AIBU to be surprised Specsavers insist on wearing masks in store?

[DigestiveBiscuit345]

Went to local Specsavers yesterday and was advised that wearing masks in store is compulsory. AIBU to be surprised at this as no other shops are doing this. Its been a very long time since mask wearing was required when out in public generally.

It's still classified as a clinical space, same as going to a medical appointment.

They are working very close to your face and mouth. Their rules I suppose

Yeah. We wear masks when working clinically.

A member of staff could be vulnerable.

It’s like healthcare isn’t it: we are still wearing masks on wards/clinical areas.

None of my local Specsavers ask this. They can't insist, they can only ask and you can say no.

At our GP surgery, the receptionist will say 'can I ask that you wear a mask', and you are allowed to decline if you want.

They are working very close to your face and mouth

This, and they are seeing a lot of people.

Makes sense to me. Especially with the cold & flu season approaching.

We are no longer wearing masks on our wards.

I've been in Specsavers many times over the last 2 years and the last couple of times, we were told masks weren't compulsory anymore and that it was choice.
Same with the dentist.
I'm fact, the two hospitals I've been in recently had different rules. One absolutely masks were compulsory and nurses were asking people to put them back on properly. The other hospital, again, it was patient choice.

Nuffield physio seems to be still doing this as well. But the physios are in gyms where they don’t do it. They also don’t bother with it at my local nuffield hospital. Seems odd.

I’ve to go to specsavers soon so didn’t know about it. Do they provide them if you don’t have one ? The last time I went I ended up removing the mask as the mask was making steamy their gadgets so I couldn’t see a damm thing and the guy told me I could have it removed.

Masks are no longer mandatory in my GP, but they are at my independent opticians. I’m ok with it, they get so close to your face. Less so now with the current machinery, but still very close.

To me it seems obvious given a) they work in close contact b) they work with lots of vulnerable people.

Next COVID spike is on the way (October is the expectation for reaching high levels) and personally I'm going back to wearing a mask on the bus.

The staff at Specsavers have to get extremely close to you and breathe in your face. Wouldn't you prefer to wear a mask in this situation? I would.

Yes they usually have masks there

I went to the opticians yesterday and was surprised it wasn't compulsory! I would absolutely not have a problem with it. They have to sit directly opposite you and look through the machines, they mess with the glasses on your face. I imagine one of their staff is vulnerable or lives with someone who is.

I have noticed in general more and more people are wearing masks to the supermarket, on the bus etc as the weather turns. I know it's going round out school again, I can only hope my DC avoid it so our half term plans won't be scuppered.

I'm not surprised by that as they do work close up to people's faces.

I am quite surprised though that ²I still need to make an appointment to collect medication from the vets and when I arrive for my allotted time I have to phone to ask permission to approach the window to collect the medication. Seems like utter overkill in that situation.

I wouldn’t prefer and it should be an individual’s choice. Which it seems like actually is the case if other poster’s experiences are true?

Just refuse next time and see what they say. They may just drop it. Compliance will only prolong this whole thing.

Compliance will only prolong this whole thing. 🙄Yes, making the optician ill with flu/COVID will show them who's boss.

Pretty sure they ask you to take it off when doing the eye exam as it steams up the glasses.....they did when I had an eye test!

Still asking people to wear masks at my local branch and are wiping frames before and after being tried on which makes browsing difficult

This - mine doesn’t

Of course they are, very sensible.

Covid hasn't gone away. Only the deeply stupid think that.

Our specsavers are still making us queue outside and wear masks.

Yes if you want to be an arse you can refuse. You can also be asked to leave.