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.

@KatherineJaneway

I doubt the manager calls the Police for every person who doesn't wear a mask, so I suspect lot more went on than the short video we see.

I think you're right.

No one should have to 'prove' they're exempt i.e. disclose personal medical information to a stranger.

However, that woman was belligerent and antagonistic, and that's why she got removed. You think the police were called simply because she didn't have a mask on?

The police would never have been involved if she hadn't been flapping around mouthing off like that, and I bet she was worse before the uniforms turned up.

I'm exempt, I can just about manage going in for one item and self checkout at quiet times. Other than that I haven't been anywhere. If however I had to do a proper shop, I'd approach security and just explain I'm exempt and ask what to do, politely, quietly. They may have a system in place to run round and get my few bits or possibly a delivery slot for these situations I don't know about. I have a lanyard but they're worthless these days, but it's the attitude that staff will notice.

Don't fucking go striding in with an air of 'you can't tell me what to do! Ask me why I'm not wearing a mask, go on, I dare ya!' and then cause a scene when asked. If you're causing a scene to the point the police are called, YOU are the problem.

Supermarkets are quite rightly clamping down .Our local med size Tesco has a notice that masks are mandatory and no one is being admitted without one .Also Sainsburys stopped 2 ladies in front of me from shopping together .The rules are for everyones benefit .They are not there for fun!

@JamieLeeCurtains

I wonder if you have a plan for those so disabled by health anxiety over non-mask wearers being allowed into shops, that they are forced to stay at home all the time?

Good question, @Haffiana.

What type of 'health anxiety' prevents someone from wearing a mask? Genuine question.

What about the Covid-anxiety; of other shoppers who are near you?

When masks were first introduced, many very eminent medics said there were very few reasons why anyone would not be able to wear one.
Even people with brittle asthma can, unless they were midst -attack.

I have genuine sympathy for people who genuinely can't wear masks but in reality they will be very few people.

If you health is so bad you cannot wear a mask for 10-15 minutes to do a quick shop, then do your utmost to shop online, collect your shopping outside, or ask local Facebook groups and volunteers to help.

If you are medically unable to wear a mask, it begs the question why venture out anyway into shops.

@bendmeoverbackwards

Good, I hope more supermarkets follow suit. I’m sympathetic to those with genuine reasons but there are far more piss takers/anti mask brigade.

If you can’t wear a mask, avoid the shops. Ask someone to help you.

What I don’t understand is why anyone would feel comfortable shopping without a mask. They may have valid reasons for not wearing one but that doesn’t stop the virus being transmitted does it?

Wow. So people who live alone should starve because, according to you, disabled people shouldn’t be able to go to the shop for food, medicine and toiletries? You can’t discriminate those with hidden disabilities and illnesses. The government website states that you simply need to say that you are medically exempt. You don’t have to disclose your medical history to an stranger.

What about you those with autism or PTSD due to rape? Why should they be subjected to unnecessary distress? Only a few months ago, the government said masks were silly and didn’t do anything.

@bobbojobbo

She was a massive tit and deserved it.

There are lots of tits around, no idea why they cannot pop a mask on or get home delivery

Ps everyone that doesn't wear isn't disabled or unable to wear

Perhaps the prescription system could be set up so that GPs can issue a prescription for a drug called "this person is exempt from wearing a face covering".

It perhaps wouldn't solve it for everyone (and could be impossible to implement!) but something really should be done to stop people taking the piss.

I don’t understand why it’s against the law to ask for proof of being exempt for a face mask yet it’s law to hold a blue badge to park in a disabled space.

It’s being abused and the people that genuinely can’t wear a mask are being hurt by it. There has to be something better in place to protect those people.

I can wear a mask and I've been avoiding the shops. I haven't been in one since before Christmas due to the variant and an estimated 1 in 15 people in London having Covid.
I have no problem getting a £1 weekly slot with Sainsbury's. Why can't people who won't or can't wear a mask avoid the shops too?
Genuinely asking, not being goady. Everything can be purchased online these days for fast delivery, from nappies to fresh milk to veg boxes. Anyone isolating at short notice, or on a budget, can get a same day £10 Morrison's essentials box I believe.

Aren't these stunts and conformations by people in shops really a protest against he erosion of civil liberties? In which case, they shouldn't hide behind a fake disability.
People with disabilities, or psychological reasons for not wearing one can shop online too.
I'm not convinced that masks make a huge difference, but they help people feel less anxious in public.

@JinglingHellsBells

Regardless of Covid, shops are private premises. They can refuse anyone entry for any reason. This has always been the case.

If they want to have a no mask/ no entry ' policy, they can.

Correct.

Shops are only in breach of the law if they provide reasons for refusing admission which are discriminatory. If they stick rigidly to ‘Right of Admission Reserved’ without further explanation, which is the line that pubs, bars & nightclubs take, the onus is on the person who asserts that they have been discriminated against to prove that in court.

The government website states that you simply need to say that you are medically exempt. You don’t have to disclose your medical history to an stranger.

The problem is that this isn't working because some people are twats and just don't want to wear a mask. I bet they are then crowing about it in anti mask groups (if they exist). A few twats are ruining it for the many ordinary people who are doing their best.

What type of 'health anxiety' prevents someone from wearing a mask? Genuine question.

You have read that incorrectly.

The question was what 'about those so disabled by health anxiety over non-mask wearers being allowed into shops, that they are forced to stay at home all the time'.

I don’t understand why it’s against the law to ask for proof of being exempt for a face mask

It isn't against the law, it's just that there is no official form of proof of mask exemption.

So people who live alone should starve because, according to you, disabled people shouldn’t be able to go to the shop for food, medicine and toiletries?

They'll get priority delivery slots. Like CEV 'shielding' people who have disabilities and medical conditions who can't go out and live alone. Free pharmacy deliveries. Volunteer assistance.

@JinglingHellsBells If you health is so bad you cannot wear a mask for 10-15 minutes to do a quick shop, then do your utmost to shop online

Supermarket trips are rarely 10-15 mins especially if it’s a large shop and there are queues.

If you are medically unable to wear a mask, it begs the question why venture out anyway into shops.

Having a non-visible illness/disability does not automatically make you more vulnerable to covid19. People with autism or those with PTSD from violent rape just want to get their groceries without being hounded and discriminated against. Makes me sad that many people relish in causing disabled people distress.

@SquirtleSquad

There will be far more to this than the snippets on social media and in the daily mail. We haven't seen the events leading up to this very short video clip. Was she abuse to staff, was she rude, was she not adhering to social distancing?

We don't know (yet) but i would think it's similar to the "poor old lady sitting peacefully on a bench at Bournemouth beach being arrested and taken away" who was in fact a complete twat who had already been served a removal order by police to go home from the town earlier in the day after coming down from 20+ miles away to protest and was being antisocial.

Highly likely. There are some right twats out there (usually the it's just flu and anti vax brigade) who go about their selfish ways and protest loudly but just look pathetic. The protesters outside the hospital the other week a particularly bad example

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

Sorry to burst your smug bubble, but nope, DP can’t wear a visor either - any pressure whatsoever on his face leaves him in agony within a couple of minutes. Visors are pretty much useless anyway.

What type of 'health anxiety' prevents someone from wearing a mask? Genuine question.

It's not that they can't wear a mask, it's that they have anxiety attacks because other people aren't so are effectively housebound.

Slots are not that easy to come by NOT EVERYONE DISABLED IS ENTITLED TO PRIORITY SLOTS

I'm sorry but none of you seem to understand this

[quote JamesMiddletonsMarshmallows]@AwaAnBileYerHeid

WOW

What a thoughtful and compelling response. How intelligent you are

Do you understand the difference between being "anti mask" and "pro disability rights"? Do you understand that many people cannot wear masks for medical reasons? Can you comprehend that or shall I explain it more slowly?

Stop the fucking ableism. Disabled people SHOULD NOT have to stay indoors forever more and many do not have people to help them. [/quote]
You don’t seem to understand the impact of people not wearing masks on the ecv and cv since you are talking of people confined to their houses . The cv and ecv will also include supermarket workers who are not able to shelter at home. It is extremely difficult to go out safely because of this kind of behaviour and in some cases difficult to work safely . We are one of the few countries who have taken this approach and it says a lot about the emphasis on individual rights over responsibilities to our communities.
The parallel has been made with airplane seatbelts. We are not allowed to fly without them and interestingly people manage perfectly well with constraints when the benefit is an individual benefit ( a holiday). Presumably everyone would be happy to use the oxygen mask if needed since they are choosing to fly. I am asthmatic. I am able to wear a mask. My 85 year old aunt who had tuberculosis as a child and has severely limited lung capacity wore a mask on the few occasions she has been able to go out. She stopped going out as a sizeable minority were not wearing masks or keeping their distance.
Since you mention ableism, I find the disregard for the safety of the vulnerable exposes some quite disgusting attitudes. Nobody’s individual rights should ever be given such precedence that other people are put in danger.

@bendmeoverbackwards

But even if you are genuinely exempt, why would you be willing putting others at risk?

Several of my friends are exempt (asthma, autism, anxiety, etc) but still wear masks. It may feel that it somehow underlines your human rights to wear one, but it also undermines the human rights of others if you breathe all over them - you may not know you are infectious if you are asymptomatic.

[quote Dippysauceus]@BareGrylls I think she may have an issue with her court case once that goes out... I wonder if the DM have that link?[/quote]
Took me two minutes to find it.
I came across the Tweet while doom scrolling last night though I hadn't bookmarked it.
I thought it might be the same one so I googled "mask woman sainsburys" . I can't view the daily mail because it doesn't like my ad blocker but the Daily Mirror had a screen shot of the video which clearly shows the Twitter account name.

She doesn’t want to tell Sainsbury’s what her disability is but she’s prepared to go to court and have whatever her non-existent disability is published in the papers. Uh-hub. She’s an anti-masker and being that stupid doesn’t exempt you from anything. And she’d obviously been aggressive and confrontational with staff for it to get to the point of calling the police.

Having a non-visible illness/disability does not automatically make you more vulnerable to covid19. People with autism or those with PTSD from violent rape just want to get their groceries without being hounded and discriminated against. Makes me sad that many people relish in causing disabled people distress.

And yet their inability to wear a mask causes distress to people with disabilities different to theirs.

Who trumps who?

Group A who can't wear a mask or
Group B who need people to wear a mask?