Medicines counter assistant Shefali rushes into the dispensary and slams a prescription down on the dispensing bench.

“I’m so fed up of all the ridiculous reasons people give for not wearing a face covering,” she complains. “We have been here through all the restrictions and lockdowns, yet so many people don’t bother doing something so simple that will protect us from them and mean we can keep going.”

“I know, I understand your frustrations Shefali, it is really tough working in pharmacy at the moment,” empathises Vicky. “But, you know, there are some specific exemptions, and they aren’t always obvious…”