To be disgusted that Subway (sandwich bar) are not making staff wear masks?

[CoronaIsShit]

They have all the ingredients uncovered in front of them and could cough or sneeze or even just breathe on it constantly.

I was told they aren’t wearing them as they’re not ‘mandatory’. They seem to give more of a shit about their staff being a bit uncomfortable in a viral pandemic than the risk of spreading the disease through their food and going out of business!

DS has been longing to go there since lockdown as it’s his favourite place to eat so I took him today and was gobsmacked none of the staff were masked up.

AIBU that ALL good serving staff should be in masks?

@BlackCrow

Yes that would hugely put me off. I couldn't fancy it. Slightly different when the food is going to be cooked, but in a Subway it's not and as you say, those sandwich fillings sit there all day right under the sandwich-makers' noses (literally!). You wouldn't expect workers in a food factory to be maskless, and neither should these guys be. More fool those who eat there (and pity the medical professionals who might get drafted in to care for them).

Although a lot of production workers in food factories don't wear masks. My DH point blank isn't aloud to wear a mask in his food factory.

@Acidrain

Do you know why they aren’t allowed to wear them? Makes no sense when there have been several outbreaks in factories.

@CoronaIsShit YANBU I would expect anyone preparing food at the moment that isn’t nuked in a frier to wear a mask. Surely that’s just common sense?

Also yeah op... when the yemen crisis is happening and you’re bothered about masks whilst making sandwiches.

🤦🏼‍♀️

Incase the fabric disintegrates and breaks away and contaminates the product is his guess but they've said point blank no masks supplied by them or your own.

And not gave any reasoning why, but there union is working on it for them.

This would put me off too OP. YANBU.

They've been breathing on your sub and pickles for the last 20 years.. Why disgusted now? You could have picked up all sorts in that time. You didn't. YABU now.

What a depressing thread.

I suppose the point is why has the government not made face masks mandatory? Because they're fucking idiots with no interest in following epidemiological science, and have persuaded a large proportion of the populace to also behave like fucking idiots to match them.

Science: "Hey look, if everyone wears a mask in public infection rates drop to well under half of what they are if no-one does"
Govt: "Blah blah blah be aware common sense blah"
People: Don't wear masks.
Virus: Yay more hosts!

If there was a pill that reduced transmission rates by half almost everyone would take them. But because it's a piece of cloth over your face instead, people don't.

People have no common sense, on average.

@CoronaIsShit

Yeah breathing. That’s how CV spreads.

Ignorant people like you are the reason we may be stuck with wave after wave of this virus until we find a vaccine Bubble.

@CoronaIsShit - it is not spread by breathing. If it was, everyone would have had it by now. Its a tad more complicated than that. We are in danger of doing more harm Than good as people thinking sticking in a mask and gloves is the solution to everything. As others have said, if you’re not happy , don’t go.

@IHaveBrilloHair I now have images of workers with rolls wrapped round their faces and I'm giggling

@TheHighestSardine - you are missing the point here. Masks may reduce droplet transmission between an infected individual and a non infected individual if they are having a close conversation for more than 10 minutes- but OP was asking about subway staff not wearing masks to serve sandwiches - there is zero evidence that a mask will make any difference here. Masks will just become a tick box and give people a false sense of security.

Mouth covering and lunch break in one.
What's not to like?

I had a subway once

Not my thing at all

Confirmed AD here ...nah really have no fucks to give about face coverings personally

I hope you haven't eaten chicken recently then, given the number of infected chicken processing workers.

Were you wearing a mask when you went into the Subway shop, OP?

[quote CarrotCakeCrumbs]@IAintentDead I am not disputing that they reduce transmission when worn correctly and replaced as necessary- but realistically in a busy take-away where you are dealing with less staff due to social distancing, and more orders due to more people being at home and customers who couldn't care less about the staff who work there and think nothing of giving them abuse if their food happens to be a bit later than usual - the face masks and gloves are not likely to be worn and replaced correctly in that environment.[/quote]
I was backing you up.

In most cases they aren't worn correctly so are worse than useless.

I totally agree with you.

It's just plain irresponsible for them not to have masks on. I wouldn't eat there.

Stay at home then.
Finding your patrician attitude towards these workers very offensive. Why should they be forced to breathe in their own CO2 for hours in a hot fetid working environment?

[quote Doggybiccys]@TheHighestSardine - you are missing the point here. Masks may reduce droplet transmission between an infected individual and a non infected individual if they are having a close conversation for more than 10 minutes- but OP was asking about subway staff not wearing masks to serve sandwiches - there is zero evidence that a mask will make any difference here. Masks will just become a tick box and give people a false sense of security.[/quote]
No, I'm not.

The staff are in close "conversational" proximity to all the food they're standing over, for a couple of hours at a time.

Covid particles are generated in the high-respiratory area and emitted on speaking - ie to customers to ask what they want.

Particles are killed on proper heating, but this is a sandwhich shop - most of the fillings are not properly heated, just warmed.

A basic, non N95 mask would prevent 90% of emitted virus particles from an infected asymptomatic staff member.

It's a very simple, zero risk improvement in public safety.

Why should they be forced to breathe in their own CO2 for hours in a hot fetid working environment?

Do they want a job or not? If they start to lose customers due to hygiene worries, then they'll sooner or later get made redundant when the outlet closes due to sales being too low.

There's a lot of concern at the moment, re hygiene etc., so firms (and their staff) should be taking things a lot more seriously. Employers/staff are concentrating on the 2metre/1m+ aspects and not actually looking seriously enough at the basic/simple hygiene precautions. If customers (like the OP and many subsequent posters) are put off buying from places like Subway, the management need to get a grip and take additional precautions so that they can get, and keep, as many customers as possible.

If glasses steam up simply wipe them. People are making too may crap excuses

They steam up every time you breathe out, Einstein. As in, every single breath. You physically cannot see. How long can you hold your breath?

Subway is grim. Anyway, nobody is forcing anyone to go in there; personal choice, it's a wonderful thing... 🙄

I am surprised because it makes them look bad. Wearing masks is a kind of visual sign that they Take The Virus Seriously. I think most companies want to look like they are trying.

The NHS and hospitals are clearly taking it seriously. I've been here 2 days and everyone is wearing a mask. I've not seen a nurse or doctors face unmasked. You can't even visit without a mask.

Personally I would prefer all staff preparing food to wear masks regardless of pandemics. People talking or coughing shed droplets of saliva and it stands to reason it lands on food.