Masks - GET A GRIP.

[Changednamesorry]

Ok.

So. Lots of whinging about masks at the moment as BoJo finally hauls his arse into gear and says that you have to wear them in the shops and on public transport.

In Catalunya where I live masks are obligatory. Every time you are in public. Including in the street. Inside and out. The exceptions are

Medical conditions (you need a paper justifying this)
When playing sport
Children under the age of 6
If eating or drinking

If you don't comply - 100 euro fine. No arguments.

Most people here were already wearing masks anyway (because we saw the horror at the beginning of the pandemic here and we know what a real lockdown is like - not allowed out at all, children locked inside for nearly 3 months, etc)

People arent whining and complaining nor imagining how they can invent aome excuse to mean that the rules don't apply to them and the overwhelming majority of people are wearing them all the time.

Tourists not so much but they getting fined. Good.

So England. PLEASE. Stop with the selfishness. Literally dozens of countries have mandatory mask wearing and citizens comply because they care about each other and don't spend their time acting entitled and "I'm all right Jack"

There are articles in the European press about this. Literally "English people are selfish - is it any wonder they are so resistant to wear masks". It's embarrassing. As a nation, as a society, it's time to grow up and just put the mask on like everyone else.

English people. You aren't special. You are starting to look like the kid who gets thw whole class detention because they just keep on breaking the rules.

Wear the mask. Please. It's for the safety of everyone.

And if you ABSOLUTELY MUST come to Spain on holiday, even more so.

People who genuinely cannot wear a mask for medical reasons are obviously exempt, all they have to do is ask their doctor to provide a paper justifying this.

This is my issue with this. It's not happening here, people can just say they've got a disability so they don't have to wear one.

And yes, you should stay out of places that require them to be worn if you absolutely cannot wear one. Masks don't protect the wearer as well as they protect others, and sorry but I don't want you coughing on me on public transport in closed quarters 🤷🏽‍♀️ you aren't more important than me.

Online deliveries are now back, many people getting slots. And unless you work in a shop, it's likely that it won't be mandatory in your workplace.

I read Le Monde every day and they don't do xenophobic articles about any nationality of people including the English as they are a decent newspaper. We do have shit, xenophobic newspapers in England of course, like the ones you read but i don't read them myself.

I totally agree with you. However I haven't yet heard anyone moan about it - though I don't doubt they are out there. But please don't think it's the majority. I really don't think it is. Most people I know - including myself - have been desperate for Boris to make this compulsory for ages. I am so ashamed of England's response to the pandemic. And I know many, many, many others who feel the same.

No, people who cannot wear face coverings should not be excluded from public spaces. I don’t care if a few people who could wear them also don’t comply for made-up reasons. The alternatives (exclusion / people being required to disclose personal circumstances to random members of the public) are too horrible. It’s like the whole “benefit cheat” thing - actual numbers of people doing it far outweighed the numbers perceived by the public. People not wearing face coverings should be allowed to go about their business. It’s not yet mandatory in England. Let’s see how much of a problem people just refusing to comply really is without banning people with disabilities or MH conditions from public spaces

Which is why we need there to be some official documentation which exempts you from wearing one. From a GP, for example. Maybe a card like an EHIC card

The Apple store near me checks temperatures before you go in, and provides masks for those who do not have them.

@BerriesAndLeaves
Well...I'd be fine with that. I've been wearing a mask any time I'm out of the house since March. And so has everyone in my household and most of our friends.

So yes, if you saw me without it on it would be because for some bizarre reason i had forgotten (doubtful since my 3 year old doesn't forget so I doubt I would at 35). And if you said stop being selfish, grow up and pit yoir mask on on that scenario Id say "of course. What the hell. Got into me forgetting my mask in the middle of a pandemic what an idiot."

Not sure what yoir point was, really.

Europeans are better at following rules because their countries have a history of bowing to authority - elected or imposed. The English have a general mistrust of authority and a reluctance to blindly obey so these things take longer to be adopted.

I don't believe this is true at all. 'The English' are obedient at following rules (although will bend them to what they can get away with) but asking them to use common sense or advising them to do stuff is useless.

As a nation we respond to enforced law. Look how well people observed lockdown when it was enforced, even a lot more than the government had expected. As soon as the mixed messages starting and things eased up people started doing what they wanted because they could.

You could just have a scarf placed loosely over your nose. It's no big deal. But it protects others around you

You reckon? Frankly, fiddling with a slightly soggy scarf is more likely to increase the wearer's risk than diminish anyone else's.

I totally agree with you OP, it is insane. The enormous UK death toll which people seem to ignore, the insistence that we're entitled to go to the pubs and on holidays because 'we've been through enough' and should be entitled to carry on as normal. It's a pandemic, we've never lived through one of these before, things are really not normal..... Criticising those who do comply as being unable to think for themselves, and no consideration for the greater good. While countries like Spain must really need the tourist income I am surprised that Brits are allowed in, and from what you say, and from what's being reported from Greece, we may not be allowed in for long.

Well my post was fairly easy to understand really op. But me accusing you of being selfish by not wearing a mask and telling you to grow up is just as stupid as you saying the same to all other English people.

Hope that is simple enough for you to understand

And we watched in horror as tthe British and US and Brazilian governments failed to protect their citizens at all, and convinced them that it was in the name of" freedom"

Yeah because the Spanish government did so amazingly 😳

What a ridiculous goady thread. But for some reason goadyness is acceptable if it’s about masks.

Oh look, yet another thread lampooning "English people". I've got news for you OP, compliance where masks are mandatory (currently public transport) is the same all over. Plenty of posters in one of the other threads related how there was an equal amount of non-compliance in Scotland and Ireland. Here in Wales meanwhile, Drakeford really dragged his feet and masks won't be mandatory on public transport until six weeks after they became mandatory in England. So compliance in Wales is therefore really poor at the moment because there's nothing to comply with.

Meanwhile, on the continent a bus driver was murdered in France for daring to ask that a group of passengers don masks, hordes of German tourists have been partying all over Mallorca without masks and previous posters have related how residents of numerous European countries have been just as reticent about wearing masks as the English allegedly are.

So don't assume that a few noisy people on Mumsnet/Twatter/Bookface are representative of the wider British population. Can we also stop this view that there is a unique "English exceptionalism" when pretty much every country which can be named has similar attitudes.

Meh. I don't love walking round with a mask on, in fact I feel very negatively about it for several reasons so I'll feel how I feel about it, thanks. And I might even voice my opinion.

Sweet sassy Spanish lady, why have a pop because we hate the silly little masks? They are ridiculous!

In Scotland too and at my work most of our patients are complying. We will not police it or bar anyone from entering but I have reminded people that it is for their safety as much as anyone else's. I wear one for work and I do find it uncomfortable and feel short of breath sometimes. I am however slowly getting used to it and have tried a cloth one for when not at work.

There is a section of society that don't like being told what to do in any circumstance, these are the people who failed to adhere to lockdown rules. Quite often their rhetoric involves an I'm alright Jack type of attitude. The assumption that this is always the poorer members of society is not true in my experience, rather it is many people who are middle class that think they know better or have read the research but aren't convinced. Basically it is selfish. I do not believe anything that comes out of this tory government however the trends from other countries appear to show wearing masks where it is difficult to socially isolate has some benefit so I am willing for that reason. Yes masks are uncomfortable as was staying in lockdown, missing family members and the like but we did it to keep the vulnerable and ourselves safe.

Yanbu op, it is embarrassing.

@Mistystar99
Why are masks "ridiculous"?

@BerriesAndLeaves

Yoi aren't making sense. You are saying O should wear a mask otherwise I'm selfish.

I agree. I wear a mask every single time I leave the flat. Have done for months.

If you told me to go to a pub to save the economy or I'm selfish I might disagree with you, because I'm not doing that right now.

But masks are kind of different, really. It's the law here and I was wearing one before it was.

@Changednamesorry

I am thankful and agree with your normal reasonable and sensible views on this simple Covid mitigation measure!

In the UK as you may have discovered via media sources there has only until very recently been government advice on this. In the UK PPE face coverings have been required for use on shared public transportation (Including aviation sector) and only just today now required for use in other settings such as retail establishments. The Scottish regional government also recently introduced mandatory face covering wearing.

You may be absolutely astonished that the UK is arguably the global expert in anti PPE ism. There are still In the UK (excluding Scotland) despite the globe benefitting from all simple common sense combined Covid mitigation safety measures like wearing some PPE face covering, a massive ignorant and arrogant unmasked selfish and reckless entitlement culture. You will be surprised to see that in the UK today most are therefore unmasked even though we have a European Covid fatalities record at approximately 50k plus but unknown true figure as there is no compulsory (nor accurate) mass testing and no track, trace and isolate. Indeed the senior UK political leadership themselves have supposedly also suffered from this disease and current Prime Minister Johnson nearly died from Covid no long ago. Even more disappointingly not only were face coverings not required (despite the daily world record fatalities and community transmission) but stupidly the UK government advisers (including medics and scientists) were against PPE face coverings for the general public! This is arguably gross pandemic medical mismanagement negligence on a Brazilian or Trump scale! However a few of us in the UK where quick to stop listening to the dangerous and reckless mixed government negligent advice and both self isolated before advised and wore PPE and combined with all other life saving anti Covid mitigation measures for our own safety!

The PPE face coverings issue is a complete and dangerous mess in the UK as apparently despite retail staff and transportation worker Covid fatalities they are not required to wear any protection as too apparently with school teachers and children! It is an unbelievable surreal embarrassment and hence the Covid statistics tell a small part of the UK picture. The UK is probably as Covid aware as USA and Brazil the worst globally! UK is probably aiming for 0.1million Covid fatalities target.

@DdraigGoch

Oh look, yet another thread lampooning "English people". I've got news for you OP, compliance where masks are mandatory (currently public transport) is the same all over. Plenty of posters in one of the other threads related how there was an equal amount of non-compliance in Scotland and Ireland. Here in Wales meanwhile, Drakeford really dragged his feet and masks won't be mandatory on public transport until six weeks after they became mandatory in England. So compliance in Wales is therefore really poor at the moment because there's nothing to comply with.

Meanwhile, on the continent a bus driver was murdered in France for daring to ask that a group of passengers don masks, hordes of German tourists have been partying all over Mallorca without masks and previous posters have related how residents of numerous European countries have been just as reticent about wearing masks as the English allegedly are.

So don't assume that a few noisy people on Mumsnet/Twatter/Bookface are representative of the wider British population. Can we also stop this view that there is a unique "English exceptionalism" when pretty much every country which can be named has similar attitudes.

Where is the bloody standing ovation emoji! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia

Thank you for your post. My parents also live in the UK (mum works in the NHS).

They wear masks but say uptake where they live is around 15%

Lets clear this up the government has said 'FACE COVERINGS' .....this does not mean a mask it can simply be a scarf over your nose and mouth or tie a handkerchief as well.

None of these are going to be hugely effective. Its a false sense of security really.

@MolyHolyGuacamole

People who genuinely cannot wear a mask for medical reasons are obviously exempt, all they have to do is ask their doctor to provide a paper justifying this.

This is my issue with this. It's not happening here, people can just say they've got a disability so they don't have to wear one.

And yes, you should stay out of places that require them to be worn if you absolutely cannot wear one. Masks don't protect the wearer as well as they protect others, and sorry but I don't want you coughing on me on public transport in closed quarters 🤷🏽‍♀️ you aren't more important than me.

Online deliveries are now back, many people getting slots. And unless you work in a shop, it's likely that it won't be mandatory in your workplace.

But people have to get to work, don't they. And a lot of people use public transport to do so.

Doctors aren't providing 'papers', and neither should they given that a) the NHS is under enough strain already without having to write out millions of doctor's notes and b) the government have said that proof isn't required.

I'm sorry if you believe that someone who has a genuine medical reason for not wearing a mask (and their being able to earn a living or shop for their families) is less important than you. Perhaps a little less judgement and a little more understanding and empathy wouldn't go amiss.

Get a life OP, you're not even British.

“ I'm sorry if you believe that someone who has a genuine medical reason for not wearing a mask (and their being able to earn a living or shop for their families) is less important than you. Perhaps a little less judgement and a little more understanding and empathy wouldn't go amiss.”

Completely agree with this