See, that to me is clear guidance and ruling from your government/hierarchy.
Over here we have ministers disagreeing with each other and government being ridiculously delayed in any guidance they do offer and several mixed messages from those in power. It screams incompetence when everyone doesn't sing from the same proverbial hymn sheet and just makes a mockery in trying to lead a country.
To me I've seen a lot of fuss over the delayed guidance as opposed to actually wearing a mask (I know, there are some people who refuse to because they're just fucking idiots really and don't like having to make a decision themselves). But I think it's right to question why it's taken til end of July to make it mandatory to wear a mask when the virus hit UK, and badly, way back in March. There is the argument of wanting to protect the NHS and making sure they got PPE as well (but even then government seemed to mess that up with what they ordered from Turkey?!). Having said that, the peak of the virus was in April and heading in to May. There's about a 5-6 week period at the very minimum where it could have been made mandatory to wear face masks/coverings when going out. It just doesn't make sense to have it from 24th July when it could have been enforced earlier. Maybe if it was, it would have made people think twice about going to the shops/public transport unnecessarily before they were able to attain a mask (I appreciate there are mitigating circumstances where people had to go out).
There's been several herds of horses that have bolted before this government shut the stable door. Too much too late!