To think having to wear a mask when standing but not sitting is just ludicrous

[Frenchpastry]

In Costa today so obviously allowed to sit in without a mask. I stood up to go to the loo and no sooner had I taken one step I was yelled at by one of the staff (and I do mean yelled) telling me I needed to wear a mask if I was going to walk around. Now I'm no expert but I'm fairly certain air does not circulate in restricted hight zones! This makes literally no sense whatsoever. Who are making up these rules because they clearly not being made by anyone with even the slightest understanding of how particles act once they are in the air!

Well if you’re sitting you’re presumably eating and drinking so wearing a mask isn’t practical. Walking around you’re not eating/drinking and you’re more likely to be close to others, since most places seem to have tables set out for social distancing you wouldn’t be near others while sat down.

I don't think it's the height so much as the moving around..

Well walking around does spread particles more widely than sitting still and as the pp said, you cant sensibly eat and drink in a mask.

It's fucking nonsense. Pantomime theatre safety.

There’s a thread about all the Covid “roolz”. Have a read of that, I agree with you, some of it is absolutely ridiculous.

well you’re moving around when up and walking and therefore coming into contact with more people so...

I had similar the other day, also in costa. My understanding is that if you are eating in you don’t have to wear a mask but if you’re getting take out you do. I was eating in so it didn’t occur to me. I was almost at the till when they said ‘have you got a mask?’ By the time I’d put my bag down, got it out, put it on (all while trying to restrain my toddler), I’d have been served and sitting down anyway. I wouldn’t have minded, except the waiter telling me to wear a mask...wasn’t wearing a mask 😂 if they’re so important, why aren’t the staff required to wear them?!

If you put the rules to one side and have your default as wearing a mask inside unless something stops you, it would make more sense. So, when you're eating or drinking, don't wear it. Don't be pedantic about putting it on between bites/ sips. But wear it the rest of the time.

Air is not stationary though. If you (unknowingly) have the virus and you're sat for half an hour eating, drinking, chatting; those particles are in the air so it makes no difference whether you're standing or sitting. Particles are forever moving through the air whether we move or not! And in a relatively small, enclosed space, moving around in itself forces those particles around even more so, whether the person moving is wearing a mask or not because they were just sat mask-less, breathing out those particles into the air.

It is craziness. Drives me mad. Facebook pages of people berating others for their selfish and dangerous behaviour. Including not wearing a mask when standing, after having sat there for 40 minutes.