Page 10 | Ditching my mask from today except for in hospital settings

ikeepseeingit · 19/07/2021 08:10

@Frittataz

I see why you might think I’m entitled but if that’s the case why would I have bothered to stick to the rules from the start? If I was genuinely entitled then I could have (easily) lied stated I was exempt and not wore a mask, I could have continued to visit my family, including my two elderly grandparents, I could have refused to put my dc through the hassle of weekly covid tests etc etc. I’m not an arsehole, I’ve done what I was required to do from the start, but I’ve simply had enough now.

Do you think that we all enjoy wearing masks? Honestly, I have had no opportunity to get my second jab (I’m 23) I’ve been diagnosed with M.E in the past, long COVID is a very real possibility for me and a lot of other young people even now. You’ve decided that your comfort beats the health and well-being of shop staff and people that haven’t managed to be double jabbed. They have a right to not serve you, it’s incredibly dishonest to tell them you’re exempt when you’re not.

Kayjay2018 · 19/07/2021 08:10

People saying they will wear one to medical appointments and not food shopping, can I just ask why the distinction between the two?

As parent to someone who works in a supermarket and is not yet vaccinated, I'm not sure whether this is because his health is not seen as important compared to someone in a medical setting or whether people have other reasonings? I'm asking as I generally am unsure the logic as my family and friends plan on still wearing them indoors in shops etc

LucyLockhearts · 19/07/2021 08:10

A piece of cloth from eBay that's been shoved in a car door or someone's handbag really doesn't stop a virus spreading.

@warmfluffytowels Would one from John Lewis work better?

Honestly, you're a laugh a minute.

You think your grasp of science is better than all of SAGE?

Jog on. (But DO wear your mask.)

Kona84 · 19/07/2021 08:13

With covid cases rising and currently 27weeks pregnant I will be wearing mine.
And I will be asking for people to give me space especially if they aren’t wearing a mask.
If I wasn’t pregnant I still would be wearing mine to protect others.
I’ve got used to wearing a mask anyway and feel abit naked going out without it now

ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia · 19/07/2021 08:13

And many of us are probably wondering why there was a Kent variant in the first place or continued cycle of infections, fatalities and restrictions on business sectors etc etc.

The more the careless approach the more the super spreading the more the lost of lives and livelihoods and the longer the pandemic. Keep it up and spread until it finally hits you too when to ill to keep spreading. You sound like a proud model citizen-not. I thought Trump and his fans were history?

Illogicalmadness · 19/07/2021 08:13

I will be wearing a mask wherever there is recycled air so cinema's, shops etc and large crowds. Read an article about how widely the virus is spread by air conditioning units. Particularly as not all are effective as purifying the air of the virus as they just recycle the air.

Allmyarseandpeggymartin · 19/07/2021 08:14

All this bluster about masks - do they work really? If they were proper medical masks maybe but these are crunched up bits of fabric shoved in pockets for months on end.

I always thought they were a bit of theatre to make people feel better (and superior)

Oh yeah masks are certainly making a difference to the case numbers in the uk - what are we up to now 40k a day?

LucyLockhearts · 19/07/2021 08:15

But they’re not a legal requirement so how can they do that? If I really wanted to I could simply lie and say that I’m exempt but why should I have to do that.

Shops are private premises as are pubs , cafes, etc.

They make the rules.

So your grasp of these things is non-existent, as well as your grammar (I've wore a mask...)

SmileyClare · 19/07/2021 08:15

At least have a mask to hand in case you are requested to wear one?

It's hardly worth an argument at the door of a shop. As pointed out, the store can enforce their own rules and you should respect that. It's annoying for everyone if you hold up a queue to bang on about your legal entitlements.

Jossbow · 19/07/2021 08:15

@Frittataz

Clearly this is fine legally speaking but AIBU to expect not to be asked to wear a mask from today onwards? I’ll wear one when attending hospital/doctors appointments but that’s it that’s were i draw the line. I shouldn’t be expected to explain myself right? I’ve wore a mask from the beginning and stuck to every rule. I won’t be rushing out to go to nightclubs as I didn’t do that before covid and i don’t suddenly feel the need to surround myself (closely) with lots of other people but I am looking forward to taking my daughter shopping and going to the cinema without having to wear a mask.

Why would you value the health of a medical practitioner more than the health of a shop assistant?

You wont pass any germs you may be carrying onto a Dr, but you dont mind doing so to a shop assistant?
you dont feel any reason that you should justify that thinking. Arethey Below you in the food chain or something?

H65447788888 · 19/07/2021 08:16

I won’t be wearing one either !!! People calling you selfish are ridiculous- the government has told us we don’t have to wear them if we don’t want too?!?! It’s shocking way this pandemic has divided everyone. If you want to wear one and be over the top then fine you do that ! Stop being rude to people who don’t want to wear them anymore they are not a legal requirement and there will be plenty of people who don’t wear them so shops will be very silly to enforce mask wearing as they will lose customers, so I don’t think they will do that.

You know using a mask doesn’t really help anyway?! Most of us have been vaccinated now so it is time to live our lives ffs. There will be deaths still yes but just like there is from the flu. If your that vunerable and have health issues & are scared etc then don’t visit the shops, can’t expect everyone to put there lives on hold to protect the vunerable forever.

GraduallyWatermelon · 19/07/2021 08:16

@Frittataz

But they’re not a legal requirement and if I am asked to wear one in shops I will gently remind them of that.

Maybe they'll gently remind you that the are private businesses and you can't enter without permission?

ChaToilLeam · 19/07/2021 08:16

How utterly selfish. I wish those that come into contact with you luck.

LucyLockhearts · 19/07/2021 08:18

Oh yeah masks are certainly making a difference to the case numbers in the uk - what are we up to now 40k a day?

This kind of logic (?) is shocking.

So going by your 'logic' is rates are 50K a day WITH masks, taking them off will make things better. That's your point, yes?

Maybe just consider the fact that many people are already not wearing masks and never have, and some of the rise is from large events where masks were not worn.

And also consider that if they reduce infection by just a small percentage, that means the rates are lower than if masks were ditched.

gingercat02 · 19/07/2021 08:18

@TeddingtonTrashbag

Going to an expensive hairdressing appointment later that requires being in the salon 3 hours. If they require a mask I will cancel. Their loss.

I had my hair done on Saturday and my salon is insisting on masks. They have a massive waiting list and won't miss the odd mask refuser. All our local and large businesses are still requesting masks

Simbacatisback · 19/07/2021 08:18

@Frittataz

But they’re not a legal requirement and if I am asked to wear one in shops I will gently remind them of that.

Then they can ask you to leave- you have an invite to be there and shop- not a right

moynomore · 19/07/2021 08:18

Stop being rude to people who don’t want to wear them anymore

I will not stop being rude to selfish people. Farting in public is legal too, but still rude to do so and I bet you don't. Even if it protects one shop worker, I will wear one.

warmfluffytowels · 19/07/2021 08:18

@LucyLockhearts

A piece of cloth from eBay that's been shoved in a car door or someone's handbag really doesn't stop a virus spreading.

@warmfluffytowels Would one from John Lewis work better?

Honestly, you're a laugh a minute.

You think your grasp of science is better than all of SAGE?

Jog on. (But DO wear your mask.)

Someone quoted an article from a SAGE scientist in the telegraph where it said that the COVID particles were tiny compared to the gaps in even a medical grade mask.

If they make such a difference, btw, why do we have 40,000 cases or more being diagnosed each day?

Carboholic · 19/07/2021 08:19

I will continue to wear one in all unventilated settings, eg public transport, shops etc. Will be avoiding nightclubs (shouldn’t be hard as I haven’t been to one in decades). I will probably not wear one in my office if I don’t have to, but will be leaving the window open more. Not sure about outdoor school drop off.

The point of masks is that they protect others, by stopping the droplets you breath / cough out from spreading and floating in the air. Even if they don’t stop every single particle, reducing the number of them helps. They protect the wearer a little and everyone else a lot. That’s why not wearing one is not an act of personal courage but a fuck you to people you meet.

Beendownthisroadmorethantwice · 19/07/2021 08:19

Laughing at the people who assume that losing their custom will be a bigger blow than having to close due to infection.
I picture them as the type who huffily say “well I’ll take my custom elsewhere” while a business owner quietly thinks “thank fuck for that”.

MrsTulipTattsyrup · 19/07/2021 08:20

@Allmyarseandpeggymartin

All this bluster about masks - do they work really? If they were proper medical masks maybe but these are crunched up bits of fabric shoved in pockets for months on end.

I always thought they were a bit of theatre to make people feel better (and superior)

Oh yeah masks are certainly making a difference to the case numbers in the uk - what are we up to now 40k a day?

My masks aren’t like that. I made them - triple layers of fabric, with a filter pocket, made to the same specification that people were asked to make for use in American hospitals at the start of the pandemic (before we had even thought of asking people to wear them). I’ve made them for all friends and family. They are worn for no more than an hour at a time before changing, bagged carefully, hands sanitised after touching them, and washed and dried so they are sanitised.

Don’t judge others by yourself.

Carboholic · 19/07/2021 08:20

Btw I read the Telegraph article and don’t believe a word in it.

H65447788888 · 19/07/2021 08:20

“Oh look how nice we are we are still protecting are customers by requesting you to wear masks”
It’s bollocks it’s just about trying to look good because they know there’s people around like the ones commenting on this thread.

bumblingbovine49 · 19/07/2021 08:20

@Frittataz

But they’re not a legal requirement so how can they do that? If I really wanted to I could simply lie and say that I’m exempt but why should I have to do that.

A shop can refuse to serve you unless it violates the equality act . That only says they can't refuse to serve you if it directly discrimnates against a protected characteristic. They can however put restrictions on serving you if there is a reasonable reason even if that results in indirect discrimation.

So concerns about public health and the safety of their staff and other customers could trump any discrimation you might suffer from not being able to wear a mask due to medical reasons

If.you are just choosing not to wear a mask and are not exempt for medical/ other reasons then you have even less recourse if the shop refuses to serve you

igelkott2021 · 19/07/2021 08:21

@Frittataz

But they’re not a legal requirement and if I am asked to wear one in shops I will gently remind them of that.

But they can be a term of shopping at that store - in the same way as paying for parking is in a private car park. So no criminal proceedings, but they can certainly refuse to serve you. And no it's not a breach of the Equality Act.

I've had emails from sports massage therapists and hairdressers and saying they will continue to wear them and expect their customers to so it's not just medical settings.