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.

ITS BEEN MANDATORY IN SCOTLAND FOR 5 DAYS NOT 5 WEEKS.

Sorry for shouting but strangely I think some people have selective memory.

I saw a few moans a couple of weeks ago when Sturgeon made the announcement.

I know my family were not wearing them before it was mandatory but will now.

I have been wearing a mask when I've left the house and will continue to do so. We have seen how horrific the virus can be and we should all be doing our best to ensure the NHS isn't overloaded as we start to socialise more. I believe masks should be compulsory whether we are going to the shop, cinema, gym, office, etc. It needs to become the norm for the time being. The problem lies with the government who have mismanaged the pandemic with contradicting advice.

Ah so we're basing it on the number of people 'moaning' about wearing masks on Mumsnet now are we. Well I fear we might be getting back into the realms of percentages again, what with the population of Scotland being significantly smaller than that of England. Surely it stands to reason the lower the population in a country the lower the number of Mumsnet commentators in said country, therefore less people to 'moan' about it on Mumsnet.

[quote Cadent]@Ofitck So you’ve formed a view about that ‘people in England are either totally holier-than-thou smug unwanted volunteer covid police’ based on two experience where one comment was ‘stand back’ and the other was ‘only two customers in the shop’?

That’s as bizarre as me saying all Brits are wonderful because I’ve only had positive experiences while out and about.

Spain should have learned from what happened in Italy. Neither Spain or UK showed a stellar response. More than happy to criticise all governments but certainly don’t like yours and OP’s holier than they approach.[/quote]
Yes, I have, together with what I've read on Mumsnet and from hearing my friends experiences.

I claim no ownership over the Spanish government, odd comment! It's very unfashionable in Spain to support the government in any case, especially in the OPs Cataluña and in my Basque Country - but I have the privilege of British heritage and near fluency in both languages (handy for avoiding one sidedness in newspapers!) to hold a hopefully unbiased interest in both countries' response to the crisis. For its many faults I do appreciate the Spanish government the more for it (and that's before you even go into things like the 16 week paternity leave, free full time childcare from age one etc).

@Facemasks
Thank you very much. Some people are being particularly unpleasant and it doesn't matter how many times I mention that I have relatives working in the NHS nor that my neighbors here are being made to feel uncomfortable by UK tourists refusing to comply with local mask laws.... apparently I'm not allowed to think about or comment on the UK at all.

I'm English. Dont know what people are on about saying English people are not moaning, they obviously have not seen some of the threads on here! Agree with you OP. If people cannot wear masks atleast wear the bloody visor things. But no.... moan moan moan putting others at risk.

@RedtreesRedtrees

Gnome if you’d actually read any of the research you’d know that tieing a scarf loosely over your nose has virtually no benefit.

Obviously dear, but one thin layer is all our fuck wit government is asking you to wear. It's scant protection for the poor fuckers who have to share your air space but it's better than nothing. The rest of us will have 3 ply masks and observe at least 2m spacing. Enjoy your endless self imposed Lockdown.

I agree with you OP, I'm fed up of hearing people trying to work out how to get away with not wearing masks.

I'm asthmatic and have anxiety/panic attacks AND work for the NHS. I wear a mask at work at all times when on NHS property.

I didn't like wearing it at first and it make me feel slightly anxious, but it doesn't effect my asthma (I know it can with some asthmatics) so I'd never use my asthma as an excuse to not wear it. anxious

Now I've got a bit too used to wearing it and tried to eat a piece of cake without taking it off first!

I know there not ideal, but my partner is very vulnerable so I'm doing my bit to help protect others like him.

Hi OP do take your mask down and have a biscuit

Umm - are we allowed to wear those see-through visors instead of a fabric mask? If so they might be better for the 🤓 amongst us.

Again let me repeat this the governmenf have said FACE COVERINGS NOT MASKS, so yes if can be a scarf over your face. They haven't prescribed a certain type of fave covering either.

Problem here is people making up a load of crap calling people wrong for using a scarf...no your wrong! Using a scarf is a face covering. If you don't think fhats good go complain to your MP then. Don't bash other people.

RedtreesRedtrees look I'm sorry to sound so arsey. We're all under a huge amount of stress.
It's just I'm genuinely struggling to understand why you won't wear a simple covering to stop the particulates you exhale being inhaled by people around you.
We all have to work together to get us out of this.
I know you are quite unusual in that you and your family don't use cars or public transport and don't cycle or put yourselves in a position where you need to use PPE so am guessing this must be a huge leap for you.
But most of us don't lead the life you've chosen and having to adopt another type of ppe to protect our communities is really no big deal. It's not the solution to eradicating the virus but it will help.

If you refuse or can't wear a mask stay at home.

It is for the greater good, I hope you understand that and live with it.

We cannot and will not cater for every one but we will try to look after the vast majority.

Exceptionalism is your choice and look after yourself and everyone else is my view.

No, people who can’t wear masks can’t be forced to stay at home. Even if you were that draconian - what if they have an important hospital appointment? What if their only means of getting there is public transport? Why would you be so cruel as to deny them medical treatment like that? Or are you just goading?

Ideally common sense would mean that if you do actually believe there is a deadly highly contagious global Covid pandemic then please don't follow the contrite and contradictory government advice here in the UK. I say this because so many Brits are relaxed unmasked not social distancing and essentially care less if not borderline reckless, dangerous and irresponsible.

Instead look at the high achieving Covid aware nations and adopt elements of their common sense better results guidance. Examples include Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, New Zealand and Iceland to name a few. Sure they have different geopolitical, demographics and locational issues but the general thrust is professional fit for purpose leadership government proactivity, no nonsense real lockdown, real mass and frequent testing with actual track, trace and isolate, public being smart to adopt all necessary Covid mitigation measures such as social distancing, use of PPE, hand decontamination facilities, international boarder controls etc etc. They did not have political leadership doing constant u turns or procrastinating or simply lies and breaking their own rules etc etc.

The UK will do well if the final Covid tally is less than Russia. And that is despite some of us following best.global Covid security practice having locked down early when Italy was first impacted and of course wearing basic face shields with a surgical mask to be extra safe and keeping social distance from others particularly the unmasked majority. When I bulk brought masks and surgical spirit they were widely available despite the best efforts of mainland China trying to buy up global supplies. I bulk purchased (then unwanted) essentials early and people in the stores where looking at me in my PPE as if they were witnessing a viral movie production. This is now I kept myself and you g family safe. I even had to pull my child out of school early before they closed saying that we may have asymptomatic but as yet untested symptoms just to keep child in home safety bubble. We were the only family to be super cautious but since discovered others had followed our lead in the initial shock and uncertainty.

Keep safe everyone and wear some protection even if not mandatory as yet because you can only protect yourself as none else in the UK cares. We have a free paid for NHS but don't take things for granted and cause unnecessary extra burden on society. Protect yourself and protect others as it is the only right thing to do!

55ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia

This.
Thank you

I agree OP. I'm embarrassed. I don't like wearing one - I'm asthmatic and wear glasses, it's inconvenient, but so what, I'll wear because it's for the greater good.

There is always exceptionalism. I can't, I won't. Even if they have not got an exemption cert, the typical rebels.

We cannot let these people possibly infect us.

Ah ok, goading. Gotcha.

@saltycat

If you refuse or can't wear a mask stay at home.

It is for the greater good, I hope you understand that and live with it.

We cannot and will not cater for every one but we will try to look after the vast majority.

Exceptionalism is your choice and look after yourself and everyone else is my view.

It isn't a 'choice'. Some people cannot wear a face covering however much we'd like to and agree with face mask use and see the need for it. We still have to go to work, use public transport, eat.

Telling disabled people and those with health issues to 'stay at home' is not only against government advice, it's discriminatory.

It's curious how people so intent on following The Rules are disregarding the one which exempts those with certain conditions from wearing a mask.

We cannot let these people possibly infect us

And what should we do with these people?

Othering disabled people. Lovely.

We cannot let these people possibly infect us

What you planing to do about it then?

Who was it who needed to get a grip again?

@Fuckinellitsme

I am absolutely not ignoring the part where people with genuine medical reasons are exempt. My point is and remains that the existence of people in this situation means that it is even MORE important that everyone who can, does to protect everyone else, especially those who are vulnerable AND cannot wear a mask.

I also have rheumatoid arthritis. Luckily that's all I have so I can wear a mask no trouble. You can't, and you have presumably similar medicine to me which slightly dampens your immune system.

You are exactly the reason anyone moaning about comfort or some of the other excuses needs to wear a mask.

TBH the exceptional people might try and do things without masks just because they can. We are talking here about the good of everyone.

Those who cannot or indeed refuse to use masks can order from supermarkets and get it delivered. It is easier now that things have been reduced from lockdown.Lots more slots available now.😊

But there will always be the moaners, that is an English thing, well maybe applies to the whole Union too, who knows.

But for some, it will never be enough. Being special is not enough. Sorry now. This virus is a fker.