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?

www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/ministers-considering-gloves-coronavirus-a4507831.html

I am old enough to remember the fuss when seatbelts first came in as compulsory.

You know how it works where I live, where everyone has worn a mask for months? If you walked into a store without a mask, you would melt from the death stare you'd get from every single person who laid eyes upon you. Nobody likes a Vector. Just wear the damned mask.

@sergeilavrov

It’s astonishing to me that the UK has determined so much exemption. In the place I live, everyone over 6 wears a mask. I’d you’re medically unable to do so, you’re not going to be safe, so lockdown continues for you - it’s for your own health.

Where do you live?

It IS working though.
I work at a well known store that is famous for flat packed furniture and hot dogs.
Many came in today without masks, some were entire families.
I questioned it with my boss. Everyone gets stopped going in, however, we can advice, we cannot enforce.
All our staff have to wear them though and it's stifling hot doing physical work with them on

@Durgasarrow

You know how it works where I live, where everyone has worn a mask for months? If you walked into a store without a mask, you would melt from the death stare you'd get from every single person who laid eyes upon you. Nobody likes a Vector. Just wear the damned mask.

Where do you live?

Advise, not advice.

Hi Schrodingers! Do you happen to be an employee of MN? I've not seen morertolife's post but you seem to have read it. If you have, does this mean you have deleted a post from this person and thus have vetted them? To moretolifethanthis - It's hmmmmmmm if someone has "redacted" your message......... To compulsiveliar - don't let anyone put you down because you ARE in the NHS and MAY have "more info than the rest of us..." - just what other folk here may be ignoring / missing out on.

@GertyTheGert

Hi Schrodingers! Do you happen to be an employee of MN? I've not seen morertolife's post but you seem to have read it. If you have, does this mean you have deleted a post from this person and thus have vetted them? To moretolifethanthis - It's hmmmmmmm if someone has "redacted" your message......... To compulsiveliar - don't let anyone put you down because you ARE in the NHS and MAY have "more info than the rest of us..." - just what other folk here may be ignoring / missing out on.

I reported it Obviously I read it before I reported it. I even wrote that I reported it.

@moretolifethanthis2020

I can't wear a mask due to severe psychological distress - PTSD from being the victim of a horrible crime by a man in mask. Even worse than wearing one myself is seeing everyone in them. I have to confront what happened to me hundreds of times a day. Now seeing this post has confirmed to me the exact reason I will not go into a shop until this is over. I will not put myself up for being abused by mask wearers for not having one on. Talk about victim blaming . I'd clearly need a badge on me to say what I was a victim of to stop people having a go at me in public.

Masks do not even do much (if anything) to stop the spread - even the government website says this. I watched with dread over the weeks as it became apparent it was going to happen.

I feel gutted reading this thread.

I'm just catching up with the replies

@moretolifethanthis2020 firstly I want to apologise for the upset this thread has caused you and secondly, I'm truly so sorry for what happened to you.

When I started this thread my irritation was aimed at the people I've witnessed on social media, boasting proudly about how you can get out of wearing a mask "If you don't want to"

A number of twits (covid deniers/anti authoritarians) flocked to the post with glee saying how they'd be presenting such things at shops because they refuse to wear a mask.

I would never begrudge somebody with a physical/neurological/psychological illness not wearing a one.

I'm pissed off at those who are able to wear them, choosing not to, and gloating about how they'll get away with it.

If those here with asthma/autism or any other illness and hidden disability want to wear them and feel able to then great, you do what you're comfortable with, but you don't have to and aren't expected to.

The last thing I wanted to do when I started this thread was to upset those who have legitimate reasons for not wearing them, or make them feel judged.

I appreciate nobody can tell just by looking who has a genuine reason for not wearing one alot of the time, but those of you who do should never feel uncomfortable to the point where you don't want to visit the shops out of fear of being judged.

People like those I reference in my OP are the ones who should feel uncomfortable and have a guilty conscience.

I wouldn't look at somebody in the supermarket and judge them for not wearing a mask. I would assume they have good reason not to.

Again, my frustration is toward the minority of problematic and selfish people who refuse to comply just because.

Gerty stop talking shite the pp was minimising what she put in her post by saying it was a WW2 reference - I can't say it as you get deleted for quoting a deleted post.

@Sometimeswinning

Why are doctors not doing exemption letters?

Because the Dept. for Transport and the Dept. for Health and Social Care have told them not to. Because written evidence is not required.

www.pulsetoday.co.uk/news/gps-fielding-large-number-of-questions-about-face-masks-in-shops/20041160.article

Really ? Where do we get this letter from ? I had to wear a mask at the GP yesterday.

I have PTSD and GAD with a propensity for panic attacks, one trigger is my mouth being covered. My GPs are discussing whether they will allow me access as I refused their request to wear a mask during phone call this week.

@whichteaareyou

I just saw a young couple in Tesco's not wearing a mask. Makes my blood boil. If one of you is exempt then fine but you don't both need to go in!

What if one is visually impaired and requires a carer with their own exemption?

Ok guys, I was being slightly facetious when I said 'socially shun', and I have great sympathy with those you cannot wear one for a legitimate reason. But quite frankly the number of people refusing to wear masks just because they 'don't want to' is huge.

I am vulnerable and had hoped I could now go out. But there are so many people who are totally disregarding the simple guidance of covering their face with a mask when in an enclosed space like a shop, that I cannot do that. Sure, the risk is much lower than it was, but I run a serious risk of dying if I catch COVID. So what is more important - your selfish refusal to wear a mask when you can, or my life?

[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]
Do you know what's involved and how long it takes to get a blue badge?

Do you know how long it would take to set up a system like this from scratch, and how much it would cost?

Would there be similar schemes for other exemptions that are not to do with disability?

My daughter won't wear a mask but she has asthma and is autistic (high functioning) so she is exempt. However the likelihood is she just won't go out as she doesn't want stares or comments.
Doctors have already said they aren't issuing letters and nor are the government. I understand why as it would be a massive workload but it does seem unfair.
I'm sure a lot of people will react like my daughter, they'll hide away and all I can do is watch as her mental health deteriorates further.
Anyone vulnerable should get something official but instead you get people taking the piss.

@annabel85

It’s completely within your power to help avoid medically exempt people being “lumped in” with “selfish scumbags”. Just assume everyone you see who isn’t wearing a mask has a good reason.

I think that's perfectly fair now. The problem is less and less people as the weeks go by will wear masks because they won't be challenged and then with the sheep behaviour (which we saw when people started ignoring lockdown) more and more will follow, until there's less people wearing masks than wearing them.

A lot of people in this country need order and authority to comply with anything. And then there's the pervasive attitude in the country of 'well if they're getting away with it then why should I bother?'

If you want to achieve anything in this country then it's got to be policed.

Do you have a framed photo of Kim Yong-un on your mantelpiece perchance?

Do you know what's involved and how long it takes to get a blue badge?

Higher rate mobility component of DLA/PIP. Most councils turn them around in 8-12 weeks (or less), likely more since Covid.

Hi Goingdownto - I talk shite do I?!! No free speech unless I agree with you or what do you mean, that I upset you in some way? I don't understand HOW I've upset you, Also, am I allowed to say am surprised how quickly the other MN got a post removed - just interested........

It's so sick.
I'm disabled and am also autistic. I've been using my sunflower lanyard since last year. There are posts by people who aren't disabled, on social media, showing their lanyards and also sharing the links to print off exemption cards and promoting the appropriation of disabled items to get out of having to wear a mask.
It's really upset a lot of us who are actually disabled.

The problem here is Boris.... he is not enforcing it or helping

Local police have said its down to store staff to enforce

As a retail manager I’m not telling our shopfloor staff to do that! The abuse since covid has been off the scale.... this would end badly

So we let them in.... no questions asked

Not worth getting abused or assaulted for I’m afraid

By the way, please, moretolife, don't let some MN unthinking people put you off going out, you seize the day my dear and go out if you want to. It will do you good. Don't let personal comments get to you - these MNers are strangers to you at the end of the day and therefore don't know you - you are probably a better person than their bestest friend! This is blanket thing I've written, I am selecting NO ONE PERSON on all of MN, just reassuring this person, because I hate to think they are going to get stressed. x

I'm a DV+ Sexual abuse survivor. On one occasion my abuser covered my mouth as he raped me. I have diagnosed PTSD, and my mouth being covered is a massive trigger.

But....I am a key worker who has worked throughout this pandemic, I have adhered to my organisations guidelines on PPE in work, and I have worn a mask, daily, for hours.

I'm not going to say it's been easy, the first couple of times I lost nights of sleep from the triggers and nigjtmares, but eventually, I just got used to it 🤷🏻‍♀️. I just "got on with it".

I get why others who have had similar experiences can't wear one, I wouldn't dare challenge anyone for not wearing one.

But I'm just going to say it...some people aren't half taking the piss with their "exemption reasons" but hey ho, there's nothing that can be done. Just let bygones be bygones and do all you can to keep yourself and your family safe.