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THE Chief Medical Officer has announced no mandatory face masks in shops will be introduced in Wales.

Dr. Frank Atherton says there is ‘no scientific evidence’ for such a policy.

If he sticks to his guns, it will see Wales going its own way on this issue, with masks already in existence in Scotland, and due to be introduced in England on July 24.

This might well also be an operational issue, with the Welsh Government knowing full well that the Police just don’t have the resources in place to properly monitor such a policy.

Indeed, Police Commissioners in England are already warning that they will be unable to police mandatory mask wearing in shops in England.

Which would just further confirm the complete dog’s dinner that Westminster is continuing to make of things right now.

The notion of compulsory mask wearing at this point, three months after the peak death rate from coronavirus (April 10) seems very peculiar.

Especially when we also know by now that the recovery rate for anyone who tests positive for corona virus is 99%.

And for all the talk of ‘wear a mask to protect others’, there are also genuine health concerns about mask wearing, which are not always appreciated.

Such as hypoxia (lack of oxygen intake) and hypercania (more intake of carbon dioxide), and the recycling rather than the exhalation of viruses and bacteria, which can weaken an individual’s immune system and lead to health problems.

There’s also the issue of personal liberties, with many questioning the manipulation agenda at play with mask wearing – the traditional symbol for deceit and control.

Of course, things are still very fluid at present. With Wales opening up to tourism again, it’s not impossible that a further spike of cases might arise here.

Which might then prompt a change of heart from the Chief Medical Officer a few weeks down the line.

But, for the time being, it’s refreshing to see some independent policy making at work.

Showing that Wales doesn’t have to follow Scotland or England in making our own decisions.

The independence vote might have been lost in Y Senedd yesterday, but Wales is fast starting to think of itself in more national terms.