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.

[quote LangClegsInSpace]@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.[/quote]
Everything LangCleg said.

Only those who are unable to wear masks are exempt.

Also, Asthma UK have been clear that whilst most asthmatics can wear a mask, some people with asthma can't. Just because one asthmatic can happily wear a mask doesn't mean we all can and that those who can't could if they 'made more of an effort'.

Are they police or community police?

Two police officers and then as we were leaving there two PCSOs coming in. It's a huge shopping centre with an on-site police unit and also not unusual to see a pair of armed officers patrolling so having two officers walking around and also a pair of PCSOs is not outside of the police presence normally seen.

I am exempt but always wear the mask as I am scared of being beaten up by other shoppers in Waitrose.

Roll on the end of the mask rules.

It didn't take long for anyone expressing concern to get told they should be a Covid Marshall.
🙄

Given some of the attitudes on here throughout the whole pandemic about why they must go out and about despite being told not to, why it's fine to meet with loads of people, why coughs don't count if they decide they don't, why nobody can make them wear a mask, why anyone worried about people bringing the virus to rural communities needs to get a grip, calling people the Gestapo for not wanting large gatherings in next door's garden etc, it's hardly surprising that we're getting spikes now schools have opened. It only takes a minority to do what they like and spread it around the majority who do their best

I wear one IN shops but not wondering around?

@canigooutyet

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.

Where did you read or hear that? FFS.

I wear one IN shops but not wondering around?

That's fine if it's outdoors, its only in an indoor shopping centre or mall that you'd need to wear it when wandering around.

@RegularHumanBartender

You could apply for one of these new marshal jobs and then challenge people left, right and centre.

Or, you could keep your beak out? Just a thought.

But the OP probably wants to be protected. And unless other people also wear masks she won't be. So I am guessing that's why she isn't "keeping her beak out".

You can’t be exempt and wear one anyway. Unless you are supporting someone who needs lipread and you choose to cover your mouth. You either can’t possible wear one without having a serious medical or physiological reaction or you CAN wear one. It’s like saying I can’t walk but I choose to anyway.

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

Well, the mask habits of other people could affect you, if not directly in health terms then in economic or social terms if they contribute to further restrictions. I don't know how much difference masks make but that is the route we are going down right now.

Don't patronise the OP, she is hardly a marshal and she doesn't sound worried.

The mask exemption idea works because it is a minority a people. If it were anywhere near half of people, they might have to ask that those with conditions preventing mask wearing practice a kind of shielding and not go to shops etc.

I really struggle with wearing a mask and can't wait to rip the sodding thing off my face the second I walk out of the shop's doorway, so no way will I be wearing it walking along the street.

@Akire

You can’t be exempt and wear one anyway. Unless you are supporting someone who needs lipread and you choose to cover your mouth. You either can’t possible wear one without having a serious medical or physiological reaction or you CAN wear one. It’s like saying I can’t walk but I choose to anyway.

@Akire There are medical conditions that are intermittent which means sometimes you can do physical things like walk but on other occasions, you can't. This is why you see people in cars with blue badges looking ok as it will be on their good days.

It is the same with mask-wearing. There are conditions that mean you are exempt but on a good day you can wear a mask.

To be fair with intermittent conditions you won't see people about in public on a bad day.

People may not have realised that they have to wear them in the shopping centre as well as the actual shops. I didn't until I saw this thread and looked it up. (And before the mask police come along, I haven't been to a shopping centre since before March so no breaking the law here.)

YES I meant either you can’t wear one or you can. You can be exempt on a bad day and not wear one fine. The next day your breathing is better say, then you are not exempt because Tuesday you are physically capable of wearing one. Saying I’m incapable of wearing one but I choose to doesn’t make sense.

Just be clear I have a Disabled and lots of people have said to be “oh you don’t need to wear one” like it’s a blanket get of jail card. I can wear one, Its hot and annoying but I can. So I wouldn’t say I exempt but I choose to.

@Xenia

I am exempt but always wear the mask as I am scared of being beaten up by other shoppers in Waitrose.

Roll on the end of the mask rules.

Oh come on, Xenia, you're a lawyer!

www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/592/regulation/4/made

YES I meant either you can’t wear one or you can. You can be exempt on a bad day and not wear one fine. The next day your breathing is better say, then you are not exempt because Tuesday you are physically capable of wearing one. Saying I’m incapable of wearing one but I choose to doesn’t make sense.

Yes, this is the way I interpret it.

I very much doubt it was 50% and if it was then yes it sounds like a shit place sorry .
I also think you and others should give over on the whole mask watch and just get on with your day .
Honestly what did you do before all this complaining about people not wearing a mask .
You wear one and don't waste your time getting mad deciding that they should be wearing a mask it's silly .

Weirdly I find the younger people pretty good around here compared to older people. Also most people seem to be wearing them too which is good.

I rarely see anyone not wearing a mask to be honest. I saw someone the other day and they made a point of drawing attention to their sunflower lanyard when they were queried by the shop staff.

For the first time in months I went into a shop without a mask a few days ago. I am a carer for my elderly mother and she urgently needed something and when I got to the shop I discovered that my mask wasn't in the car. I wondered what to do then realised that if I didn't go in she would be waiting for days until I could come back and do it (because I also work) so I ran in as quickly as I could and got out again as quickly as I could. I suppose anyone who saw me would, rightly, have thought I was just taking the piss, but I had to balance what was for the greater good.

The mask exemption idea works because it is a minority a people. If it were anywhere near half of people, they might have to ask that those with conditions preventing mask wearing practice a kind of shielding and not go to shops etc
That's what I wonder.
I have a condition that flares up and down. Some days I can manage a mask, others I can't.

Equally, I've not been out to pubs or restaurants since restrictions lifted and I've only gone to shops when I know they'll be quiet and if the option is busy place with no mask or stay at home then I choose to stay at home. I've driven to supermarkets and walked straight out if it's been full of maskless people because I don't want to be in those conditions.

Lola I am hoping that the people who can wear masks will do so, at least the vast majority of them, so that people who genuinely can't like you ( at times) can still go out.

Mostly I have found people do wear them. I went to one Asda where it was shocking how many didn't, but that seemed a one off.

Wherever I’ve been the vast majority wore masks. The few that didn’t were 30’s to 40’s not teens. HTH

Most people can wear masks. Very few genuinely can't. Of course those very few should absolutely be able to go about their normal routine with dignity and without judgement but if so many people in your area aren't wearing them then most are selfish piss takers, which hurts the genuine "can'ts" as much as or more than anyone.

I do agree you must live somewhere with a disproportionate amount of selfish thoughtless people. I've only seen two or three people without masks since they became compulsory where I live in late May.

It did annoy me a bit when we went on a coach trip. The first one I felt quite safe everyone was wearing masks that was beginning of August
The second one I couldn't quite believe it because almost everyone had the mask but took it down when the coach was moving so it wasn't over their mouth or nose! Well what's the point in having one then!
I thought it would be like the first one
I'm not stickler for masks but what with it being a coach I would have felt more comfortable people doing it!

I would never challenge anyone.

However, anyone with even a basic amount of knowledge about anatomy and physiology knows there is no lung disease exacerbated by a thing piece of fabric over the nose and mouth. Of course there are sensory issues, so those with autism, dementia or ptsd may struggle but gaseous exchange is not impacted by the equivalent of a thin hanky on one's face.

So that is why the vast amounts of people not bothering get eye rolls from those that tolerate the slight discomfort.