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.

Obviously YABU.
I'm sure that we would all prefer not to have to continue wearing masks, socially distancing and making our hands sore with washing and sanitising however if we want to go out and about these things have to remain. The less compliance there is, the more likely we are to have a further lockdown and the possibility of variants that aren't susceptible to the vaccine. If you don't want to wear a mask ; don't mix. What an attitude!

Anyone want to do Mumsnet bingo? Those special Mumsnet words . . .

I've not been following closely. Have we had "crack on" yet?

Must have had "grim"!

Stores are struggling immensely at the moment because of increased levels of isolation. This will only get worse from today. Please just wear your mask, for the sake of your own health and the health of others around you.

@Frittataz

Not really. There are poorly people in hospital who are genuinely vulnerable so in this instance I don’t mind wearing a mask, and like I said, the letter I got from the hospital states masks are required. Shops will not have signs outside stating masks are required and I assume people who are poorly will not be out shopping.

Christ.

I'm genuinely vulnerable. So I'd be ok if you stood next to me in the hospital but not if I was in a shop.

Fucking brilliant logic.

@Coyoacan

I’ve wore a mask from the beginning and stuck to every rule

This is the trouble with being an obeyer of rules. You never think behind the rule to the reason for it. I presume when you make a rule for your children, you expect them to obey it without question but never explain why it is necessary.

That's a very good point you're making. Rules are for reasons. Only when the reasons no longer apply can you ditch the rule. Unfortunately our current government are incompetent, and even though they know the reasons are still there, they have calculated that it is in their political interest to ditch it anyway.

Boris takes responsibility for nothing. This is a prime example of him shifting his responsibility onto the shoulders of those who can least bear the burden - shop, transport and hospitality staff. He fwah fwah's about taking personal responsibility, and this thread shows that a lot of people will NOT take personal responsibility, just stubbornly say 'it's legal'.

@TooBored1

Each to their own but I'll still be wearing mine. Rates are going through the roof.

This.

IMHO the government are insane dropping rules and regs when cases are spiralling. I believe I have a duty to the society I live in and will therefore continue wearing a mask to protect others. Would be nice if others did the same to protect me.

Well done to the op for those post, albeit imo gloaty, it has certainly show the line between people who still chose to wear one and those who chose not to.

If you see in my paragraph above, I've used the word 'chose' twice, because it is now a personal choice.

People being called foil hat brigade, or sheeple for choosing (see used it again) to continue wear or selfish virus spreaders for not choosing to.
What next, make people sew emblems onto their clothing to indicate they're vaccinated, or have someone follow them ringing a bell shouting 'unvaccinated'....

The guidelines now say its a CHOICE! Get over it on both sides.

I am happy to report... I've just got back from a massive Sainsburys in another town, and I did not see one person without a mask.

Really relieved, well done people!

Well thats funny because 99% of the mask refusers and covid deniers ive met have been of the liberal leftie persuasion!

I've found completely the opposite to that. I'm so surprised at tha comment.

@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.

Hopefully they will gently tell you to shop elsewhere

@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.

Shops can serve you, or not. Their decision.

I hope they don't serve you - wearing one is considerate, why would you not?

(and I hate the damned things)

@starfro

Janus
@starfro I always wonder how much Chris Whitty is persuaded to say something that matches whatever the government are proposing?? I bet if he had free speech he would say the timing of this is awful.
To be honest, I have teenagers and early 20s and if they want to go clubbing I can’t blame them with the 2 years of no life they’ve had to protect the older generation. But they still wear masks in every indoor setting.
I understand that things have to open up at some point and when do we choose the right time but the huge rising numbers tell me this is not the right time. I’m not expecting this to go well!!
He definitely wouldn't (I have some insider knowledge here as well). I think he'd like to keep masks, but is quite sure this is the least worst time to open.

This only ends* when sufficient immunity builds up. That means lots of cases. You want to match the rise in cases to a time when the NHS isn't dealing with flu cases.

You might want to flatten the curve. Summer school holidays helps quite a lot with this. Mask wearing will a little bit as well. However, if you flatten it too much, you end up with it going on longer and into winter. Also, given R0 is now 6+, you just can't flatten the curve much. See the outbreaks in Souh Korea, Thailand, Vietnam to show how hard Delta is to control compared to previous iterations.

The actual SAGE/Gov plan from February is now very different thanks to Delta. It has changed the strategy from vaccine=immunity in vaccinated=small exit wave in the unvaccinated to vaccine=protection from severe illness, vaccine+infection = immunity. The Government isn't explaining this, even though scientists are.

There are no easy answers to any of this. The only other real option available is a hard hard lockdown for a whole year, but even then you end up with the same wave we're currently experiencing, just delayed a year.

*It won't end, you'll likely see smaller future outbreaks and most people will have Covid a few times in their lifetime

That’s really interesting and bloody scary! I think I won’t let my head go there but I can see your point. It does feel like here we’ve decided the only way forward is to assume that everyone will at some point have the vaccine and the infection and hope to come out the other side 😱! But this isn’t most country’s strategy is it? (Genuine question). Very interesting.

Not all choices are created equal. Some choices people make cause harm to others and choices right now may extend this pandemic and do god knows what harm in the next few months.

I respect your right to make a choice. I don't have to agree with or respect your choice.

Everywhere I went this morning people (including me) and most staff were wearing masks inside, it seemed no different. The staff member who wasn't wearing a mask was challenged by a customer and an awkward scene ensued. Oh what fun!

@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.

They can decide to not serve you if they think you’re wearing the wrong colour shoes

They can refuse to serve pretty much anyone. Even if it’s not a legal requirement. It’s been that way for many years.

Challenging maskless people leaves more chance of transmission of droplets. How foolish

Anecdotally, I spent five minutes in a little Tesco early and everyone was masked (staff and customers) and people were unusually courteous I thought - stepping back if others were stepping forward to get something etc.

Have you had enough attention yet op?
Ridiculous.

Apologies, forgot to quote the post I was replying too and now can't find it.

@Frittataz

I’m not a knob and I don’t care if strangers think that. I’ve done everything I’ve needed to do from the very start to protect my family and complete strangers so I’d like to have. A it of choice for once.

It’s alright

My 7 yr old is clinically vulnerable

But it seems you don’t give a shit about her.

@gardeninggirl68

Challenging maskless people leaves more chance of transmission of droplets. How foolish

Let's think, who's to blame, the maskless one or the worker who is put at risk?

Went to our local shopping centre today (North Kent) and 95% of people are still wearing masks and keeping their distance. I guess they aren't too convinced by 'freedom day' either.

I absolutely detest wearing a mask, especially with my allergies I find them so fricking uncomfortable and they make me want to scratch my face off, but as we are in another wave I will continue to wear them, and I will stop when (if) positive covid cases have really plummeted. I think the government are a bunch of incompetent, self serving fuckwits, and I don't trust a single word they say.

@knittingaddict thinking more about the people crowding round to see what's going on!

And THIS is exactly why this ridiculous decision is ridiculous beyond belief. It RELIES on the staggeringly self absorbed to think of others. ! Something that you don't seem to have grasped OP.. sorry to disappoint but today is 'not all about you' ...

With the phenomenal rate that the virus is currently spreading , the chances that you or your child could catch it - and have no symptoms, are extremely high. You then make YOUR decision to stand next to someone in the shops who is undergoing chemotherapy.. and the aerosol particles from your breadth come into contact with that person ... that person ends up in hospital... that person ends up taking an intensive car bed.. a bed booked for a post op heart patient whose surgery is yet again postponed . The Covid person dies and so does the heart patient ... ALL BECAUSE YOU WERE BORED OF WEARING A BLOODY MASK.

You are exactly what Johnson wants.. it's going to rip out of control and the individuals who cannot think beyond their own immediate family will be to blame.

Quite nocutenamesleft
Lots of people can't see that their bad choices affect others.