales. Boxing Day spending is expected to fall by more than a quarter compared with a year ago, after extensive new Covid-19 restrictions forced MANY retailers and hospitality businesses will be encouraging customers to wear a mask when the legal requirement to do so is lifted on Monday. The government has said it “expects and recommends” that masks should still be worn by staff and customers in crowded, enclosed spaces when Covid regulations are lifted. Supermarkets Tesco, Asda, Lidl, Morrison and Waitrose have become the latest big names to say they would still be encouraging mask wearing. Other retailers, including Specsavers and Waterstones, have announced similar policies.