The virus is no longer a threat and we should all just get on with our lives.

[RhodaCamel]

That is exactly what my boss said to me yesterday when she asked me if I was still concerned about the virus and I had said yes, I was. She asked me this because I was putting on a mask to drive as I have to share a car with someone else (I wear the mask in line with government recommendations. The other passenger chooses not wear a mask, just me).
I told her that I was concerned that there will be a second wave in the autumn/winter and she replied with a ‘pfff! They are just saying that to scare us, I’m just getting on like normal. Anyhow, it is only a threat to the old and obese’.
Now, I admit that I am a worrier and this virus has freaked me out but surely she is being naive/blinkered to what is going on in the world? I believe that she thinks that as the government have lifted most restrictions that equates to the virus no longer being around! How can it no longer be a threat? It hasn’t gone anywhere, there isn’t any heard immunity yet and no extremely affective medication.
Just wondered if you were with me or my boss?
YES - YABU it’s on it’s way out
NO - It’s still a major threat to our health.

If you are self-employed just hand him a mask and insist he wears it if he wishes to use your services, the choice is his whether he wishes to travel or not. If you are employed through an agency have them get in touch with your client and tell him he must wear a mask. At the end of the day whether you transport him or not without a mask is your choice. There is the possibility that he will refuse to wear a mask but then it’s up to you whether you are happy to take the risk for the money or not.

Car accidents don't result in exponential growth and generally don't have knock on effects to the detriment of health care across the entire NHS.

I would insist that he wears a mask or a visor. It is surely a Health and Safety issue and as your employer he is putting you at risk.

If you are prepared to continue to drive him I would wrap up warm and keep all the windows wide open.

OP you definitely are not being unreasonable. The UK has the second highest death rate in the World from this virus. Everyone in a public space, particularly indoors should be wearing a mask. Anyone who is shaming another person for wearing a mask is out of order.

Getting on with things a good idea, but while taking appropriate precautions , meaning respiratory (masks) and hand hygiene (washing, sanitising), and maintaining distance. The virus is still very much in circulation. Even if you are in a ‘low risk’ category, there are still the exceptions in the statistics; you can still spread it to more vulnerable people; even a ‘mild' case can cause a great deal of damage.Any employer not putting in place suitable precautionary steps is negligent. I thought all employers had to ensure the work environment was altered to reduce risk, legally?

People need to have a bit more respect for circulating pathogens, and what simple steps everyone can take that make a difference. Same with Flu.
(I am a molecular virologist with 20+ years experience)

mum11970 I am employed directly by him (via his PIP, I believe). Sadly, I don’t have the luxury of just giving up the work, I need the money and jobs are becoming very scarce in my area.

This woman has a stupid mindset, but sadly she is not alone with this attitude. as there are a lot of people,who think they are experts regarding this virus.

I am with you and like a pp, wouldn't go in the car with someone who was outside my household, mask or no mask. People who sneer at others who wear masks really really annoy me. I had this in a phone repair shop I usually go to and will now be taking my business elsewhere (the next time a phone breaks). He said (re lockdown), "people will do anything not to work".

Really - and lose their jobs and homes etc etc... What an arse. (Still angry about that, sorry.)

Haven't read the full thread but have the I've worked on covid front line crew popped up yet? I agree with OPs boss

You are in a difficult position, however if your passenger is in the back and you’re driving and ventilate the car well, the risk to yourself will be small. It would be better if you both wore masks. There really should be some thought about this, and some sort of discussion....

If he continues to not wear a mask then enforce your own rules such as, he sits in the back, all windows are down in all weathers - of course you can close yours if it rains because you have a mask on. He can then see which he prefers

Haven't read the full thread but have the I've worked on covid front line crew popped up yet? I agree with OPs boss
Yeah well, that's hardly a surprise.

DoubleTweenQueen thanks for that. I pass that onto her.

DoubleTweenQueen he is in the back and I have windows open (Sod’s law it has rained every time!) So fingers crossed.

Oh good, more reporting people to the HSE. What a great use of everyone's time.

I class my boss as a work collegue but in your case it appears you are providing a service.

I do know that carers do not expect their clients to wear PPE depending on their condition but they would not usually be transporting them in small, enclosed vehicles.

I would ensure a risk assessment has been carried out. I take it you have looked at the guidance for those working in vehicles.

"It will not always be possible to maintain social distancing guidelines inside vehicles (2m, or 1m with risk mitigation where 2m is not viable). Many in-vehicle tasks need more than one person, for example heavy deliveries or refuse collection, and changing vehicle configurations to create more space may not be practical.

Where the social distancing guidelines cannot be followed in full in relation to a particular activity, businesses should consider whether that activity needs to continue for the business to operate, and, if so, take all the mitigating actions possible to reduce the risk of transmission between their staff.

Mitigating actions include:

further increasing the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning
keeping the activity time involved as short as possible
using screens or barriers to separate people from each other
using back-to-back or side-to-side working (rather than face-to-face) whenever possible
reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using ‘fixed teams or partnering’ (so each person works with only a few others)"

I wouldn't say that the virus is no longer a threat, but I would say that we do need to start getting on with our lives.

It is about balance and using reasonable precautions.

Have you looked at that screen link I posted OP? Could something like that help you?

Yes it sort of calmed down at the moment. But it's the calm before the storm. I'm still very wary.

Sorry Oxyiz I thought I had commented earlier on it. I have taken a screen shot. I would purchase one of those in a heartbeat and would happily pay for it myself. I know they will laugh in my face at the suggestion. I will definitely keep this in mind though. Would be easier if it were my car as I would insist on having one but it’s his disability car.

itsspittingeverybodyin I fear the same, it does appear to be the pattern with past pandemics.

There is lots of information here: www.cipd.co.uk/knowledge/fundamentals/emp-law/employees/workplace-guide-returning-after-coronavirus
The ‘Returning to the workplace’ section is a little further down, and there are links with further information.

Everyone keeps saying- but we still drive and we still risk flu.

a) these risks haven't gone away at all, we still have flu season to get through and I have to drive a certain amount

b) I do try to mitigate these risks- I wear a seatbelt, don't speed, try to remain aware, pay for insurance and servicing, similarly with flu, I don't get a jab myself but I wash my hands frequently during the day at work/coming home/before food and did so before Covid-19 as I didn't want either colds or flu in my household if I can help it. Flu vaccines exist and I bet take-up is better than every this winter.

It's very silly to just classify risks as part of everyday life without taking at least some preventive measures, and also silly not to consider one's own personal risk- so to my very old grandma, either flu or corona could be fatal, so I wouldn't visit them with either condition if I could help it.

Ah I see, sorry!

Apologies if someone else has already mentioned it too, but it might be worth calling this number and asking for advice:

HSE COVID-19 enquiries
Telephone: 0300 790 6787 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm)

Thats from the government guidance website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/working-safely-during-coronavirus-covid-19/vehicles

I wonder too if car insurers would recommend higher level of protection?

Doubleteenqueen and Oxyiz thank you for the links and number.