Woman thrown out of Sainsbury's for not wearing a mask.

[Viviennemary]

When asked why she wasn't wearing one she told the police they were not allowed to challenge her or ask about her disability. (wrong apparently). She said she'd be taking them to court. Police have criticised ministers for giving conflicting advice. I think it's time this was cleared up. It's far too vague. So seems like people do need some proof of the reasons they can't wear a mask.

[Bitbusyattheminute]

Are we just really unlucky in this country with the number of people who are unable to wear a mask for up to 20 or 30 minutes, or do all counties have similar numbers?

I have cv. It's shit. Dh has it too . I'm worrying about his breathing at the minute cos it's getting a bit worse.
I'm so tired of it all. Just wear a fucking mask.

[DGRossetti]

We have to go shopping because it's already expensive enough being disabled, and can't afford the premium you pay for click and collect or delivery every week. (Although that's irrelevant since we haven't been able to get a slot since April. But that's another story.)

DW has to come with me because I am her carer, and if she has a fall when I am out ....

We both wear masks though.

[CuriousaboutSamphire]

@Peppafrig

No one should have to disclose private medical information to someone untrained in a supermarket.

But the police do have the right to ask...

[user1497207191]

@Bathroom12345

I agree - no mask no entry. Yes, the policy is woolly but there was a women in front of me yesterday in the Co Op without a mask and a sign around her neck saying that she was exempt. Didnt stop her leaning right over to the cashier and I could see spit coming out of her mouth because she was effectively shouting.

Is that OK in anyone's view?

This is my bug-bear too. Those not wearing masks should do their utmost to reduce the risks to those around them. Maintaining social distance would be a start, but many can't even be arsed to do that.

Perhaps we need a different SD rule. How about 2 metres for those wearing masks and 4 metres for those who aren't. Anyone (masked or otherwise) not complying gets thrown out and banned. That's fair and non discriminatory.

Would the mask avoiders prefer that??

[GreenSlide]

@Ihatefish

Yes let’s just shut everyone with a mental health issue who can’t wear a mask in their homes, let’s isolate them from society, let’s tell them they are not fit to mix with normal people. Yes let’s tell rape victims they have blood on their hands, let’s tell people with severe anxiety that they are selfish cunts. In fact why don’t we just reopen mental asylums and lock them up because let’s face it nothing exists now apart from covid.

The world is becoming more and more like the Third Reich. I’m seriously considering building a secret room behind a book case in my house. It’s becoming increasingly clear that mental health issues are not acceptable to the general public, it’s ok to vilify and ostracise people with mental health issues. Maybe consider suicide is far more deadly than most cases of covid. Sticking a sunflower lanyard round someone’s neck is not dissimilar to sticking a yellow star on someone. I bet all the do gooders that think people with mental illnesses should be kept away from the Uber menschen mask wearers never considered that they would turn into those people from the history books.

I couldn't agree more. It has really disappointed me how pathetic people in general have turned out to be in a time of crisis. How selfish and judgemental they are. And they think they're doing a good thing when they question people who can't wear a mask. It's disgusting.

[RedMarauder]

@WiltedDaffs so she is a Covidiot. Seems someone in Sainsburys recognised her from her social media profile.

[FrackOffMrBubbles]

I think if she can't produce proof of why she's exempt then she shouldn't be allowed in

Isn't one of the big problems is that there is no such proof being offered to anyone with an exemption?

What proof do you think people with hidden disabilities and exemptions carry round with them that they could give?

As far as I understand, GP surgeries aren't giving out proof/letters confirming exemption, anyone can buy a sunflower lanyard and simply saying you are exempt because of X isn't really proof of anything. So what proof are you expecting people to provide? Carry round their personal medical file to hand over to any Tom, Dick or Harry that asks to see it?

[SummerBlondey]

If you can't wear a mask, wear a visor. Job done.

[MilkTwoSugarsThanks]

Stop the fucking ableism. Disabled people SHOULD NOT have to stay indoors forever more and many do not have people to help them.

We're all having to stay indoors. We're all isolated from society. We're all having to adjust our thinking and make sacrifices - some big, some small - to protect others. Having a disability shouldn't make you exempt from this.

[MustardMitt]

I saw a tik tok about this last night (don’t judge! ).

Those that are exempt are the ones who are embarrassed to have to explain and just want to be in and out and get their shopping.

You know the ones who aren’t actually exempt as they just want to argue and cause a scene.

[bobbojobbo]

Can we stop with all the screaming about this being disabilist? This woman is not disabled, she is an anti-mask anti-vax twat badger who set the whole thing up for attention.

[peak2021]

A scarf can be a face covering. A snood can be. So can a visor. I understand a face mask may be uncomfortable for some, or bring back bad memories, but there are alternatives.

When in Germany no-one seemed to have any difficulty with a face covering. I have never seen anyone appearing of pensionable age without one.

The only sympathy I can have is if Sainsburys or other supermarkets are only challenging a proportion of those without, especially if men go unchallenged.

[Rooroobear]

I work in a supermarket and so many people say “I’m exempt” even when they’re not because they can’t be bothered to put on a mask and we can’t challenge them! I understand there is conflicting advice and some people are genuine in not being able to wear a mask but it causes a lot of issues for those that are taking the piss. We have now been told to challenge them (we weren’t supposed to last time because of the abuse we received) and the amount of disgusting comments and threats is disgraceful. We wear a mask all day...stop being selfish and put it for for the little time you are in the shop (unless you REALLY are exempt)

[MGMidget]

Why cant people with a genuine reason for not wearing a mask be given some sort of official document from a GP or other relevant official? Yes it is extra work but at the moment GP’s work is mostly not face to face and it would presumablybe a case of getting an admin assistant to compile lists from their database of people with relevant conditions on file. Just like they did with the highly vulnerable/shielding category. Anyone not included in a list and thought they should be could contact GP with details of why and GP decides if it falls into an exempt category. That would stop the piss takers surely? Ni need for any document to explain the medical condition, it just needs to state they are exempt. Otherwise the mask rule is useless and only voluntary!

[Peppafrig]

The police are very much trained and can be trusted with private information.

[GreenSlide]

@bobbojobbo

Can we stop with all the screaming about this being disabilist? This woman is not disabled, she is an anti-mask anti-vax twat badger who set the whole thing up for attention.

Of course it has to be 'screaming' whenever points out disability discrimination.

[JamieLeeCurtains]

@SerendipityJane

It's illegal to ask someone to prove that they're disabled.

Has anyone told the DWP ?

Well, precisely. The hoops disabled people have to jump through to access even the most meagre of disability support from the DWP are astonishing. Ditto the blue badge scheme.

This includes obtaining letters and reports from GPs, specialists, other HCPs and social care sources, and writing up detailed accounts of how and why their disabilities mean that cannot do certain things.

They usually have to pay for GP reports out of their own pockets.

And then came Covid and masks, and somehow people could suddenly self-identify into a certain category, because it suited the Government to not be arsed.

Will those in Government transfer this new-found trust and acceptance to the PIP system, for example? Will they fuck.

I agree that there is an urgent need for clarity.

[SoupDragon]

This is why there needs to be a proper exemption scheme. Then no one would have to give medical details to supermarket staff/whatever as it will have been given to the exemption issuer.

People have to prove they are eligible for X, Y or Z all the time. For most people the reasons will already be documented somewhere.

[ancientgran]

Perhaps we need a different SD rule. How about 2 metres for those wearing masks and 4 metres for those who aren't. Anyone (masked or otherwise) not complying gets thrown out and banned. That's fair and non discriminatory.

Brilliant idea, easy, practical and effective. You should get a prize.

[MrsWindass]

@JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows

I am so fucking sick of this

Little Stasi wannabes picking on women (it's always women) and people backing them up!!

She's right - she has NO obligation to share her information. I thought she behaved brilliantly. She was calm, she knew her rights, and the prick police officers refused to even look at the law she was presenting them (doesn't surprise me as they seem to like to make it up). I hope she does sue them.

The sad thing is there was probably a battered wife or a mugging victim who didn't get an audience with police after their attack because they're too busy implementing 1984 in Sainsbury's. Awful. I'm genuinely terrified with the way the world is going.

And shame on those of you who think this is OK.

Think about what you said - yes there may be that battered wife not getting an audience BECAUSE OF HER and her protest.

[Peppafrig]

Sorry I should had added I wasn’t talking about the police asking someone . I was talking about providing private confidential medical records to a random worker on the door at Sainsburys .

[redsquirrelfan]

A scarf can be a face covering. A snood can be. So can a visor. I understand a face mask may be uncomfortable for some, or bring back bad memories, but there are alternatives Yes it's winter, so a lot of people are wearing scarves anyway.

As for the "click and collect premium" when I did online shopping some slots were cheaper than others, and definitely cheaper than the petrol costs would be.

[LApprentiSorcier]

Someone's medical history should not be up for scrutiny for the sake of not wearing a flimsy piece of fabric that makes very little difference.

But an official proof of exemption wouldn't have to give a medical history. All it would need to do would be to certify that X was exempt from complying with mask legislation.

[bobbojobbo]

Of course it has to be 'screaming' whenever points out disability discrimination

It is when it clearly is not disability discrimination, yes.

[Gwenhwyfar]

"Are we just really unlucky in this country with the number of people who are unable to wear a mask for up to 20 or 30 minutes, or do all counties have similar numbers?"

No, they don't. The whole exemptions thing is just 'not a thing' where I am on the continent. Last time I said this I got angry replies that there must be disabled people where I live who can't wear the mask. Maybe there are, but I've never seen one in the supermarket and it's never spoken about.

Compliance outside (we have to wear them outside as well) is patchy with some people putting them on their chin etc. and some small shops are bad at enforcement, but my local supermarket has a security guard by the door. I've never seen someone without a mask there and I'm pretty sure they just wouldn't be let in.

So yes, there is something strange going on that the UK has so many more people with these disabilities.