To say if they mandate mask wearing they need to ensure some way for the exempt from masks to prove it?

[BuffaloCauliflower]

I am not anti-masks at all, I can see they are often very useful tools in infection control when used correctly (though it doesn’t seem they are by many people) but as someone ‘officially exempt’ from wearing them - in my case due to asthma - I’m increasingly panicked at the thought they’ll be made mandatory in shops and other places.

I have been able to avoid public transport thankfully due to furlough/wfh but I’ve wanted to shop, help the economy etc. and I fear I’ll have to stay away completely if masks are mandatory because I don’t think my exemption would be believed, or that I wouldn’t have people having a go at me for being out without a mask. I’ve tried many times to wear them and they make my symptoms (already far worse than usual due to pregnancy) ramp up even more. It’s very distressing, especially as it causes coughing, and I’m then removing the mask (touching the mask and my face, definitely not mask best practice) repeatedly to try and regulate my breathing. I’m following all other guidance sensibly, lots of hand washing, keeping my distance from others when out, but all things considered I think I’m more risk to others in a mask than without one should I be carrying CV.

I am very worried that despite being exempt I have no way to prove it to shops or other businesses. I carry my inhalers but that relies on others understanding, the government have previously said there won’t be anything official to prove exemption, though public transport companies have come up with different options (I’ve printed the TfL card just in case, but technically anyone could do this as it’s not verified) I’ve already been told once that someone ‘didn’t agree’ with exemptions to mask wearing and I should basically suck it up. People who want to be mean won’t check for exemption before having a go I’m sure of it.

But at the very least shouldn’t they ensure there’s some official way I could prove my exemption, a letter or card I could apply for from my doctor perhaps, that’s recognisable to others so I’m not at risk of not being believed or being yelled at? There are many people who will be in the some position.

@breathingok

I can’t see exemption working Not when I’ve been abused for using the seats on buses and trains and for having a blue badge. Total strangers expecting me to justify myself and give them my medical history ..... Filming if you ignore them ..... It’s just going to be the same isn’t it I can’t see it being a case of Shop staff ‘can you wear a mask please?’ Me ‘sorry I’m actually exempt’ Shop staff ‘oh ok no problem’

I'm pretty certain it won't be the shop staff that are the problem - not in supermarkets anyway. Small shops may be more of an issue but I'm not using them. The problems are going to come from the venomous, self-righteous bullies who've crawled out from under their rocks. It's always been said that Brexit enabled racists to voice their views openly and now Covid has enabled people to openly voice opinions about the disabled and mental health issues, which belong in the 19th century.

But surely anyone who can wear one would want to ??
If I could I would !!
I can’t understand why if you have no medical issue requiring exemption you’d put yourself through the hassle you’ll undoubtedly receive from those who will have a go at people who aren’t wearing them
It’s horrible to be targeted aggressively about why you have some kind of issue others can’t see and they demand it’s justified seems madness anyone without genuine needs would put themselves through it

Medical professional are wearing masks with little issues. Many craftspeople do. They take getting used to, and to find thr right eat to fit them. There is a VERY small minority that really can’t wear them, waaaaay less than people who rather not wear them(btw your surgeon or nurse also don’t like wearing masks, they just do it anyway).
(and please, please don’t use the “i need to go shopping to help the economy “ line - if you hate shopping so much that you only do it to prop up the economy, just don’t)

Loads of people will be claiming the exemption. No one can 'prove' whether someone gets exemption, so anyone not wanting to wear one can claim anxiety.

btw, full face visors count as face covering....

But surely anyone who can wear one would want to ??

This is very naive. Have you read comments on the news articles or seen what's happening in America with them? Loads of people don't want to wear them because they feel it's "their right"🙄 and with a lack of exception proof they will get away with it, putting people at risk. My local hospital requires them but I've seen so many with them around their chin or hanging on one ear (some with the nose sticking out) and nobody mentions it to them. Trust me, it won't be enforced and we will be in a 2nd wave by winter.

But I’m also convinced that there are a lot of people, including on this thread, who claim they can’t wear masks, when in fact they could wear them if they trained themselves to, with breathing exercises and/or therapy to desensitise themselves or deal with PTSD.

I agree that people should try (I have a condition that is listed as an exemption, but I personally can tolerate wearing masks for the duration of a trip to the supermarket, but not much longer) but suggesting therapy is totally unrealistic. Firstly, masks are being made mandatory in 10 days, even if you could access a therapist and they could help you, it won't be anytime soon. Secondly, therapy is hard to access either due to being expensive or due to waiting times (the NHS isn't going to send you to a therapist because you can't wear a mask).

@Newdaynewname1

btw, full face visors count as face covering....

I mentioned this and there seems to be loads of reason why they can't be worn. The anxiety conditions I understand but nobody with asthma has yet clarified why they can't wear a visor.

There is a VERY small minority that really can’t wear them, waaaaay less than people who rather not wear them(btw your surgeon or nurse also don’t like wearing masks, they just do it anyway).

I agree.

Mandatory here where I am and no exemptions. People are just getting on with it, and managing in 45degrees plus heat. I have asthma and so does my son and we are managing fine. It's not just about you... And that's what a lot of people are failing to realise.

THe visors on their own aren't effective because of the gap.

If people who aren't wearing them get pulled by one of the many legit people who can, and it's found they aren't exempt they will be fined.

You do realise even with the masks, some countries like China are going through their 3rd wave? And they aren't popping on a t-shirt they cobbled together at home into a mask.

In the official guidelines i read so far, full face visors are explicitly mentioned as face coverings. They aren’t as efficient on their own, but if you can’t wear a mask, its the next best thing.
Of course masks won’t prevent a next wave (anybody who thinks so is hopelessly naive), but they do reduce infections.

It's not the same though. A blue badge for parking grants them access to something that they get, because they need it, that other people don't.
But other people do get to park, there are just special space as its been identified that they need it, they would be exempt from a mask as it has been identified that they can't. It's just identifying people's needs.

A badge identifying them as disabled so that they can go to the shop and buy food is asking them - or forcing them- to wear a badge to be granted access to other things people get to take for granted. It's asking them to identify themselves to the general public as 'disabled' so that they can go about their daily lives.
I understand that people with disabilities don't want to feel like they are having to highlight themselves as so, But by Parking in the space you are identifying yourself as person with a disability to the general public who see you parking.

By not wearing one in the shops you could be assumed to have a disability anyway once they are mandatory as you will visibly different with not wearing a mask, identifying yourself on entry with a lanyard to security, which you could then remove, just prevents other selfish people from wrongly trying to be perceived as a person with a disability.

Btw, i have asthma. Working in Japan for a while, you learn to wear a mask - not wearing one really isn’t an option. My 3 year old wears his as well - its not negotiable in our house (well, he can choose between a mask and a pretty much opaque raincover. Funnily enough the mask is fine)

I think I might live in the same place as you @JillGoodacre.

This is very naive. Have you read comments on the news articles or seen what's happening in America with them? Loads of people don't want to wear them because they feel it's "their right"🙄 and with a lack of exception proof they will get away with it, putting people at risk. My local hospital requires them but I've seen so many with them around their chin or hanging on one ear (some with the nose sticking out) and nobody mentions it to them. Trust me, it won't be enforced and we will be in a 2nd wave by winter.

Sadly, I have to agree with this, the number of people who just don't want to wear masks or wear them incorrectly is really frustrating.

But by Parking in the space you are identifying yourself as person with a disability to the general public who see you parking.

The funny thing is you don’t - people assume that if you look ok, you are cheating in parking in a blue badge space!

The amount of whining here and on fb is nuts when so many of us have been wearing them for months. You’ve been asked to wear a mask for the time you’re in a shop, that’s all. It’s like wearing a seatbelt and the stupid excuses people came up with when that was made mandatory. I’m amazed how many people have mask wearing anxiety - I would imagine the rest of us have more anxiety caused by your inability to wear a mask. My mil barely goes out because she’s terrified she’ll catch it and bring it back to vulnerable fil. Have you tried different masks? They vary.

You can wear a mask if you’re asthmatic (very very small number with severe asthma can’t), you can wear it if pregnant, you can wear them with copd, over 3s should wear them in a hospital setting.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty
As soon as masks became a thing people have been trying to find a way to be exempt. How do they manage this in countries where they are mandatory?
How do you know those countries don’t also have medical exemptions? Have you checked?

Masks are mandatory when using public transport in my country. I just checked and there are no exemptions, not even for medical reasons. No mask=no transport.

I would imagine the rest of us have more anxiety caused by your inability to wear a mask

Then perhaps you should follow the advice being given to those who are exempt from the law on medical grounds, and simply 'Stay the fuck at home'.

I've just seen a comment on FB on the sky news article where someone states mandatory masks goes against their "human rights" it's fucking ridiculous how people are so desperate to not comply.

@GreytExpectations it's pathetic isn't it, we are just like America, eurgh.

@BamboozledandBefuddled a few people not wearing them is fine but judging by mn the majority of people feel exempt. Asthma is not a reason not to wear a mask. I’m asthmatic and work in a hospital. All patients have to wear them and they do - we’ve has nobody refuse which is amazing judging by here.

[quote Standardy]@GreytExpectations it's pathetic isn't it, we are just like America, eurgh.[/quote]
Yup and I will get piled on for this but I suspect there are a few exaggerations on this thread or at least some people who could handle wearing one if they tried to build up to it as some PPs have said. But apparently because they have a disability nobody else's health should matter. It's all one for all, and all for one, eh?

I have blocked sinuses from severe polyps (op cancelled) so nose blocked and asthma on extremely vulnerable list.

I wore a mask for a blood test last week and at first it made me cough-embarrassing as had just answered 'no' to COVID-19 symptoms. But then I forgot to take it off when I was back in the street as I had got used to it in the 15 mins I was in the clinic.

On balance I'm pleased about masks in public as I'm due to return to public facing role in August and having not been anywhere except the clinic I am feeling worried about catching covid at work.

I'm also partially deaf so will struggle with the lack of lip reading...

If I had none of these issues I'd probably feel differently.

I find the three-layer cloth masks difficult and we’ve been told not to use the 3M filter masks, which I find okay. I mean, three layers of fabric is quite hard to breathe through!