Face masks for shopping

[Lemons1571]

It’s just popped up on my social media on the official bona fide UK government page.

“Going shopping this weekend?
Shop responsibly
Wear a face mask“

This is the drip feed start of a move towards compulsory face masks in shops isn’t it. Particularly in the autumn/winter when they expect transmission to rise.

I’m keen. I imagine lots will struggle with this though.

[quote WhiteChocTwix]@Deelish75 I ordered them from a lady on my local FB group who was making them for a good price. They've turned out to be excellent don't make my specs steam up! I'm in the South East, not sure where you are?[/quote]
could you put a link up please...I am in SE too. Thanks

inews.co.uk/news/uk/face-mask-exemptions-people-public-transport-rules-coverings-government-450550

welfareweekly.com/coronavirus-disabled-people-fear-becoming-victims-of-hate-crime-as-40-say-they-cannot-wear-face-masks/?fbclid=IwAR3yGqGvi_-GsDwOwf3eaSB85x9NY4X0A6bOEJAbwu7BkFBZx2pEJnxBd9c

Feeling too hot?

Well the Japanese take the threat of heat stroke seriously unlike the dystopian shithole that is the UK

english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/06/9126f89133e2-focus-japan-companies-developing-cool-face-masks-as-summer-approaches.html

This is what tends to happen in the real world in the summer/when there is a heatwave unless we are going to do the same as Japan and put cold masks in vending machines for the public to buy
I was in Boots on Friday It was stifling in there Must have been 33c in there, and the staff were no longer wearing face masks when a couple of them were really gung ho about it last month!!

Been saying for weeks that this would happen when it got hot and stifling but nooooooooooo people kept saying that ppl would just have to cope.

The woman in her 60s (WASPI) behind the till was close to collapse. She couldnt take it and had to remove her mask Ditto the other staff member

So what are some of these places going to do to make their workplaces more comfortable to enable mask wearing. Or face dealing with staff members getting heat stroke.

Would a heat stroke death as a result of this go on the Covid figures?

Summer 2005 Impetigo on bottom lip Caused by humidity. As told by my GP Treated with cream and antibiotics.
18 month gap then......
Jan 2007 Another flare up Same place. Due to stress Treated again with same antibiotics and cream
Four and half year gap.............July 2011 Another flare up just before school reunion caused by stress and humidity. Treated again with antibiotics and cream

Six month gap January 2012 due to stress Treated again with antibiotics and cream.
2 years and 9 months gap

October 2014
Another flare up. 23 and 24 Oct was humid and warm. Treated again with same cream and antibiotics.

Been clear now for five years and eight months I intend to keep it that way.

The bacteria that causes this THRIVES in humid weather. Under a mask in the summer is the perfect breeding ground.

It has taken me YEARS to get out of this cycle. I will NOT be attending a hair appointment anytime soon despite the fact i would bloody love to..

If they bring this in for non essential shops i wont be setting foot in them. I would rather walk around in rags with grey hair than put myself at risk of developing this skin condition again.

Incidentally its VERY contagious Its also likely i would now have to wait weeks for a GP appointment to get the antibiotics and fucidin cream which you can only get on prescription. i would NOT be stopping at home for weeks Already done that in case i have asymptomatic Covid. So it would be kind of ironic if i didnt/couldnt stay home for weeks because of an infection i would actually HAVE caused by a law thats been brought in. And i wouldnt be able to wear a mask which would rub against the weeping crusting sore i would have.

The best thing for me and others would be for me to avoid ANYWHERE that brings this in. Have stopped using public transport and wont be going to hairdressers.

I am unable to wear foundation because of this. GPs have told me to let my skin breathe.

To anyone looking to buy washable masks, I can recommend a company called Binge. I found them on Twitter and ordered about 10 days ago and my mask came today which isn’t exactly quick but it’s lovely, well made and profits go to the NHS.

My 9yr old dd tried mine on today and asked if they do kids ones. Upon checking I discovered that they do adults and kids ones and there are around 70 designs though the kids ones are priced the same as the adults

I bought it as I’ve not liked wearing the disposable type and anticipate some journeys on public transport after not using it for 4 months. I got the stained glass design and the material is gorgeous.

I dislike masks so much, I would rather remain in lockdown and stay away from commercial premises completely.

I use public transport about twice a year (happy to forego that), and I haven’t needed anything yet that I cannot order online. I haven’t seen a GP in years so that’s not a big problem and they aren’t needed at the dentist.

Apart from the claustrophobic panicky physical effect of the mask, I associate them with oppression and I can’t bring myself to wear one. Thankfully I don’t think the British public will tolerate them either.

@dancinfeet

It's totally shit for anyone like me who is really claustrophobic. I'm already avoiding public transport (and don't drive), next getting groceries is going to be a palava if they make masks compusory and online shopping still arrives with stuff missing. I'm not being obtuse, covering my mouth and nose means I cannot breathe and end up having a panic attack.

You are exempt. Most transport providers have cards you can apply for to show this.

@Mintjulia if you don’t tolerate them then what do you think the alternative is? FFS

As I said, I’ll have to remain isolated. I accept that the issue is mine.

Maybe. The government have said that reducing social distancing to 1m will require additional measures such as face masks. However, I assume there will be exemptions like on public transport. I am usually in the minority on the bus in wearing one and it is not at all enforced, no questions asked about why a person might not be wearing one. I wear a surgical mask for 13hrs a day at work and hate it, especially in the extreme heat, so don't like the fact that I then had to start wearing a mask for the journey to and from work too but I am at high risk for being an asymptomatic carrier of covid due to my job so I do for the benefit of those who need to come in close contact with me (I think the fabric masks I have bought for the bus will protect others from me but not prevent me from catching it from other passengers). I do wear them when I go to a shop too. I haven't done a big supermarket shop since March, because I can't drive so it makes sense for DH to go alone rather than DC and I to go with him, but have popped into small supermarkets.

Shops will never make it mandatory without the government telling them to. I really don’t see the point. The rate is low.

I think the government are going to start dripping the idea gradually through the press and SM. By the autumn masks will be compulsory in all indoor public places.

But there will still be exemptions.

@Mintjulia oppression?? They are to protect yourself and others from the spread of disease, I see no oppression there only common sense, the British people will have to get with it if the government enforce it, I want some sort of normal life and if it involves wearing a mask in public then I will crack on. It wouldn’t be forever, it’s a temporary measure during a pandemic. Those who cannot wear them for medical or health reasons should quite rightly be exempt.

I was going to post that Decathlon are selling washable (up to 40 times) face masks, but I can't find them in the UK website, they probably will start selling them in the UK if they become compulsory.

I know. I can't help it, that's how it makes me feel.

I've bought two kinds, disposable and cotton, but wearing them makes me feel sick, almost scared. I'll just have to stay home.

I wear a mask in shops now, and the rare ocassions I use public transport. Yes I do feel a bit uncomfortable and hot, but it's a small price to pay. I can't persuade my daughter to wear one due to her autism so I will probably ask for a letter or one of those cards (though it's pretty obvious that she has SN anyway).
I think the aim is for 90% of the public to wear masks in enclosed spaces. That and hand sanitisers will probably help to reduce flu and other infections during the autumn and winter as well as coronavirus.

I’ve heard that the fibres in masks can be breathed in. The new asbestosis?

I went to our local large town on Saturday for the first time since March. All the shops had sanitiser available on entrance but only one place (Matalan) made you use it - everywhere else it was optional.

I saw maybe 2 members of shop staff in masks/shields (in TKMaxx and ASDA) and maybe 10 members of the public in masks - a couple of people wore gloves. Most people were actively making sure they socially distanced though.

I carry sanitiser but I can't wear a mask due to autism. If they make it compulsory I'll either need to get an exemption card or just not go into shops. Luckily we get our shopping online and I don't need to use public transport.

If masks are made compulsory, will people with legitimate medical exemptions (asthma, autism etc.) be allowed to stay off work indefinitely, or will they all lose their jobs? Or will they be allowed to work without masks despite the backlash they'll get from people who think everyone who doesn't wear a mask is awful and selfish.

That sounds like one of those internet scare stories Fluffy.

I won't go into a shop without one, it's a courtesy to my local community to wear one. Very few wear them here at the moment, so I intend to be a trend setter

For those feeling panicked by them, it's worth persisting if you at all can. I've practised by wearing them just for a few minutes while I'm doing something that distracts me enough. I can now usually tolerate them enough to go into a shop. If I can't I leave. I'm going to keep working on it.

Mintjulia
"I associate them with oppression and I can’t bring myself to wear one. Thankfully I don’t think the British public will tolerate them either."

We should close down the NHS then as many medical staff are forced to wear masks. We can't go around oppressing them like that can we.

Also Welders.

@heyheyho

Shops will never make it mandatory without the government telling them to. I really don’t see the point. The rate is low.

We’ve already missed one opportunity to keep rates low this is one of the ways we can keep them low - how did you miss that point??

If enough people wear masks we can comfortably benefit from the benefits they offer whilst those who really can’t wear them can go about their business without them.

‘Not wanting to’ isn’t a good enough reason and actively puts those who can’t in a really difficult position. If you possibly can you should. If you don’t like masks you’re really not going to like an incubator yet your putting the weakest in our society at risk of exactly that.

This is basically the HIV/condom campaign of the 2020’s. Some people genuinely have a latex allergy and some people just don’t like how it feels

@FluffyKittensinabasket

I’ve heard that the fibres in masks can be breathed in. The new asbestosis?

Have you not considered something like that would already have come to light a long time ago given the many professions who wear masks for long periods and countries where masks/face coverings are common?

Wearing face coverings has been advised for weeks in Scotland but where I've been shopping only a minority wear them. Doesn't really feel great if you're wearing one to try to help others (which is why we're asked to wear them) wandering about the shop feeling awful when hardly anyone else bothers. Although I did think there was a bit of an increase in wearers this week. I think unless it's made mandatory (with exceptions) most people will choose not to wear one.