Mask compliance in UK vs abroad

[FabricedeSauveterre]

I’m in Italy at the moment and am struck by the difference in mask compliance. In the UK it seems like there are a lot of sunflower lanyards and non mask wearers, even before the relaxation of the rules which might have made us all lax. In Italy I have noticed precisely zero adults without masks. It seems totally socially unacceptable and is strictly enforced. Only very small children without masks on and the occasional rebel pops their nose out.

If you are in a different country what have you noticed about mask compliance?

I am not criticising or doubting those who say they can’t wear masks and have exceptions btw but am interested why we find that socially acceptable or have legislation for medical exemptions to mask wearing but other countries don’t accept it.

@Bigballer

Maybe because people in the UK are not blindly following the "advice". Seriously you must wear one in shops but not on the dancefloor of a packed night club? Also the virus is so contagious that people sharing a bed don't pass it between them.

I wish people would stop comparing shops with pubs and clubs. Clubbing is voluntary, shopping (to a point) isn't.

Spain was pretty compliant when I was there, had to even wear them when dancing. Ok the holidaymakers had all flown so self selected as willing and able to fly but no exemptions at all at the hotel except very young children (very few school aged kids anyway as during term time). You required a letter from your dr to get an exemption for the plane, only one person out of 150 ish had one and that was ptsd from being raped, she openly told us (brave woman to speak up to strangers)

Here in the west of Ireland there's good compliance - I can't remember seeing anyone in a shop without a mask recently.

Consequently our vaccination rate is really high, 78% of the total population are fully vaccinated

The UK is about 70% fully vaccinated, with virtually no restrictions if not vaccinated, that is a good uptake in comparison to 78% with such harsh consequences

I'm not convinced that forcing a proportion of the population to abstain from normal activities outside the home is particularly marvellous or aspriational.

It doesn't mean that people don't cope with masks in other countries. It means they are ostricised and excluded from society. Is that really for the greater good?

Catalonia, Spain here. Masks in supermarkets and crowded places. Tend to be pulled down in open air. Passports to get in bars and cars Police shout at you as they drive past to get your mask on.

@Betsyboo87

Switzerland here. A country that is notorious for rule following but also very into their rights (and anti vaxx ). However everyone is compliant with mask wearing in shops. I guess there must be some exemption rules but I’ve never seen anyone without a mask when required.

I’m in Germany and it’s a very similar scenario here, despite all the anti-vax and freedom protesters. People wear them everywhere it’s required, I see maybe one unmasked person a week on public transport - and I’m on it for hours each day.

You also get pulled up on the type of mask you wear. If it’s not FFP2 or surgical grade you will be asked to get off the bus or leave the supermarket or other indoors building immediately.

@BogRollBOGOF

I'm not convinced that forcing a proportion of the population to abstain from normal activities outside the home is particularly marvellous or aspriational.

It doesn't mean that people don't cope with masks in other countries. It means they are ostricised and excluded from society. Is that really for the greater good?

I found it pretty aspirational when my DC were at school the whole of last year rather than what was going on here in UK. And normal life resumed after one short sharp lockdown, albeit with a few, not very difficult, restrictions such as masks that people did actually follow. As I said I my first post, I'm not in favour of many uae polices and practices. But on mask wearing and covid stuff they are streets ahead of UK, so credit where it's due rather than the predictable, default mumsnet Dubai bashing.

Some of these places sound like hellholes

Very demographic based ime:
Asda - very few masks worn
M&S/waitrose - 95% compliance (but older demographic)

I'm in Ireland and people always wear masks in shops. It's very rare to see anyone without one.

I don't like the way a lot of things are done in the UAE but they certainly have compliance for the greater good handled better than us. I felt much safer there covid wise than I do in UK. avoided covid for 1.5 years there but caught it once back in UK

I've been in England for 1.5 years and not had covid, your experience tells us no more than mine.

I was in Portugal in summer and compliance was pretty much 100%. Even little kids wore them.

Because mask wearing has been rubbishly enforced and too many people are claiming exemptions for selfish reasons and because of their rights nobody has the right to challenge them. It's amazing the number of people who seem to have acquired a condition that prevents them wearing a mask here. The Asian countries definitely have a better balance between rights and social responsibility.

Mask wearing around here has never been anything like universal. Nobody is afraid of consequences if they refuse to wear one, because almost certainly there won’t be any. How often is anyone even challenged? And even if they are, anyone can say they’re exempt - no proof of that has ever been required.

Even at the height of the first lockdown I’ve often seen say 2 or 3 perfectly healthy looking late teens/20s entering a shop maskless , with that look on their faces just daring - or positively wanting - someone to say something, so they can tell them to fuck off. A case of ‘Go on, make my day!’

It’s surely a fact that in some countries where people do very strictly obey the rules, people are a lot more wary of the police. I forget which country it was, but I saw footage of a policeman in an underground station whacking with a baton anyone who wasn’t wearing one. Needless to say, anyone who wasn’t, hastily put one on.

Pretty much full compliance in my part of rural Ireland. Also compulsory in schools Inc primary. No sunflower lanyards or the like.

I've been in England for 1.5 years and not had covid, your experience tells us no more than mine.

True. It's anecdotal like most things on here. However I worked in a secondary school for 1.5 years there - close contact with around 300 kids a week. Went out lots, in masks. No covid. Here I wfh - close contact with only my own household most weeks... covid within a couple of months.

I live in Italy and I can confirm that at least where I am, everyone wears a mask. I often get the bus to work and I would hate to be on a bus with people not wearing a mask. We also have to wear masks outside in the centre of town now which is a pain but understandable as the streets, Christmas markets etc are busy. The only person I know who doesn't wear a mask is my neighbour's daughter who is severely disabled and doesn't have to.

@Wondering1000

Some of these places sound like hellholes

Yes it was utterly hellish - living a normal life, albeit in masks, while the UK couldn't even see their own families or travel outside their own region. I stopped sharing photos with family and friends as I felt so bad for them about what normal, happy time we were having when it had all gone to shit here.

albeit with a few, not very difficult, restrictions such as masks that people did actually follow.

Well stairs aren't very difficult for the fit and healthy, but it doesn't take much imagination to see that such a simple method of going from one elevation to another is rather exclusionary and prevents people from participating in society. In places that don't accommodate disability, those people affected are hidden from society, they don't get magically cured or cease to exist.

Last year my children lost no time in school because of Covid. They only lost time due to political policies. Thankfully having to have life written off for 10 days due to a classmate's minor illness is no longer the policy.

Catalunia here too and like @Sunnysal I've found very few people who either ignore or object to the mask wearing rules. Most people seem pretty happy to wear masks even when it is not strictly required.

I actually cannot remember seeing any lanyards to signify exemption from wearing a mask, although I guess there must be a few people who are exempt.

However, things are tightening up again here. You have to show digital proof of full vaccination to enter bars, restaurants, nightclubs and certain other places too like sports venues. No restrictions on movement but on all public transport you must wear a mask. I think it might get tighter, but the Catalan health services have been doing boosters (and flu shots) for a few weeks already and a lot of my friends and neighbours have been very keen to get theirs done as soon as they were eligible.

Hope everyone in the UK stays safe this Christmas and that you do all get to spend it with loved ones and friends if you want to

HeronLanyon

Dp actually texted me last night whilst watching Real Madrid match to say that it was astonishing that pretty much every single person in the crowd was wearing a mask !“

Pleased to read that, lots of people had become far too complacent.

@BogRollBOGOF

albeit with a few, not very difficult, restrictions such as masks that people did actually follow.

Well stairs aren't very difficult for the fit and healthy, but it doesn't take much imagination to see that such a simple method of going from one elevation to another is rather exclusionary and prevents people from participating in society. In places that don't accommodate disability, those people affected are hidden from society, they don't get magically cured or cease to exist.

Last year my children lost no time in school because of Covid. They only lost time due to political policies. Thankfully having to have life written off for 10 days due to a classmate's minor illness is no longer the policy.

I think you missed the part where I said that people with disabilities are exempt from mask wearing in the uae. It's just that they have to be genuinely and proven as registered having a disability, not just a case of don't fancy wearing a mask so I will pop on a sunflower lanyard.

Well, that'll be because we're "special" in the UK, I mean England.

Oh, so very special.

Or the English variant is. Different from the rest of the world, see. Special.

Don't obey the rules, us. Not brainwashed at all, in any shape or form, by a mainstream media with its own agenda/devotion to our amazing Downing Street "leaders".

All that scientific evidence about them mask thingies, nicely collated and presented? Bit highbrow, them journals.

(And yes, the grammar errors are deliberate. Though oh how I wish mumsnet had an edit button for all the times I don't manage to snaffle my typos from the jaws of the Internet.)

@RumHoney

I was in Spain recently and surprised by how many people were still wearing them while walking outside (which isn't actually required). And those who weren't were often visibly carrying one for when it was needed.

I was in Spain in July and October and almost everyone was wearing them, even outside