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.

It’s because people who can’t wear masks are being encouraged to isolate or ask for family help for things like shopping etc, not that everyone’s magically wearing masks.

[quote Wondering1000]@morechocolateneededtoday I personally don't see it as a good thing to bully those with genuine needs different to yours? Are you suggesting nobody could have asthma, therefore having a good reason to avoid a mask! Of course not! It's just now those people are suffering and putting themselves at a different sort of risk and discomfort just to avoid being hassled on the street. How progressive[/quote]
I have asthma, wearing a mask is far from comfortable but when working in a hospital throughout the pandemic, I have worn full PPE, FFP3 included for hours at a time.

Your attitude is exactly why we are in the shit we are. Discomfort from mask wearing is far too important so better to label yourself as exempt and not bother. It is not bullying because you don't like something or it is not comfortable. Many of us need to do things that are not comfortable; we do it for the greater good and get on with things.

It was amusing watching 2 men show the authorities at the airport their inhalers in an attempt to avoid wearing a mask. When faced with the option of returning home, the masks appeared from their bags and stayed on for the rest of the week. If wearing a mask was truly that much of an issue, they would have chosen to return to UK where they could be exempt

I'm in Scotland and maybe we just live in a weird area, but I almost never see people without a mask in settings where they should wear one.

Every time I go to the shop, everyone is masked, we went to the theatre recently for a kids show and adults were all masked, adults are all masked at toddler groups, everyone is masked at the hairdresser ... I see posts on here from people in Scotland saying half the people don't wear them any more but that is definitely not the case where we are!

Thats because lots of people in the UK are special and don't want to be sheeple (please note the sarcasm).

I find the excuses trotted out by some (not all) ridiculous to be honest, just wear a damn mask.

@TheAirbender

Oh ffs do people just find any thread they can to bash Dubai? I love the loaded question about “punishment”. The UAE has handled Covid incredibly well, and I am so relieved that we have been here through the pandemic and not the Uk.

Sorry, I offended you. I'm nit bashing Dubai at all. I loved it when I was there. But it was definitely a stricter society than the UK. I was interested in what happened if you ignored the rule. Maybe I should have used the word penalty rather than punishment?

Ireland here and compliance is high. I wouldn’t dream of walking into a shop without a mask on! I tend to just keep mine on when I’m outside too but that’s not compulsory.

Since Omicron most people in my part of Ireland are wearing masks even in the street. Certainly always inside, all the way through.

@museumum

When you say UK do you mean England? I’m in Scotland and notice a big difference the three times I’ve visited England this summer/autumn. Compliance is much higher in all the places in Scotland I’ve been.

I don't think you can compare the two, really. Scotland kept in place rules regarding masks and England lifted them. So both countries were compliant with the rules set. And the mask rules didn't make that much difference in covid numbers, strangely. For example, Wales always had stricter rules over masks and their numbers were the same if not higher than England's. And Scotland were not that much lower.

We are far too soft on mask wearing and I am tired of people saying there needs to be exceptions. By saying that you only need to see how many people see themselves as exceptions when you go out. People in supermarkets, whole families not bothering. Cultural differences seem to make a big difference too.

They should be complusory - no exceptions. Others have spoilt it for the very few who really cannot wear a mask. Some people just dont like them (no one does!).

Yes, I have also been to Dubai many times. Felt far safer both walking around alone and having to wear a mask.

In Spain we have worn masks throughout indoors, on public transport. Anywhere that's not your own house, eating in a restaurant or outdoors basically. We even wore masks outside (mandated) til Summer 2021. Everyone complies.

I'm in Ireland like Rosiiiiie and agree that compliance is very high - and I'm just back from Finland where compliance seemed to be just about total as well, including on the plane for everyone 6 and above.

Is it really that bad to wear a mask round the shops for most people? Even at primary school I'd say about 50% of the kids were wearing masks even before it became compulsory.

@Mouseonmychair

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.

Yup!

Someone else said 'there's no such thing as exemptions in Spain and Italy' - there are, but people take it seriously. There are no made-up conditions or anxieties that prevent them from wearing a mask like you see in the UK.

I’m in the Cayman Islands where we’re in the middle of our first wave (we were Covid free for well over a year) due to borders closing.

Now that the borders are opening up, and Covid is on the rise, we’re all back to masking up and social distancing in all shops/bars/restaurants.
All bar staff are masked, shop workers etc.
Nearly everyone is complying, and those that aren’t wearing one are advising that they’re medically exempt - but they’re generally staying isolated and not frequenting bars/restaurants which would put them at risk.

Of course you’ve got those folk that DGAF, but generally we all adhere to the rules.

Germany here .FFP2 masks are compulsory for everybody everywhere in public , be it in shops , supermarket , public transport .Everyone wears one and don't know anyone that has an exemption or ever seen anybody with a 'lanyard' . It wouldn't be worth it anyway as you would be reminded or refused entry without a mask .2G in shops restaurants and public transport now meaning everyone has to show proof of vaccination or recovery from covid with ID before entering .All running smoothly and I haven't heard anyone complaining today while i was shopping in the City,

To people mentioning that compliance in London was low in recent months, that's because from July until a couple of weeks ago masks were not required except in a small number of places eg, public transport and clinical settings.

I'd say mask wearing here is now at about 90%. I don't believe about 1 in 10 people are exempt, there's still a lot of people not bothering.

@Cyrilgoggin

To people mentioning that compliance in London was low in recent months, that's because from July until a couple of weeks ago masks were not required except in a small number of places eg, public transport and clinical settings.

I'd say mask wearing here is now at about 90%. I don't believe about 1 in 10 people are exempt, there's still a lot of people not bothering.

Really?? Last time I went it was shocking. 50% or less.

Thisplaceisweird when was that? Was mask wearing compulsory at the time? I didn't wear a mask, except on public transport, from July until it became compulsory a couple of weeks ago. Most people weren't wearing masks as it wasn't required, but most are now.

I don't think any other country in the world has quite the number of self entitled pricks we do here to be fair. Social responsibility for this sort of thing doesn't exist - so in the end it has to be made compulsory.

I was in Germany recently and was staggered by the level of compliance (with the medical grade masks also). I literally did not see one person not wearing them when they should be.

Yes I've been wondering the same - how come half of England seem to be exempt and unable to wear the masks, but I never see anybody trying to get into a shop or public transport without a mask in France/Germany/Switzerland. I guess it is possible all those people unable to wear masks are simply sitting at home? But I read the newspapers and message boards of several European countries, and the 'unable to wear' or 'exemption' topic really does not come up, whereas every second poster on MN seems to be in this category.

I'm In Italy, yep we love our masks ;-)
I'm rather nervous about the lack of mask wearing I'll encounter in UK when I finally get to go. Masks (and dare I say Covid passports) make us feel safer, they are safer! I've also never heard of anyone being except here and it's a €1000 fine for not wearing one, and they will catch you if you don't!

@Missmissmiiiiiiiiisss

It’s always framed as a very negative thing but you could frame it as UK is more aware and supportive of people with hidden disabilities. As a parent of an autistic child who is now over 6 (the age when many countries in EU require mask wearing without exemption) I’m incredibly thankful he isn’t being made to wear one!

This is an interesting point. I am very familiar with a particular European country which shall remain nameless and one interesting thing about the place that I have discussed at length over the years is that provision for any disability in pretty much any context is very rare. People literally do stay at home because a lot of disability is even actually still associated with shame. That’s horrible to even say and I know that it will sound unbelievable to some people. But it’s true, it’s a huge cultural difference, and it’s probably among the reasons why I don’t live there anymore.

One of my team just returned back from Tampa and NYC and she said mask wearing seems to be entirely personal choice (which people elect not to do mostly).
In NYC some restaurants don’t want a mask but prefer a vaccine certificate, others don’t care if you’re masked or not etc.
Very variable as to use or requirement to wear one depending on where you go.

@Mifacagare - Love your user name!

@Cyrilgoggin

Thisplaceisweird when was that? Was mask wearing compulsory at the time? I didn't wear a mask, except on public transport, from July until it became compulsory a couple of weeks ago. Most people weren't wearing masks as it wasn't required, but most are now.

Less than a month ago. I'm talking 50% or less in general wear indoors or on public transport, if you're talking in terms of just what was compulsory then yes a lot more. But we all know what was 'compulsory' in the UK wasn't enough. Shocking coming from a very compliant country.