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.

And do you really want people to have to go through that rigmorole just to get proof, that they dont even need. Honestly I'm getting a bit frustrated here, the Government has said no proof is needed. Full stop. The end. So why are people wasting time bringing up all sorts of scenarios of how they can get proof. Its not needed.

@Cadent

Giving specific mask related evidence to millions of people is a massive undertaking and it won’t happen.

So just use common sense. My elderly chronic asthmatic mum has her PIP letter and inhaler. But she has been shielding since the beginning anyway and won’t step into a shop so a bit irrelevant.

Most people have something like a letter or inhaler. The number of people with a medical condition / disability but no proof is going to be miniscule and really not worth all this navel gazing.

And yes, totally agree you should only have to show proof to the shop staff/police etc, not just any randomer. Tell randomers to fuck off.

I am happy to carry my inhalers and DLA letter and I certainly will, but it’s still stressful to have to prove myself and arseholes in the street won’t care what proof I have and I doubt will check before judging

"Freedom passes allow people with certain disabilities to travel free on London buses. And yes, like blue badges, they can take ages to get. I just don't understand how setting up a national ID card scheme would be any quicker. It would take months to even get it through parliament, assuming it actually passed."

Our local transport company took on this scheme from the local council. It took months to set up, everyone over 65 or with medical disability had to reapply for a bus pass. The system crashed several times. Took 6 months in the end

There's a danger the medically exempt get lumbered in with the anti social wankers who refuse to wear one and get shouted at.

I do wonder why everything has to be such a trial though in this country.

Masks are widespread and compulsory in a high number of countries, have been for months, and without half the fuss.

@NotShiny

And do you really want people to have to go through that rigmorole just to get proof, that they dont even need. Honestly I'm getting a bit frustrated here, the Government has said no proof is needed. Full stop. The end. So why are people wasting time bringing up all sorts of scenarios of how they can get proof. Its not needed.

No, I don't. I think everyone who can wear a mask should do so and everyone who cannot wear one should be able to go about their business without harassment.

But this whole thread is about the problems caused for people with disabilities because they have no way of showing that they are exempt, or if they do it involves things like showing their entire medical history to staff in a supermarket who are not qualified to assess it in any case.

The government has said no proof is needed. That should be full stop, the end, but reading a lot of the comments on here it won't be. People WILL be harassed and people WILL be refused entry to some places.

@mrpumblechook

Driving isn’t an essential part of living. You chose to do this and hand over documents. You could then if exempt decide to not wear a mask and shop. Someone relying on public transport have these choice removed including going to work and various other parts of daily life.

The blue badge is not just for people who drive and many people who have a blue badge do not drive. That doesn't mean they don't rely on the badge as much as someone who relies on public transport. Some disabled people can't even use public transport and rely on a carer driving them to places.

Apologies yes of course no need to drive. Don’t you still need a car to register it to? I admit I’ve never looked into them in detail as we’ve never needed one, but now I’m wondering do we on the off chance that... Even then still get accused of forgery 🤣

I have two children with ASD. I have just ordered two sunflower lanyards with a card saying exempt from face mask covering or something similar.

@annabel85 there are medical exemptions to masks in most countries that have implemented them

@BuffaloCauliflower Not everyone can wear them, I appreciate that, but only here is there so much fuss over these matters. Other countries just get on with it and in most cases dealt with a much harder lockdown too.

One of my adult dcs has a freedom card to get around. Gets updated every year.
I’m eligible but haven’t applied for one, I rarely take public transport and just pay with oyster as it’s just there to begin with. Same with the school ones, didn’t need free travel.

@Cadent

Totes agree *@AnneOfQueenSables*

All of this prompted by the woe is me OP who has left the thread after getting her attention fix.

The OP probably left the thread after seeing the car crash it descended into. Jeez, there's 15 mins of my life I'm never getting back reading all that...

What I'm seeing is a significant degree of empathy for those at risk of and suffering due to the virus; and a distinct and almost callous disregard and lack of empathy for those who have always and will continue to suffer from other various physical and psychological difficulties. Funnily enough, other conditions have not ceased to exist now Covid has arrived! Why is it so hard to have equal empathy and compassion for both sides, here?

I get that Covid is devastating - but so is PTSD and psychological trauma, or physically painful health conditions. I can 100% see both sides and extend my compassion to those who are likely to struggle with the masks. I wear them day in day out at work and it's truly stifling, especially in hot weather. I can't imagine adding a physical or mental health condition on top of that.

Funnily enough, other conditions have not ceased to exist now Covid has arrived

They haven't ceased to exist but they have certainly ceased to matter to many people.

"Don’t you still need a car to register it to?"
No, not any more. You can put it in the window of any car you are travelling in.

@BamboozledandBefuddled

Funnily enough, other conditions have not ceased to exist now Covid has arrived

They haven't ceased to exist but they have certainly ceased to matter to many people.

Yes. This is what I meant, and it's so wrong. The world hasn't stopped turning - there are other issues and struggles going on alongside Covid, which many people seem dismissive and almost coldly contemptuous of. It's a sad state of affairs, it truly is. Compassion and empathy long gone, replaced by angry people on their pedestals standing in judgment of vulnerable others. Stop the world, please, I want to get off.

Yes, but it doesnt take 17 days to get the evidence though does it. Consultants and doctors take their own sweet time and charge you to write a report for you. It might take 17 days for those who already get a high rate of pip, but not 17 days to get pip in the first place.
17 days, my arse!!!!

I didn't have to get a consultant to write me a letter. I used letters I had received from the hospital to support the application. I don't have PIP as haven't applied.

Apologies yes of course no need to drive. Don’t you still need a car to register it to?
I admit I’ve never looked into them in detail as we’ve never needed one, but now I’m wondering do we on the off chance that...

You don't need to register it to a car or be a driver (unless the problem is with your arms, I think)

So you have a longstanding condition? Some people dont have consultant letters to hand, not everyone finds it as easy as you. It took us months to get the evidence together.

Plus if thousands more start applying, that magic 17 days turns into much longer.

So you have a longstanding condition? Some people dont have consultant letters to hand, not everyone finds it as easy as you. It took us months to get the evidence together.

Yes , I have a long-standing condition .I have online access to my hospital records. Most hospitals do that nowadays I think. I can also access my GP records online although I don't think it gives me access to letters at the moment.

Plus if thousands more start applying, that magic 17 days turns into much longer.

They could probably do something in the interim if it was decided that masks were really important in reducing transmission.

So why are people wasting time bringing up all sorts of scenarios of how they can get proof. Its not needed.
Because that's the question the OP asked. They specifically asked about how they could 'prove' it.
It's not that posters leapt to 'other' people with conditions. It's that the OP leapt to questions of proof because they are anticipating a problem.

Nope. Most hospitals do not give you access to your records. I suspect it's more likely to have consultant letters with a long standing condition. Well when have a sudden onset of a condition or an accident, you dont automatically get consultant letters, that might come a few months down the line. As I've said it took us months to get all that together, in the end a physiotherapist took pity on us and wrote a letter. I suspect we arent alone in struggling to get evidence quickly.

"They could probably do something in the interim if it was decided that masks were really important in reducing transmission."

But they arent going to are they. I reiterate what ivd already said. The Government have decided no proof is needed for exemption. That's not going to change

I also read somewhere further up thread a comment along the lines of "people are saying we don't care about your vulnerability to the virus because we have our own vulnerabilities"... I haven't read anyone say "I don't care who the hell gets sick from my non mask wearing, f*ck them all". Obviously people care. What I read is people asking for equal recognition and respect for the OWN vulnerabilities, which just so happen to be different to the virus (and also predate the existence of the virus). EVERYONE has vulnerabilities, whether that be to coronavirus, due to a physical health condition, or susceptibility to panic attacks / poor mental health. It may be a radical idea but - how about we all just equally respect one another's different vulnerabilities, and practice some basic compassion and respect? Crazy, I know. But it may actually help.