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Original poster

Mask compliance in UK vs abroad

175 replies

FabricedeSauveterre · 08/12/2021 04:10

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.

OP posts:
TomAllenWife · 08/12/2021 16:53

@Tal45 absolutely spot on

penguinwithasuitcase · 08/12/2021 16:54

One of the things I'm grateful for where I live is the way we all seem to be reading one another's comfort levels and acting accordingly.

I live in a fairly rural area and am often out walking my dog on wide pedestrian tracks –if one person sees another coming toward them putting their mask on, the first will put theirs on too.

Not because we have to, not because we're indoors or even because it makes scientific sense –but because it's a signal that "I see you, and I care about you".

Warms my heart when it happens.

Was quite the shock when I went to the UK for a weekend and the guy sitting beside me on the airport shuttle pulled his mask down to cough... Hmm

Cyrilgoggin · 08/12/2021 16:55

Thisplaceisweird thanks, that makes sense. I wasn't wearing a mask a month ago (except on public transport) and neither was anyone I know. So you wouldn't see many people wearing masks. Compliance was much lower on public transport than it is now, I agree probably only about 50%.

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Gwenhwyfar · 08/12/2021 17:04

I'm in Belgium and it varies.
Anywhere 'official' like a big supermarket or a shop that belongs to a chain you will see 100% compliance because the staff will enforce it. Large shops have a security guard at the door and you wouldn't get in without a mask. Exemptions are not a 'thing'.

Smaller, less formal shops are a bit different and often the staff themselves are not wearing them, or wearing them under their noses. I see this mainly in cheaper shops, night shops, etc.

When we had the rule of masks outside, there were a lot of people not complying because we knew it was a pointless rule. I even saw police officers take their masks off outside.

In places like the train, some people will not wear their mask and will put them on when the guard tells them, only to take them off afterwards or pull them down under their nose.

Masks have been brought in for children from 6 years old to wear all day in school. There was a news report today or yesterday of parents sending their children to school without mask and being turned back at the door. The parents will now make a complaint against the school/council, on which basis I don't know.

Original poster
FabricedeSauveterre · 08/12/2021 17:41

Good point about the UK having different levels of compliance. I was on the tube in London a few days after mask wearing became compulsory again and I’d say it was only 50 per cent, be interested to know if that’s increased more recently

OP posts:
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/12/2021 17:42

Everyday I walk the corridors asking secondary kids to put their masks on, at best a half hearted effort of putting it on their chin is done, most run away, some laugh, many say I’m exempt…! Maybe 1/30 wearing one

AmIgoinghomeforXmas · 08/12/2021 17:51

My USA state has excellent mask compliance.
I have spotted the odd unmasked person in the supermarket recently but it is very unusual.
All dc older than two years wear masks, they are worn all day at school.
In all shops and public businesses and transport.

Other states have no mask wearing at all.

Deathraystare · 08/12/2021 17:57

A couple of days ago a Jamican guy in the chippie told the guy in the shop that he was shocked how many people went without wearing masks. They are very strict about it in Jamaica. You can be refused a taxi if you are not wearing a mask. He was shocked by how many people were not masked on the buses and trains (so am I actually).

ThrobbingToothacheOfTheMind · 08/12/2021 18:15

In what way have masks helped these other countries? Spain and Italy were worse than the UK

PAFMO · 08/12/2021 18:34

@ThrobbingToothacheOfTheMind

In what way have masks helped these other countries? Spain and Italy were worse than the UK
Were. At the beginning of March 2020. Before masks were introduced and Europe didn't know what the fuck was coming. Neither Spain nor Italy are worse than England now, are they?
BertieBotts · 08/12/2021 18:53

@OnceuponaRainbow18

Everyday I walk the corridors asking secondary kids to put their masks on, at best a half hearted effort of putting it on their chin is done, most run away, some laugh, many say I’m exempt…! Maybe 1/30 wearing one
Wow! DS1 is at secondary school in Germany and all the pupils wear masks. They even have to wear them in classrooms now as well. I've never heard of any child in school refusing to wear a mask.

What's the point of it being compulsory if it's not enforced? Confused

Wait, aren't English school children constantly getting sent home for wearing the wrong colour socks/coat or having the wrong length of hair??

gofg · 08/12/2021 18:58

Compliance in those places where you have to wear one is high here in the SI of NZ. On the street, less people unless they are going between shops.

I'm in the SI too and it's the same in my town. good compliance, and few complaints.

thisplaceisweird · 08/12/2021 18:59

@ThrobbingToothacheOfTheMind when the pandemic first hit and nobody had a plan. Since spring 2020 Spain and Italy have been in much much better positions than the UK, consistently.

gofg · 08/12/2021 19:05

Are you suggesting nobody could have asthma, therefore having a good reason to avoid a mask!

My 88 year old DF and my exDH both have asthma and have no problems wearing a mask. In fact I never see anyone in my town not wearing a mask when they should be.

ICalledYouLastNightFromGlasgow · 08/12/2021 19:11

Sadly it's British exceptionalism. Just like Brexit.

penguinwithasuitcase · 08/12/2021 19:15

@ThrobbingToothacheOfTheMind

In what way have masks helped these other countries? Spain and Italy were worse than the UK
It's not just the masks.

It's also the 'giving a shit'

One is a pretty good indicator of the other.

Whitefire · 08/12/2021 19:39

Oh yes, we are all shit in England and don't care about anyone else.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/12/2021 19:43

@BertieBotts

Yup it’s a shit show and embarrassing to walk the corridors watching majority of kids ignore the rules, most staff not even bothering to question it and when I try and they ignore me there’s no consequence to the rudeness

mamatoTails · 08/12/2021 19:44

@ThrobbingToothacheOfTheMind

In what way have masks helped these other countries? Spain and Italy were worse than the UK
Well our schools have stayed open, bar the original lockdown! I have 5 children in 2 schools, and they've not once had to come home to isolate or get tested. Don't know any schools locally who have been any different, and obviously can't speak for the rest of the country.

Yet all my friends in U.K. constantly saying their children are home, close contact, need to take a test, whole class in isolation etc!

So I do think the masks work, I know I'm in the minority and most think they don't!

fakereview · 08/12/2021 20:08

@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.
Well it wasn't law in England until last week and it was in Scotland.

There has been a massive increase in mask wearing where I am since the law changed.

fakereview · 08/12/2021 20:09

@ICalledYouLastNightFromGlasgow

Sadly it's British exceptionalism. Just like Brexit.
You can't compare Brexit with voluntary mask-wearing. Now the law has changed (in England) the level of mask wearing has, too.
prynaithda21 · 08/12/2021 20:21

In Germany in September 2020 there was 100% compliance on the local and national trains and buses.

I've noticed on my few bus journeys much higher compliance since the legal requirement was re-introduced in England.

ICalledYouLastNightFromGlasgow · 08/12/2021 22:17

@fakereview I will bet any amount of money mask wearing rules will not be adhered to in England at the same rate they are adhered to in other countries, even now the rules have tightened. Because of exceptionalism.

fretting123 · 08/12/2021 22:25

New York last month, complete compliance. No exemptions, kids over 2 asked to wear masks in many shops.

Vintagevixen · 08/12/2021 22:54

It's not exceptionalism - it's because some of us are capable of reading the "evidence" at its academic source and realising how massively flimsy it is. Really happy I don't live in New York if they are masking 2 year olds - that is shocking.

Paging the population of Sweden!

Who have never had compulsory masks and have a lower death rate than many many European countries and at present a very flat positivity rate in terms of testing. But how can this be true?! They have no masks - they must all be dead!