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?

I resent your inference that I’m deliberately putting you at risk by not wearing a mask. I can’t wear one. If I could, I would.

It's not a value judgement, it's a statement of fact.

Respiratory droplets from someone wearing a mask travel a few inches.

Respiratory droplets from a person not wearing a mask carry anywhere from six feet to up to twenty feet depending on whether they are talking, coughing or sneezing.

The reason for not wearing a mask doesn't matter to the distance droplets travel.

So, I respect that you can't wear a mask for a valid reason but unfortunately that doesn't affect the fact that your respiratory droplets will travel further than someone who is wearing a mask. Therefore, I'll need to request strict social distancing, so at least two metres (maybe more depending on circumstances) and I might well turn my back or move away, or if you've approached me ask you to step back.

It’s also a statement of face that my risk to you, due to my lifestyle, is significantly less than yours to me, mask or no mask, once you return to work in a supermarket.

And I would ask you to move away from me, if I was there first as I am physically disabled.

I would not approach closer than 1/2 metres of you (I try to keep further away if at possible)

Given that I have hardly been out, my hand hygiene is good and I’m socially distancing how can you say I’m a higher risk than some one who has been partying central, never washes their hands and has hugged half the neighbours?

How can I tell, by looking at you, what you've been doing? Plus, even if the mask wearer has been out socialising etc as long as they maintain social distancing and wear a mask they are less of a risk than someone not wearing a mask.

They might have been socialising but not met anyone with Covid, therefore aren't infected. You might have only been out once and caught it.

There's news now of a trawler, been at sea 35 days, all crew tested negative prior to embarkation and 57 out of 61 crew now have Covid.

@Mydogisthebestest

It’s also a statement of face that my risk to you, due to my lifestyle, is significantly less than yours to me, mask or no mask, once you return to work in a supermarket.

Well, if you stay away from me then we'll never be a risk to each other because I'm certainly not getting close to anyone.

@Mydogisthebestest Thank you for posting that link It's really helpful and informative.

And how can I tell, based on you wearing a mask, how much off risk you are to me?

Everyone should be maintaining distance and good hand hygiene.

You are out and about significantly more than me, you work in a supermarket and will be handling good which have been touched by many people, your risk of being exposed is significantly higher than mine. You risk transferring it to me by being near to me, even with a mask.

You don’t know if a mask wearer has been social distancing. And you’re hanging your confidence on the mask, and I’m not sure you’re not being too confident of the mask as protection.

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras I’m personally not bothered by someone turning their back on me, I am bothered by people touching their masks which have been stored in their handbag or Pocket whilst in supermarkets and then touching items that I am about to to purchase. The same for people who have worn gloves that look dirty. It’s just as bad yet people who aren’t wearing masks are suddenly putting everyone at further risk, when mask wearers themselves don’t handle it properly this creating the risk to themselves. In a medical environment the mask had to go into a bio hazard disposal bin, but in society everyone can more or less leave them wherever and put them on, touching masks where droplets would be.

When I was in the shopping centre earlier every adult shopper and some shop workers had one on. And 99% of children had them on, with the exception of a few pre schoolers and one child who looked about 10. All the other kids wore them aged from about 5 up.

I dont like wearing one but I do and to be honest by the time you have had it on about ten minutes you more or less forget you are wearing it.

@Mydogisthebestest

And how can I tell, based on you wearing a mask, how much off risk you are to me?

Everyone should be maintaining distance and good hand hygiene.

You are out and about significantly more than me, you work in a supermarket and will be handling good which have been touched by many people, your risk of being exposed is significantly higher than mine. You risk transferring it to me by being near to me, even with a mask.

You don’t know if a mask wearer has been social distancing. And you’re hanging your confidence on the mask, and I’m not sure you’re not being too confident of the mask as protection.

For starters, I haven't been out and about anywhere, I'm still shielding.

Secondly, when I do go back to work I will be working and going home. Nothing else.

I also have no plans on getting anywhere near anyone else. At all. That being said, if we are in the same room fifteen feet apart and I have a mask on and you don't you will still be a risk to me. I won't be a risk to you because my mask will keep my droplets within a few inches of my face. So even if I do have it you won't be at any risk. However, if you have it, I will be at risk.

Also interesting how you're insinuating that I'm at risk of having it by working in s supermarket - yet most people on here have been quick to shout me down if I mention concern at going back to work.

You have been out to a country park.

I haven’t.

I’m not insinuating anything. I’m saying it. Straight out. You are a risk to me, as is every other supermarket worker. By virtue of the cash you handle, the goods you handle and the customers you are exposed to all day.

I don’t work in that type of environment, therefore my risk from my workplace (my office, in my home) is negligible. You’re is much higher.

You will still be a risk to me even with your mask and gloves by virtue of the items you have to touch and the length of time the virus persists on surfaces.

Ok.

Well, stay well away and there's no problem.

I am just concerned that you are seeing risk purely from those like me who won’t be wearing a mask.

It seems to me to be likely to give a false sense of security to focus on the mask, when there are all kinds of other factors at play, which you cannot know by looking at someone.

Hooves anyone around you could have it. You can expect people to follow guidelines on social distancing but you can't expect anymore than that. Anything extra has to come from you.
You can't expect things like people without masks not to sit on the accessible seating in buses - that isn't reasonable. My son who is disabled cannot cope with anyone sitting next to him anywhere so if someone does we move because it would not be reasonable to say they couldn't sit there.

@Spikeyball

Hooves anyone around you could have it. You can expect people to follow guidelines on social distancing but you can't expect anymore than that. Anything extra has to come from you. You can't expect things like people without masks not to sit on the accessible seating in buses - that isn't reasonable. My son who is disabled cannot cope with anyone sitting next to him anywhere so if someone does we move because it would not be reasonable to say they couldn't sit there.

So, if I'm sitting, wearing a mask and someone not wearing a mask sits next to me (and there are no other seats free) then I should what? So what you're saying is that everyone else must accommodate and adjust for people not wearing masks, but people not wearing masks should not have to make adjustments for the health needs of others?

You have no right to ask me to move. I have every bit as much right as you to be in the seats.

I personally would face away from you, and would expect you to do the same so that we were not breathing on each other.

Hooves anyone around you could have it

Exactly. And that's the protection that masks give - droplets will be travel only a few inches and not feet. That's where masks make the difference over and above social distancing and in situations where social distancing can't happen.

@Mydogisthebestest

You have no right to ask me to move. I have every bit as much right as you to be in the seats.

I personally would face away from you, and would expect you to do the same so that we were not breathing on each other.

Aah. I see.

How is a mask going to stop you getting it from a seat where someone Infected has touched it?

Don’t be daft people and are getting away with it. I’m wearing one but I despise it. In only wearing one so I don’t get any grief on anyone because the way I feel at the moment I would scream blue murder if someone dared say anything. I can’t be doing with the hassle so I wear one. I do not believe they help, I feel like I’m being forced against my will to cover my face and it’s only so that Boris Johnson can say he did everything that he could to prevent the spread of this virus. Trouble is it’s too little too late.

Well, what do you expect me to do?

I’m already on the bus, the seat is there for me to use, I have a reasonable excuse not to wear a mask. I’m behaving entirely legally.

@Mydogisthebestest

Well, what do you expect me to do?

I’m already on the bus, the seat is there for me to use, I have a reasonable excuse not to wear a mask. I’m behaving entirely legally.

I said "I'm already on the bus sitting down and someone not wearing a mask comes and sits next to me" - so in the example I gave I'm there first.

It's fine. You're making it clear that people need to accept and make adjustments for your needs but you have no compunction to do the same.

But I wouldn’t know you’re there when I get on the bus. I can’t stand so I’d have to sit.

I’d turn away from you so as not to breathe on you.

If you’re going to use public transport, there has to be a compromise - your rights don’t trump mine. I’m not asking anything of you - in that situation I’d do as much as I could to minimise the risk to you.

Would you expect me to get on and off buses all day until there was one with no one in the other seat? (Good luck with that here - One bus am one pm)

@Mydogisthebestest

How is a mask going to stop you getting it from a seat where someone Infected has touched it?

How do you catch it from a seat? The only way is by touching your face or eyes with hands contaminated by the seat - I'm being extremely careful (even before lockdown) to not do this. I stopped wearing all jewellery, including my wedding ring and watch, long sleeves etc solely so that I can properly wash my hands and forearms. Carry hand gel whenever I might not be able to immediately wash my hands, don't touch my phone, or other possessions until I've washed my hands.

Hand washing minimises the risk. It does not eliminate it.