Surely 50% of people cannot have a health exemption for mask wearing

[JulieHere]

I haven't been 'n town' to visit the shops since March. Today needed some bits and bobs so popped a mask on. I'm asthmatic and could use that exemption but thought I would give it a go. I was really surprised that despite numerous signs in shopping centres etc that probably around 50% were wearing a mask and 50% not. I was really surprised. Mainly younger people but a few middle aged. In the main the elderly were wearing masks.

There was a group of young people (between 18 ish and mid twenties) wandering along together and not one of them bothered. I know that the virus doesn't tend to affect them much in the main but was quite surprised.

In my area - low population - there have been no deaths at local hospital for around 22 weeks ish and no-one in at present (SIL works on MAU/ICU) and infection rate really low anyway.

AIBU - a lot of young people are exempt so why should they wear one

YABU - 50% of people are exempt from mask wearing

YANBU - They are just bored with it all and cannot be bothered anymore.

Should also add a huge drop feed onto mine. I am also immune compromised as I am on biological injections and low dose chemo. I still have to go out shopping occasionally. And I don't care where other people wear masks. I do most of my shopping on line and have been ultra careful for years as I get sick so easily

@Kaktus

There are plenty of excellent candidates for the Covid Marshall jobs on MN. They should target their recruitment campaign here. Maybe join with MNHQ to make them some extra cash so they don’t have to charge people to see ‘fewer ads’.

How many people are likely to have an SIA certificate which you need in order to apply?

I’m SO glad you posted about this. You know, because it’s NEVER been posted about before, EVER EVER EVER!!!

PS saying you ‘popped a mask on’ is twee as fuck

No idea ilovesooty. I don’t know how many people nationwide hold an SIA certificate, or what the demographic of those holding one is. Are people on Mumsnet less likely to hold one than anyone else? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Go nob off with all the judgemental hate on people that don't wear a mask. It's NONE of your business why they don't have a mask on.

But it absolutely is. We're all members of the same society and the OP is more at risk should she catch the virus. She absolutely has the right to question why other people won't follow the guidance put in place to protect her and everyone else.

I just haven't the energy to care about this any more. Wear a mask, don't wear a mask, whatever.

Don't care. Certainly wouldn't go around tallying up who has a mask and who doesn't, and wondering about their motivations.

Isn't the advice also that you should be changing them between shops and transport? So the one on the bus, cannot be worn in primark, and neither of them can be worn in the coffee shop? And to go to the Toilet and new one will be needed to come out of the toilet?

When it's warm, I see people walking around sweating and still wearing them.

And yes to whoever mentioned nostrils. What's the point wearing them as beard. Thinking about it, it's those that do a lot of tutting when they see me.

@JulieHere - I'm asthmatic and could use that exemption but thought I would give it a go.

@AlternativePerspective - And I speak as someone who, because of my heart condition and associated breathing issues, is exempt but chooses to wear a mask anyway.

I wish people who are such sticklers for the rules would bother to find out what they actually say. There is no list of conditions that make you exempt.

You are exempt if you cannot put on, wear or remove a mask because of a health issue or disability. If you can wear one you are not exempt, regardless of what health issues or disabilities you have (other exemptions are available, including being unable to wear one because it causes you severe distress, or accompanying or helping someone who relies on lip reading).

The trouble with saying things like 'I'm exempt but I wear one anyway', aside from it being a misinterpretation of the law, is that it encourages the idea that those who actually are exempt could wear one really, if they just tried a bit harder.

Ahh yes young people again. Well where I live the young people wear masks even the chavs. They're are wearing the adidas masks.
And the elderly... so you think you middle Agers are the one wearing masks full time. Okay.
Also asthma on its own doesn't mean you can't wear a mask.

You know what? In the entire last six months, I've literally not seen anyone not complying with the rules. Every time I go into a shop, 100% of people are wearing a mask and people are keeping their distance. The only thing that I have noticed in the last few weeks is that people don't seem to be using the hand sanitisers as they walk into the supermarkets.

And in my town (approx pop. of 140k), we've an infection rate of 5.5 per 100,000 people. So I'm really sick of MN saying that people aren't complying with the rules because they fucking have been, even if they've not liked them.

Oh Julie, just mind your own business.

@Tavannach

Go nob off with all the judgemental hate on people that don't wear a mask. It's NONE of your business why they don't have a mask on.

But it absolutely is. We're all members of the same society and the OP is more at risk should she catch the virus. She absolutely has the right to question why other people won't follow the guidance put in place to protect her and everyone else.

I'm also in the risk group and not just because of my lungs. I couldn't give a monkeys if people are wearing them of not. I have never relied on the public to protect my health because that would be insanity.

Before CV it was clear that those of us who are autoimmune etc were on our own. It was blatantly clear when those with flu/chicken pox etc still went out into the community, into work, to school etc.

Before Cv post after post about how someones child had abit of a temp and the advice, a bit of calpol and send them in. When reality, suck it up, keep your ill child at home and protect their classmates.

I'm also in the risk group and not just because of my lungs. I couldn't give a monkeys if people are wearing them of not.
I have never relied on the public to protect my health because that would be insanity.

Before CV it was clear that those of us who are autoimmune etc were on our own. It was blatantly clear when those with flu/chicken pox etc still went out into the community, into work, to school etc.

Before Cv post after post about how someones child had abit of a temp and the advice, a bit of calpol and send them in. When reality, suck it up, keep your ill child at home and protect their classmates.

^This

I've even dumped someone over their lack of basic hygiene.

So many self-appointed Mask Police on here. Making life even more unpleasant for the many people suffering from anxiety, panic disorder and other invisible exemptions.

"I'm also in the risk group and not just because of my lungs. I couldn't give a monkeys if people are wearing them of not.
I have never relied on the public to protect my health because that would be insanity. "

Exactly. My children are in high school and college. They both wear masks because they are capable of it. They come home and get changed and shower. They are trying to reduce the chances of germs being brought in because they love me. But nobody outside of this house is responsible for me or my health. Unless you walk up to me or my kids and spit/cough in our faces ! Passing on a bug at Asda? Then catching germs at college? It's going to happen. Or would you have people wear masks constantly from now as a permanent thing to protect us immuno compromised people?

@LangClegsInSpace glad it's not just me fed up with the well I'm exempt because I have X but I still wear a mask.
I wonder sometimes if they want a parade or something for being able to do what others cannot. Fabulous you don't have the same issues as other people that make it impossible for them to wear one which unlike you (general) are exempt.

If it was based simply on health there's something like over 20% of the population that could simply say jog on, I'm exempt.

Well, if you read threads on here it's more like 75% are exempt.
Which does no favours to those who really are.

At my local shops today the police were wandering around and stopping anyone who was not wearing a mask to ask them if they were aware that face coverings need to be worn indoors. I was sitting on a be ch and heard one woman say she had a medical condition, they said that was fine. Another woman said she didn't bring one with her, they told her to go into a nearby shop and buy one or else leave the premises and if she didn't she would be fined. They were also stopping people who were wearing their masks incorrectly and telling them how to wear them properly. There was a man with his mask under his nose who was told to pull it up, as soon as he turned around he pulled it back down and the police officer noticed, she told him to wear it properly or he would receive a penalty notice.

This is the first time I've seen them out talking to people about masks and stopping anyone not wearing one. My brother works in one of the other local shopping centres and told me that they've had to ring the police to ask for patrols as the number of non-mask wearers has greatly increased over the last couple of weeks and door staff have been receiving abuse for reminding people to cover their face if they can and to gel their hands in entry/exit.

Here we have our first Covid Marshall.
Seriously, worry about things in your control like you wearing a mask. I wouldn't give head space to others and their mask habits

Where I live people are pretty good in the shops. They do seem to be resistant in the "communal" areas of the indoor shopping centre though. That said, there is an "open plan" coffee shop where they don't need to wear one, but the people walking past them, do. The rules are somewhat inconsistent at times.

There seem to be a few incidents on aeroplanes - caused by clueless cabin crew. Why are they not trained properly? And if they don't know the law, why don't they ask?

I suspect people are just over the whole thing..dont blame them!

I really would hope police would have better things to do! Harassing people will not get people on side.......

First time in 6 months since you went in a shop & you saw all the people of UK today so can comment authoritatively on mask-cover compliance demographics in entire population ? -- or maybe not.

If I see non-mask wearers -- they are mostly old people. Because my town is full of old people and they dominate the shopping population demographics on a weekday between 9 & 5pm. I understand OP to be saying the shops she chose were near a 6th form college. Shop in Frinton or Clacton if you want to see old people not wearing covers, too.

@AWaspOnAWindowReturns

So many self-appointed Mask Police on here. Making life even more unpleasant for the many people suffering from anxiety, panic disorder and other invisible exemptions.

Arguably people who aren't wearing masks simply because they don't want to are causing difficulties too.

Are they police or community police?
Nothing wrong with getting the community ones out and about like this.

But the police itself? Rather they are out investing crimes, giving evidence in any criminal procedures etc