To think unless you are actually medically exempt you can't get out of wearing a mask?

[Simsie]

People on social media are telling others to download a basic picture of text saying "I am exempt from wearing a mask" to present at supermarkets if they don't want to wear a mask.

Not medically exempt, no hidden disabilities, just for those don't want to wear one.

Surely that crap isn't going to work?

[quote TrainspottingWelsh]@moretolifethanthis2020 If a genuine system of proof existed it wouldn't be any different to the blue badge one. Or do you see displaying one of those as something to worry about?[/quote]
Having been abused at least three times in relation to blue badge usage, yes it does worry me. It doesn't stop people getting harassed because 'you don't look disabled - what's wrong with you'. And that kind of attitude will be 100 times worse over masks.

@PumpkinP No, they can't ask you. This is the link to the guidance on exemption www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own At the bottom of the page it makes it very clear that no-one should be asked for proof.

I am stunned at the people I've seen not wearing a mask all in the categories that are more at risk and infact needing to wear them the most! Hopefully now it is compulsory everybody will wear them and not flout the rules in any way.

[quote moretolifethanthis2020]@Coldspringharbour
Yes 'bellends' like me hey.....rape victims.[/quote]
I have no idea what you’re talking about.

Goingdownto No-one coughs in anyone's mouth at the best of times! If rules is rules, its cough in yer elbow!
PumpkinP Yes that's right, no bus driver etc has the right to ask you - as per the other MNposter who quoted what the Govt said. The shops can say you can't come in as per instructions and then you can offer an explanation (or exemption card). The police boarding a bus scenario is the same - we are not in a Police State.

As i masked up to go into our Tesco this evening i was facing three pubs No social distancing or masks and in and out like fiddlers elbows. Im angry too.....................angry that ppl are being put through this to enable pub goers. Next time the Gov. start waxing lyrical about the binge drinking problem in this country and how have we got to where we are with it , i hope they are reminded that they were even happy to enable it during a pandemic, There is no bigger green light than what they are giving it right now, Okay to carry on drinking and fighting without a mask but someone picking up a pack of fish fingers

in Tesco who cant wear a mask is treated worse than the pissheads who fight outside our Wetherspoons every Friday night. THIS IS WHERE WE ARE NOW!!!

As this has been widely reported, the the selfish/ bolshie twats will use it knowing that they won't be challenged.

@GertyTheGert Check out Wilfred Greatorex"s dystopian drama 1990

Sorry YesterdayNotForgotten - its a bit hmmmmmm what you said and those very people COULD say to you "Are you a medical expert then, know by glancing at someone they are in a certain category?" This is where we are NOT a police state as yet - and "apparently harsh folk" should take 2 mins out.......... Example. I do understand some folk may look 70 but they maybe aren't and look older because of the very thing they don't wear a mask for - asthma say. This doesn't mean they can never ever venture out again..... also someone with cancer, why should they reveal to total strangers I have cancer, I'm not dying of it but a mask is no good for me at the mo..... Kindness should rule here and not tunnel vision "I wear one so everyone should..."

@Sootybear

There are folk who are medically exempt from wearing a mask who will wear a mask.

No there aren't. If they can wear a mask they are not exempt.

This is totally not true. Many people with severe asthma are still wearing masks as that's what they want to do. The thing is you can't make people with asthma wear a mask if they psychologically can't wear one. My partner wears a mask and she has asthma bad enough to go to hospital. She does it because she wants to. As I said there is no black and white.

It's irrelevant how bad her asthma is in general. It is only relevant if wearing a face covering triggers her asthma. If it does, she is exempt. If it doesn't, she isn't.

@Yesterdayforgotten

I am stunned at the people I've seen not wearing a mask all in the categories that are more at risk and infact needing to wear them the most! Hopefully now it is compulsory everybody will wear them and not flout the rules in any way.

More rubbish. A huge number of exemptions are due to MH issues - how on earth does that put people at greater risk with Covid?

@BamboozledandBefuddled no arguments from me it happens. But if blue badges were something anyone could download the situation would be far worse.

@Yesterdayforgotten

I am stunned at the people I've seen not wearing a mask all in the categories that are more at risk and infact needing to wear them the most! Hopefully now it is compulsory everybody will wear them and not flout the rules in any way.

Face coverings may have a somewhat (not huge) protective effect for others. They don't protect the wearer though (unless they are a high grade medical mask).

Maybe they also have a condition that exempts them from wearing one. That would not be surprising, as a lot of e.g. asthmatic people will both be prone to respiratory disease, and unable to wear a face covering.

The English are known globally to be whiny whingers and the reaction to wearing masks has shown this stereotype to be rather true.
What happened to just doing the right thing for your society if and when you can? If you can’t, don’t wear a mask, that’s fine but for the majority who can, just do.

As for those mask-deniers, are you also anti-vaxxers?
There is plenty of evidence that masks do help but I’m sure if I quote 30 papers that show this, you’ll find one, obscure, non-peer reviewed article that negates that and think that’s evidence.

Personally I feel making wearing a mask compulsory is a terrible idea and will absolutely not stop spread - in fact I think it will increase it!
And before anyone jumps on me I have worked in the NHS and care services for over 10 years. I have a good understanding of cross contamination and how easy it is to inadvertently infect yourself. But even more worryingly is how social distancing and good hygiene has completely gone out the window in the last few days. It was a free for all in the shops when I called through today. 3 times I was bumped into by people leaning across me to get items off the shelves. I was in the shop 5 minutes!
I have yet to see good strong peer reviewed evidence that wearing a mask significantly reduces risk. To me this is the government bending to the will of certain quarters of the media without fully backed up scientific evidence.

Hello there HelenaDove! Yes, it really concerns me at times that this (1990) could be the future. What its about is actually what is happening in China at the mo and that's why Hong Kong "citizens" are so concerned that they have risked protesting, disappearing never to be seen again scenario. Also 20 years ago I went to Jersey and visited the museums/wartime hospital (built by slaves to the Germans) and everything to do with WW2. In my mind, some MN posts remind me of seeing the many letters from Jerseyites ADDRESSED TO THE GERMANS naming and shaming their neighbours who would then be shot (for having a radio) or sent off to a prison camp somewhere in Germany (for hiding a vehicle). I cried. My Aunt lived in Jersey (born n bred there) and told me in due course these letters were "archived"...............

@compulsiveliar2019

Personally I feel making wearing a mask compulsory is a terrible idea and will absolutely not stop spread - in fact I think it will increase it! And before anyone jumps on me I have worked in the NHS and care services for over 10 years. I have a good understanding of cross contamination and how easy it is to inadvertently infect yourself. But even more worryingly is how social distancing and good hygiene has completely gone out the window in the last few days. It was a free for all in the shops when I called through today. 3 times I was bumped into by people leaning across me to get items off the shelves. I was in the shop 5 minutes! I have yet to see good strong peer reviewed evidence that wearing a mask significantly reduces risk. To me this is the government bending to the will of certain quarters of the media without fully backed up scientific evidence.

If it increases it that will be just.... Can you imagine? In other countries it helped lower it, in England, it would increase the spread...

@Gertythegert My post got deleted for mentioning WW2 but I totally agree with you, word for word!

@Sootybear

There are folk who are medically exempt from wearing a mask who will wear a mask.

No there aren't. If they can wear a mask they are not exempt.

This is totally not true. Many people with severe asthma are still wearing masks as that's what they want to do. The thing is you can't make people with asthma wear a mask if they psychologically can't wear one. My partner wears a mask and she has asthma bad enough to go to hospital. She does it because she wants to. As I said there is no black and white.

The new regs say you are exempt if you cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a health issue, disability, or because it causes you severe distress.

People with severe asthma who are still wearing masks are not exempt because they can wear a mask. Obviously.

People with asthma and mental distress, who can't wear a mask because of their mental distress, are exempt because of their mental distress Their asthma is not relevant if it does not prevent them from wearing a mask.

If your partner can wear a mask then she is not exempt. I'm pleased she wants to but she is also required to.

This particular 'reasonable excuse' could not be more black and white -

If you can't wear a face covering then you are exempt.

If you can wear a face covering then you are not exempt.

'The English are known globally to be whiny whingers and the reaction to wearing masks has shown this stereotype to be rather true.
What happened to just doing the right thing for your society if and when you can? If you can’t, don’t wear a mask, that’s fine but for the majority who can, just do.'

Yes this ^

Anti-vaxxers. Well, this can be pooh-poohed all you like but one medical person I see (in a medical way I mean) and who has many many letters after her name told me to have a ponder about this. That she wont be taking the vaccine because it hasn't been fully tested - ie it takes approx 2 years to pass ALL tests etc etc and her partner is a Consultant who also wont be partaking. She DIDN'T say to me you shouldn't have it either, she merely said, and I quote, here is my idea to you .......

I can't believe some of you are comparing this situation to the ones where people ended up in concentration camps or otherwise executed.
It's disgusting and disrespectful. It shows how uneducated some people are and how special victim status you need to give yourself if you can compare your situation to victims of mass genocides to make yourself feel better.

I didn't want to engage anymore with @moretolifethanthis2020 again, but no. Your post wasn't deleted for "a ww2 mention".

Exempt people will have a letter saying they're exempt. No letter, you have to wear a mask. I gather the police will be doing spot checks and on-the-spot fines.

Yes they likely will, and I do but no way am I showing anyone not involved in my care any information about my medical history.

Sorry, I meant people with an exempt condition would have a diagnosis letter from hospital etc regarding the condition. Not an exemption from mask wearing letter.

@PumpkinP

BamboozledandBefuddled

So bus drivers can’t ask you why you aren’t wearing one? I just got off as I don’t want to explain my personal medical information to people. I was told they weren’t meant to ask but obviously some people will take it upon themselves to ask.

The regulations don’t state they need to ask you why you aren’t wearing a mask but they can ask you to disembark, and same with trains. However the only people allowed to enforce it are relevant officials and officers. Employees of public transport don’t have enforcement powers.

I work in public transport and it is a total minefield. None of it makes any flipping sense.

Essentially if you get on one of my trains without a mask without good reason the BTP could be called. But that’s in theory. Really they’ll just be present somewhere in the station and maybe boarding trains.

Also, one of the exemptions is if wearing a mask causes you distress, which anyone could state is why they aren’t wearing it. How do you police that?!