Ditching my mask from today except for in hospital settings

[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.

Loads of people on here just love masks @Frittataz

It’s peculiar. I just wouldn’t go to places that require them now.

Some people are bloody pathetic and selfish! A mask is not really a big ask, so grow up, man up and help the majority of the sensible population, amongst who are the vulnerable and scared.

How times have changed since my parents' generation.

@Frittataz

Because i feel it’s appropriate to wear one in a hospital and on the letter I got for my dd’s appointment it states face masks are required. Simple.

Well, some shops are going to tell you that face masks are required. You're welcome not to go in them, but arguing the toss about the legality at the front door (when they're free to make their own conditions for entry) will make you a knob.

I'm all for personal choice and personal responsibility, but you can't in one breath say "this place had said it requires masks so I will wear them" and then in another say you won't wear one where you'll require it.

@Frittataz

If I was selfish then I wouldn’t have stuck to the rules at all from the start would I. I have wore masks, kept my distance, not seen my family for months etc. If I really didn’t give a shit about other people why would have I done that?

So what's different now? Legality it would seem from your post, so you only did those things because they were illegal? You get no brownie points for that op.

You've stopped giving a shit? Why now?

I think it's an interesting experiment but ultimately it'll be at the cost of the poorer in society, including those working in retail and hospitality.

If shops have a person at the door telling/asking customers to put masks on, and those customers turn tail and go spend their money elsewhere, I suspect most shops will quickly drop the policy.

I hate masks. Still can't find one that fits well, still have my glasses steam up, and now very pregnant with twins and my breathing is affected so mask-wearing exacerbates that so I have to take it off every 5 minutes to gulp air or I feel faint. And I want to see people's faces. But I feel bad not wearing one despite probably now being exempt (?). So I end up just not going into shops unless I can avoid it.

@changingstages

Lots of stamping feet behaviour today but it'll settle down. Most people will wear masks. Those who are exempt will not, as is right. And a minority will not wear them because they don't want to and the rest of us will maybe do a little internal eye roll at worst and get on with our days.

Imagine it will be made mandatory again pretty soon anyway and the same foot stampers will come out and say they're not doing it and a few thousand dickheads will have a red faced day out in London to say they don't like it and the majority will just still quietly get on with their day, wearing a mask where necessary.

A 'red faced day out' hahahahha

I think (hope) you're right.

Sorry bad sentence there.

So you only did those things because doing otherwise was illegal.

That's better.

It's probably not legally enforceable to wear shoes in a shop, but the shop can enforce it under their own rules and ask you to leave. It's the same with the mask.

Just say you are exempt if challenged in a shop. I will. I stopped wearing one a couple of weeks ago as I don't agree with them. It is different for medical settings though I think.

Whether you wear a mask in shops and on public transport depends on how socially responsible you are. It's about protecting others, not you. Shops and transport will try to enforce it to protect their customers in general. You won't end up with a fine for not wearing one but may feel awkward for not wearing one or even be refused entry. Is that what you wanted to know?

So selfish. I hope shops refuse to serve you!

@LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus why is it different for medical settings than a shop? It's all covered by HSE.

Or is it because you think you are more at risk in a medical setting?

I don't think there’s a legal requirement but I’m still wearing one in shops/public transport cos I can, I’m not an arse and can also read a line graph

Shops can make their own rules about who they allow entry or not.

Don't forget it's not law to put a shirt on if you go into shops, or cover up if you're wearing a bikini in the summer when going to get something to eat. But many places refuse entry if you're a topless bloke or a woman in a bikini. It's not law to wear a tie but some posh restaurants won't let a man in without one or won't admit people in jeans. Their business, their way. None of those businesses have lost customers. Why? Because more people feel comfortable with those rules than don't.

At the end of the day it'll come down to economics. If more customers walk away from a business because they feel it's a free for all compared to those who walk away because they don't want to mask up, then the business will start to ask people to mask up (unless exempt).

If others in the same sector start seeing their competitors doing OK with a mask policy they'll start to do the same because a mask protects others more than it does you. So their staff behind the till or filling the shelves or checking tickets at the cinema are safer if you're masked up. Those who won't mask because they don't want to (rather than being exempt), will be in a position of mask up or don't use the business. But if it's all supermarkets or all cinemas then you'll have to mask. It's just the opposite of all the people who are now going to have to isolate because masks are dropped. They can't use those businesses now because of vulnerability. But they are being told 'tough, you'll just have to suck it up and shield' as I've seen on here. Well that works both ways. If enough shops change policy to wearing masks (unless exempt) to protect their staff, then you will just have to suck it up or not use those sectors.

I wouldn't burn the mask yet though. I think Boris will U turn within a couple of weeks. Masks and social distancing are nothing compared to a lockdown. If this goes wrong and people don't use 'community responsibility' - i.e. taking steps to protect others rather than selfishly doing whatever they want for themselves - then Boris will have no choice.

Legally shops have to put in place measures to protect the health and safety of their staff and can insist on customer compliance with this. This even trumps disability legislation. This is why many shops can insist and why they will likely win any legal challenges.

@knittingaddict you do get brownie points for sticking to the law. You don't get fines or a criminal record for a start. You are fulfilling your part of the social contract. The contract also said vaccination was the way out of this so I absolutely won't be wearing masks where not required. It'll be interesting to see what the rest of the population choose to do in this heat. According to mn they'll suck it up...

@Lunaduckdrop You can be refused entry / transport - no fine, they now can tell you that they won't serve you - under their risk assessments (or staff may end up fined / prison).

Can’t get a vaccine here, supplies are limited to the elderly for now.
UK posters amaze me.

It’s all “What?! I can’t go on holiday abroad?!” And then “How dare people suggest I wear a mask in moderately warm weather!”

It’s a global pandemic and you’re part of that. Why not make a little effort for the sake of everyone?

We are dealing with the Kent variant already on the other side of the world. It’s on people like you if you incubate another one.

@helpfulperson finally, someone else who understands what has actually happened with regards to HSE / Risk assessments.

I’ll still be wearing mine on public transport and in shops.
I don’t like the bloody things but it seems only sensible.

Though it’s not as if they’ve ever been at all properly enforced here anyway. I’ve seen so many people in shops not wearing them - inc. groups of perfectly healthy looking teens/early 20s - I just don’t believe they were all exempt. Not to mention people wearing them under their noses or on their chins - including staff in my local Asda.

The only places I’ve ever seen them rigorously enforced is in a local pharmacy where there’s a sign saying ‘No mask, no entry’ on the door.
And in France, where there were signs outside motorway services saying ‘masks obligatory’.
None of this pathetic, ‘Please wear a face covering, unless you’re exempt.’

Cases are rising again due to people who think "why should I?", just like you do. Join their number, help keep those case figures high!

You've worn a mask and socially distanced because you were protecting yourself. Now you don't need to, and the restrictions are removed, you are eager to stop bothering. What about vulnerable people who are well now, go shopping but who still are vulnerable to passing viruses..... they might even be working in the shop.

Still it's not illegal. Nor is smoking.

They are meant to protect others, who would want to protect the judgemental people on here, I may have worn one but after reading threads on here I won't bother.

It's not a legal requirement to wear a jacket and a tie but there are restaurants that won't serve you if you aren't properly attired. Think of it like that.

I think YABU bit I doubt you care what some random person on the internet thinks.

@LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus

Just say you are exempt if challenged in a shop. I will. I stopped wearing one a couple of weeks ago as I don't agree with them. It is different for medical settings though I think.

People like you and the OP make it difficult for people who really are exempt