Amount of people wearing masks

[Yetiyoga]

I have seen a lot of people not wearing masks in shops here, I would never say anything as there may well be a reason. But on the scenes you see abroad where masks are mandatory everywhere, including outdoors, it seems that everyone just wears one there but lots of people in the UK seem to make excuses. I get being exempt, but are we just less tolerable?

Since it became mandatory, I've only spotted one person without one in a shop.

[quote Yetiyoga]@BellaintheWychElm what on earth? What has class got to do with it?[/quote]
See annabel85's post earlier

I’ve only seen one person without, and he was wearing a very prominent lanyard which I assume said he was exempt - he was with another person who was masked up. We’re in Scotland where it’s been mandatory a bit longer.

I just put a fresh one in my bag when I come in, Chuck the worn one in the wash. My DP frequently goes out then has to come home because he forgot a mask. We need to start hanging them on the key hooks at the front door.

@BellaintheWychElm it was more the assumption that only working class people shop at aldi 🙄

[quote Yetiyoga]@BellaintheWychElm it was more the assumption that only working class people shop at aldi 🙄[/quote]
Yes after the post about Lidl and working class people.

I see you haven't actually pulled up the actual poster who said it though.

[quote Yetiyoga]@BellaintheWychElm it was more the assumption that only working class people shop at aldi 🙄[/quote]
Oh - is it only Lidl that has the working class, my bad

@TheGreatWave I did look back and saw about what annabel had said. But @BellaintheWychElm said about working class and Aldi.

I appreciate this will be controversial but I would put money on mask wearing being more prevalent on average in “middle class” areas. This isn’t casting aspersions on the “working classes”... it just seems to the way it is.

Firstly, “working class” jobs are far more likely to have been operating normally through lockdown than “middle class“ jobs, and so are more likely not to see the point.

Secondly, the “middle class” are more aligned to authority as they tend to be part of that authority structure. A brickie or white van driver hasn’t got much to lose by being seen not wearing a mask in terms of societal consequences; a judge, teacher or doctor, far more so. For instance, even I didn’t agree with wearing a mask, the fear of people seeing me not wearing one, and the impact that would have on my role (which I won’t say for fearing or being outted as I’ve already said where I live in other threads) if that happenned, would be a strong incentive to wear one if nothing else.

The existence of those societal pressures seem to lead to a tipping point, that mean that many areas have near 100% compliance, whilst in others it’s more like 30%.

Take Muswell Hill and Canning Town... The first is very middle class and has a high rate of mask wearing. The second isn’t middle class and has a pretty low rate of mask wearing.

Secondly, the “middle class” are more aligned to authority
metro.co.uk/2020/08/04/manchester-coronavirus-outbreak-warning-complacent-white-middle-class-13084480/
80% of cases in Trafford are among white community and ‘middle class complacency’ is being blamed

Yep those naughty working class Ne'er-do-wells.

Condescension isn't a good look. Or is it ok if they are probably meeting behind closed doors as long as they pop their masks on in Waitrose to keep up appearances.

[quote Balhammom]@Notfeelinggreattoday

The Covid legislation means you are not legally required to wear a mask in shops if exempt.

However, my point is that shops are legally able to refuse entry to those who don’t wear a mask.

These are really not difficult concepts to follow.[/quote]
As providers of goods and services, shops are bound by the EA as well. They are prohibited from unlawfully discriminating against disabled people and they have a duty to provide reasonable adjustments.

Our Aldi was 100% I think.

Is there a compliance linked to essential/non essential shops?

Compliance very high here from what I've seen.

So much so my autistic ds who can be exempt hates going out because he feels people will judge him he has some masks, he's worn masks and really tries but it very hard for him and I tell h8m not to wear it if it stresses him.

Leaving aside the question of class I was the only customer in Aldi last week and this, not wearing a mask. There was one other customer in Tesco without a mask last week, none this week.

As an average across both weeks and both stores, I'd estimate that 30-35% of customers were wearing their mask incorrectly, pulling their mask down to speak/use a phone/cough/sneeze, ignoring SD and leaning round screens to speak to the staff. Plus one woman who appeared to be picking up every jar of jam to count the strawberries.

It doesn't seem to me that it's people without masks who are the problem. If you wear one (however you wear it), just keep away from me.

I've given up on public transport as it seems that only about 60% of the people comply with wearing a mask. It's bad on the buses, but even worse on the trams in Manchester, as there seems to be no enforcement. The people seem to be confident that they will not be challenged either because of the possibility of reprisal (as are generally male) or because people don't want to upset someone with a hidden disability.

Well this type of me-ism I don't give a flying f* attitude will eventually catch up with them. Either they will be inadvertent super spreaders or bump into another unmasked who is.

This is probably why local and regional lockdowns are reinstated?

No community (nor family) civic duty. Short sighted selfish and reckless mindset and no long term let's do whatever it takes to beat this thing and forward to new no virus normal.

I am guessing the areas like north west England and Aberdeen are just a reflection of some of the localities with more relaxed carefree disrespectful Covidiots. Apparently globally scientific research indicates young adults and children are evidently some of the super spreaders as even though they may be asymptomatic they have the most virus exposure contact time and bump into most people and many (criminally) unmasked as they get away with "murder!l

If you are serially unmasked but just double tested negative then this message does not concern you so carry on unmasked but do get repeat testing if you are out and about constantly meeting people.

...but even worse on the trams in Manchester, as there seems to be no enforcement.

The north-west keeps on coming up as an area
of poor compliance...

I'm London/Surrey borders and mask wearing has very quickly become the norm. I'm not going in many shops but when I do everyone seems to have a mask on. I saw one person with no mask but he had a visor on instead.

I just wish the shop staff would do the same. They seem to be the ones that aren't taking the precautions.

itsgettingweird would your DS wear a visor instead? I got one for my DD as I wasn't sure if she'd wear a mask. She's young enough not to have to. She actually really likes her visor (pretends to be a ghostbuster).

Some people ought to remember that the working class are the ones that have been going out to work putting themselves at risk throughout this pandemic.

Also I'm working class and I don't shop at Aldi.

I'm in one of the NW areas with enhanced social distancing. I've just got back from Aldi (fulfilling my working class obligations), and called into a charity shop on the way. Only saw one person with no mask between both reasonably busy shops. I have no idea if that person would be exempt, and wouldn't consider it my business.

Locally people aren't bothering with the households rule though, unless there are an awful lot more very large and interestingly structured households than I'd thought likely in an area of mostly 2-3 bed homes. I wonder though if the mask thing is a distraction from the emphasis to socially distance, and somehow makes people feel distancing isn't necessary. I saw five lads who looked like college mates rather than a family/household group all stop to diligently put masks on before nipping into Aldi for cider, but obviously them just being out together is against the rules locally.

I saw someone ( a singer I follow) on IG complaining about arriving into the U.K. and no-one wearing masks. No idea where she is but clearly not London/ Surrey borders ( like @Lindy2 ) where I’ve seen almost complete adherence. I travelled up to the Midlands and stopped at the motorway services and the only people not wearing them there were eating or drinking. Other than that total compliance. The train is fine too... I’ve perhaps seen 2 or 3 people without them at Waterloo. So where are these places?

YY @Waxonwaxoff0 And i said on here back in April that the attitude towards them would revert back to type!

I thought we are all in this pandemic emergency medical life and death thing together? Covid only discriminate against those with most potential exposure (duration, proximity and people) coupled with risk ignorance or indifference.

I think we can reclassify into Covid smart and safe "class" and Covidiots "class". Rich and poor, old and young have all suffered and paid the ultimate price. Naturally when you can self isolate in your expansive (state paid for) fortified castle with household servants on hand and foot you are very likely to suffer less harm than the average working "class" taxpayers who are contributing to your funding.

Our hard working front line critical key workers should be the first to be properly protected and PPEd up as otherwise they will be cannon fodder and a personal mobile walking talking Covid click and collect point. Mandate Covid smart and "secure" working environments and ensure the staff have due protection. They deserve it for keeping the basic life necessities functional. A few screens at the checkouts alone are not massively defensive against the invisible pesky airborne virus as everyone needs their own shield. How many TfL and other public shared mass transit bus and train drivers paid the ultimate price?

To put things into perspective many UK political types tend to cite South Korea as a shining example of Covid smart proactivity. However although we are not a dysfunctional USA state I think Taiwan is best in class and an example to UK on Covid leadership and people and economic management. Taiwan is very close to mainland China source and has 25 million population. With only seven Covid fatalities (yes 7!), Taiwanese government had done this with the sheer determination and rigour to fight the Covid battle with a no nonsense short term pain long term gain professionalism. None of this UK please could people stay home when they can and wear a face covering when they can't be socially distanced nonsense. Nor promising world gold standard test track and trace but only failing miserably as if it did not happen. There is a reason for UK 50-60k Covid fatalities so pick your class - Covid smart or Covidiot "class."

Quite a lot of people round here, fairly middle class, rural area, not wearing masks.