Face mask - levels of compliance in your area

[Derbygerbil]

I’ve been to a number of small and large shops (In Suffolk) yesterday and today, and all but two of around 100-200 adults were wearing a mask/face covering, and 95%+ of those were wearing it correctly (ie over face and nose). I was surprised, firstly, that compliance was so high and, secondly, at how much people seemed to treat it like second nature and often wore their masks outside and between shops when they didn’t have to.

It would be interesting to know how common this has been elsewhere as i’ve read other reports that seem to indicate uptake is less blanket. Are certain areas more compliant than others?

I went to Costco (outskirts of London) yesterday about 7pm and every customer in there was wearing a mask including the majority of the staff.

I've an amusing update on the mask-wearing thing. A neighbour was on the dog walking park and pretty dramatically backed away from me and quizzed me about my mask (two layers of closely woven cotton and silk liner all held on by a wrap around stretchy neck tube) all of which I patiently explained, while it was none of her fucking business. I was masked and keeping social distance.

All the time she was wearing the standard surgical one which was gaping at the sides.

Everyone complying in the local area - south east essex. A couple of people without at the chip shop on Friday but assume this was because it wasn’t overly clear that this was necessary til fairly late on as both of those without looked like they realised whilst in the queue!

90% ish maybe

I was in Sainsbury's today (NE) and everyone (except young children) were wearing masks including staff.

Some seem to think young kids need them. Witessed an extraordinary tantrum yesterday from a girl who couldn't have been over 6, her mum trying to force her to put the mask on, shouting a bit and losing her temper as the child was getting so upset. Girl was totally hysterical and looked at one stage almost like she was having a panic attack. Much much wailing, screaming, crying (with actual tears, not 'kid crying' that happens a lot)..mother saying sorry to everyone whilst upsetting the kid more, was a nightmare. Seen a fair few young young kids with them on. Of course if they chose to, thats fine (DD has been wearing one for a month or so now, as its 'pretty' apparently) but people should't be making kids cry over something the child does't even need to do IMO. Especially not when the child is in a terrible state because of it.

North West England here. I went in 3 shops this afternoon and I didn't see a single customer without a mask. Probably 20% of staff weren't wearing one though.

We went to Lidl yesterday.

Every one wore a mask, but many people had them hanging off their face or only covering their mouth and none of the staff confronted any of these people. Don't blame them. That's not the job they asked for, but they did have door security so they probably could have in store security policing the wearing of masks properly.

This was in Sheffield.

I haven’t been to any shops for the last few days but none of this surprises me. I have been repeatedly saying that most people will comply with the mandate if they can, and talking about discomfort etc doesn’t mean that people won’t wear one. The “wear the fucking mask” lot just needed to relax. I’m glad to hear that people are able to assume that those not wearing masks have good reasons

M5 Services yesterday, very busy, no SD happening much and about 70% mask wearing.

South East! 100% compliance here in supermarkets and also in the shopping centres that I have seen! !

I do have a mask related question. Apologies if it's a silly one but garden centres with large outside areas ? Still needed. I saw lots of people removing theirs when in the outside area which made sense to me but I also wasn't sure so didn't remove mine. Obviously I understand they are compulsory inside the shop

Forgot yesterday in our local post office and nobody said anything. None of the staff were wearing one either.

Off to co-op when it opens so will remember this time.

I'm frustrated by it tbh. It has become yet another stick to beat people with, friend of mine yesterday was witness to someone getting a verbal lashing in Sainsbury's yesterday for going in without one. It's the lockdown police all over again.

There have been 5 cases in our county of (800,000 people) in the past week and the death rate has been below the average for weeks now. I dont think there is any need for people to get irate about this apparent sudden, arbitrary need for wearing masks ("you could be killing people!" Was what was being yelled at a young man in our Sainsbury's yesterday apparently)

@upthewolves to be fair, whilst I agree nobody should be giving a verbal bashing. It is the law now and unless people are exempt then they should be wearing them. People seem to be pulling out reasons left right and centre for not wearing them. Community transmission is low, yes. And my own big city has done so well overall but that doesn't mean we should become blase about it all. Especially now it is the summer holidays and people are holidaying all around the UK.

@yetiyoga I know what I mean. I just find it really hard to get behind the idea that people are suddenly outrage about lack of masks when we are at the lowest point of transmission since March. It makes no sense for me. I don't believe for a minute all the people handwringing about masks have been wearing them the whole time, the only people I've seen in masks up to now around here have been elderly.

Also mixing hasn't increased that much around here due to school holidays. Parks and playgrounds have been full since way before it was allowed. Not saying that's right. Just feel like these decisions are being imposed for political reasons so really pisses me off when people get sanctimonious about them.

I'll wear the mask though....

@yetiyoga I meant 'i know what you mean. Apologies!

SE M4 corridor town. Everyone in the very big Tesco were wearing masks.
I dashed into a local co op yesterday in the torrential rain. Grabbed my purse & ran. Got to the door & realised I’d forgotten my mask & so had the woman parked beside me.
We both ran back to retrieve them.
Even my 18 yo DS who tends to be anti everything establishment bought a pack & is wearing one

In my local town in Surrey yesterday everyone was complying. My 11 yr old is loving it he has asd and loves having his face covered so he's in his element. It's getting him to take the thing off that's the problem.

@commentatorz

I'm not sure why someone commented on Brexit voters not wearing masks by the way as the highest level of non-compliance appears to be in London.

I'm guessing it was just some goading but totally unnecessary

You need to read the thread again - those quoting London are saying 95%, whereas some rural areas were 50:50. Nor did I see anyone mention Brexit before you did.

It's not competition though. EVERYONE in EVERY place should be covering their faces.

Central London. Big Waitrose yesterday. 80% ish wearing. I found it was hard to scowl at the 20% effectively with mask covering on. Think there may be market for led masks which indicate changing expressions via a Bluetooth remote or something ?
More seriously I miss sharing a laugh/smile when wearing a lot I’m finding. Those random social interactions are becoming flat. Trying to smile more with eyes - may need eye cream soon.

Very non scientific observation that those not wearing tended to be circa 70+ and also 35-55ish year old men. Also found these ages/sexes seemed to be less likely to wear pre-requirement. Observational and anomaly ridden comment only!

I was in Aldi yesterday (Dorset) and everyone but one was wearing a mask. And the staff were too. DH, who has been shielding with asthma, came in with me and said he felt very safe.

DS, 11, has ASD, is terrified of wearing a mask. He had a big panic attack last week so we've got him an exemption card to carry. DD chose herself a pretty floral mask and is fine as long as she doesn't have to wear for long.

SE London

Everyone was wearing a mask when walking into shopping centre reminded to keep it on (no one seemed bothered by this)

MN there is always high drama when most people just get on with things

@Longwhiskers14 and I quote:

"DH went to Tesco’s last night and he was the only one wearing one (North Warwickshire). Doesn’t surprise me to be honest, there’s a thread on the local Facebook page where Coronavirus deniers are pedalling their views. Lots of Brexiters round here taking back control... hmm"

Nice dig at countryside folk though... stay classy

Went shopping to a b&q and grabbed a takeaway coffee yesterday. Everyone was wearing a mask inside

I’m in Devon.

South Yorks. Everyone had one in the supermarket I went to, but only about half of people in the shopping centre.

commentatorz Ah, missed that. I wasn't having a dig at "countryside folk", as you put it. I was saying it was wrong to say London is the worst for complying.

From what I can gather from this and other threads:

Inner London and northern cities.... Mask wearing is patchy. It’s interesting that the largest number of Covid infections are in the north too.

Other places.... Mask wearing is almost ubiquitous