Face coverings to be made compulsory in England

[Redolent]

Sky News just reporting that from Friday 24 July it will be mandatory to wear a face mask in shops/stores in England. Fines of £100 if you don’t (reduces to £50 if payable within 2 weeks).

The thing is, many people in this country and US don't like being told what to do and it's something that's alien to our culture. Many people think people wear them to protect themselves, but it's actually about protecting others from your droplets. I'm south east Asia, Japan, they have less of a problem with doing this. Reports I've heard from places like Tailand, are, as soon as they heard there was a pandemic going around, they masked up, switched off the air con and opened all the windows. They didn't have to be told, they just all knew what to do. Because they've had experience before, with other outbreaks such as SARS and MERS.

Well yes those countries have experience of dealing with SARS type illnesses because they seem to originate there!!!!! We are very apologetic that this is the first pandemic in our lifetimes and we’re a bit shit at dealing with it 🙄

On the plus side when they start coming our way like buses we’ll know what to do.

@Hearwego hopefully not, I don’t see how it’s possible seeing as they don’t even know for sure that a vaccine may work

Mixed feelings really. I am shielding with asthma so have breathing difficulties at the best of times. The thought of a mask makes me anxious. The thought of getting Covid is even worse!
I haven’t been in a shop since mid March and I can’t see myself returning to the shops. I am however, expecting to go back to my secondary teaching job in September where no masks are required.

They’re also discussing them needing to be worn in offices. That’s not going to encourage people back to the workplace is it?

I’ve just talked to my seven year old about the likelihood of teachers wearing visors on his return. Luckily nothing phases him so he’s fine with it.

Very pleased. Think it will make the shops a safer more inviting environment to use. About time this useless gov got around to making the decision.
Should be a clearer message with more education though.

So many other countries are wearing masks. ( with health exceptions) Their shops are open and people are using them.

And look at their death rates.
and
Isn't that what it's all about?

But howling at the "British Exceptionalism" all over these threads.

Presuming that all those with a choice ( meaning those who can freely wear a mask without health implications ) and are going to "just stay in" and not ever go out to shops or on public transport already have a delivery slot for food and their own transport. And probably not children who have to travel to school by bus.

Crack on. I think many more are just going to get used to masks like the rest of the world that use them.

I hate wearing them, but I think this sends a clear message and we should have had it months ago!

The thing is, many people in this country and US don't like being told what to do and it's something that's alien to our culture. Many people think people wear them to protect themselves, but it's actually about protecting others from your droplets. I'm south east Asia, Japan, they have less of a problem with doing this. Reports I've heard from places like Tailand, are, as soon as they heard there was a pandemic going around, they masked up, switched off the air con and opened all the windows. They didn't have to be told, they just all knew what to do. Because they've had experience before, with other outbreaks such as SARS and MERS.

Fancy being so sensible and just getting on with it..

Not here.

We'll see more people wearing them and we'll also see more of them thrown on the floor. I've just been to a hospital appointment and in the car park near my car were a couple of face masks and a hand sanitiser bottle. I also see numerous gloves and masks when out walking my dog. What is wrong with people?!!

*They’re also discussing them needing to be worn in offices. That’s not going to encourage people back to the workplace is it?
*
What rather have people breath it onto you?

@justanotherneighinparadise my work says that if i do return to the office, i have to practice social distancing, wear a mask for the full work day, not talk to anyone (can phone them or use skype), all surfaces sanitized. only 1 person in the toilet at once, have to knock and ask if you can come in. No eating in the kitchen, only eating at your desk (hence no food with smells people find objectionable). If you touch anything, you have to sanitize it.

I don't even mind the mask wearing that much (i have a very pretty mask). But its the fact that I can't talk to people that irks me. Unsurprisngly, 99% of people want to work from home.

What's quite funny on this thread is the number of people bemoaning the idea of 'British exceptionalism' while also saying that we're the only people in the world not to follow every covid guideline, that we're uniquely terrible and selfish... Do you not see the irony as you type?! And I assume that you haven't actually read any international news if you think that Brits are unique in not following rules. A lot of countries believe, with slight pride, that they're uniquely strong-willed/non-conformist - I got a lengthy diatribe from an Italian recently on why Italians simply cannot be controlled - we're not as special as you think we are!

@MereDintofPandiculation Yes my son also tried to ask the manager about the law and toilet facilities but got nowhere! She denied the timings, said 6min max but we timed someone queueing whilst my DH sorted his bike into car -she reached front of queue as we left 18mins later.

*What's quite funny on this thread is the number of people bemoaning the idea of 'British exceptionalism' while also saying that we're the only people in the world not to follow every covid guideline, that we're uniquely terrible and selfish... Do you not see the irony as you type?! And I assume that you haven't actually read any international news if you think that Brits are unique in not following rules. A lot of countries believe, with slight pride, that they're uniquely strong-willed/non-conformist - I got a lengthy diatribe from an Italian recently on why Italians simply cannot be controlled - we're not as special as you think we are!
*
Don't be so pompous.

No ones doing a doctorate in international sociology.

I was referring to individuals ( on here ) bemoaning wearing a small face mask in the face of exceptional death rates.

Fancy being so sensible and just getting on with it..

Wouldn't that be nice. Never heard anything like all of this fuss.

@sleepingpup

*They’re also discussing them needing to be worn in offices. That’s not going to encourage people back to the workplace is it? * What rather have people breath it onto you?

I’m not being snarky I’m simply saying that Boris on the one hand seems to want people back in the office, yet the myriad of restrictions regarding being back in the office is sure to keep people working from home.

@Standardy

Fancy being so sensible and just getting on with it..

Wouldn't that be nice. Never heard anything like all of this fuss.

Fancy letting people vent their annoyance and irritation on an online message board but then still go on with their lives wearing a face mask as instructed. How very British!!

"British Exceptionalism"

Indeed - we should fence in certain areas of Leicester with metal railings and guards (as in Germany), allow the government to track credit card transactions near to potential outbreaks (as in South Korea) and force overseas visitors to wear electronic tagging devices on their wrists for 14 days (as in Kong Kong).

Crack on.
When can we start?

We just have to get on with it .....consider this a dry run for the big one

Not being snarky either @justanotherneighinparadise

but the restrictions are only there because of the virus🤷‍♀️

A lot of teachers are complaining that they CAN'T wear masks 🤷‍♀️

The problem is not really the restrictions or the masks it's the virus.

I have chosen to work from home but the work is still getting done.

Boris on the one hand seems to want people back in the office
yes Boris is steering us into a situation where we are damned if we do and damned if we don't, that's what manipulative slippery people do isn't it, they operate by being deliberately ambiguous and by setting you up to fail

m.youtube.com/watch?v=yOvO4wIBXS0

He needs to update that with ‘don’t wear a mask, wear a mask’.

oris is steering us into a situation where we are damned if we do and damned if we don't, that's what manipulative slippery people do isn't it, they operate by being deliberately ambiguous and by setting you up to fail

Yep couldn't agree more. Not giving a clear simple message.

Which shifts responsibility if it all goes tits up.
See his response to Care Home deaths the other day.