Is mask wearing limiting your economic participation?

[byvirtue]

I knew mask wearing was mandatory in shops but I hadn’t heard about the new restrictions that have come out today www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53702291

I had planned to head to a spa for a couple of days this month for my birthday and we were going to book a staycation in a hotel in September. We would have easily spent £2k on these trips.

Now it seems that masks are mandatory for spa treatments and in hotel public areas we won’t be going. I personally find face coverings unpleasant and they significantly reduce my enjoyment so I'd rather not bother.

We are fit and healthy with money to spend and were happy to get out and spend money prior to face coverings becoming mandatory. These new rules mean the opportunities for us to spend money have been notably reduced.

I’m curious are these extended face covering rules going to lead to you spending more or less now?

your choice, wear a mask or don't go, simple.

Mask wearing is going to encourage other people to go, who would not have gone otherwise, so they won't be losing out on custom because of you deciding to stay home.

And we all benefit because there will be less transmission.

I'm glad you are staying home. I don't want to have to mix with you. I am less likely to go out if there are people like you wondering around

No.
Spending the same really. Not going abroad so doing things like eating out more here, buying more non essentials.
Spending overall is probably a bit down but only because of the flights/holidays not taken.

Yes, I am one of the reprehensible people avoiding places I have to wear a mask.

If face coverings reduce transmission I will wear them. I don’t like them of course but would prefer to wear one and hopefully keep further lockdowns at bay. It’s not impacting on my spending really.

Yes, to an extent. I have visited shops and an exhibition in a mask, but I wouldn't go to the cinema or theatre in one, or to a spa, it would affect my enjoyment too much. Mind you I might feel differently in the middle of winter when entertainment options are thinner on the ground.

We have stayed in hotels twice and had a two night trip staying in an air bnb since the restrictions lifted. The mask rules mean I wouldn't be interested in doing either again this summer now.

I'm not angry or upset about the rule and hopefully it is based on decent science. It does affect my decisions though.

Mask wearing is going to encourage other people to go, who would not have gone otherwise, so they won't be losing out on custom because of you deciding to stay home.
I disagree. If someone is scared enough that they wont leave a house without a mask, they won't be wanting to go for a spa treatment.

That must be disappointing for you OP and I do think it's going to be a blow to some industries which were just starting to reopen. Nobody is going to want to have a spa treatment while wearing a mask, hardly relaxing is it?

To answer your question, it isnt really affecting my economic spending. I dont really go to many indoor leisure places, or shopping for fun, so it wont make much difference. I am still planning to spend in cafes and restaurants and I go shopping as often as I usually would.

Definitely. I cannot wear a mask. I have been wearing a visor but as of today in Scotland these are not allowed.

I know I am exempt but I really dint want to run the gauntlet of the judgey public. So I won't be going to museums, non-essential shops, cinemas or anywhere else.

I am more likely to spend money on the high street and going to venues (cinema, museum etc) if facemasks are in use. No mandatory facemasks and I will buy things online (amazon etc), I will only support my local high street and town if I feel safe with all available precautions taken by myself and others.

It has put me off doing a lot of things personally. Maybe I'll feel different when the weather is cooler but I just think walking around with my lower face dripping with sweat would take the enjoyment out of whatever I was doing. I can manage a quick trip to the supermarket and that will have to do for now.

No not really , I'm going about my everyday life just with a mask on . I've just wore a mask getting my nails done so for over a hour and it was fine .
I think it's more the thought of it if wearing a long time but you get used to it .
My advice is find a mask that is most comfortable and just see how you go , if you need to pull it down for a few seconds then fine you need too .
We can argue the benefits of mask wearing and to be honest I'm sceptical but it is what it is and I'll wear it happily rather than not go anywhere.

Yes. I can wear a mask and do when I have to, but I hate it so won’t do anything I can avoid.

I am going to a concert tomorrow and although you have to wear a mask to get in, you can remove it once at your seat. Seats are distanced. Seems a sensible compromise to me.

No, quite the opposite. I prefer places which require them

I fucking hate masks. I accept the public judgment that this makes me a terrible person 🤷‍♀️. I'm just over the border in Wales and nearest shopping center is in England. But I find I'm actively choosing to stay in Wales because I don't need to piss about with a mask.

I went to a theme park with the kids the other day. We didn't need to wear masks for the 50 minutes we were spent in the queue where people weren't really socially distancing at all. But we needed one for the two minutes spent on the ride?!

I've got a funeral next week and I have been told I have to go in a mask. I am absolutely dreading it.

No. Am happier going to places I feel safe.

My elderly DM wants to get out and about and spend money. She's crossing off her list places where she didn't think maskwearing was taken seriously and won't be going back to them.

Other people wearing masks now makes me more likely to go into and spend money in shops. We’re going away tomorrow and whereas I’d originally thought we would keep away from interesting local shops, now I’ll be inclined to browse.

I prefer places that require them. I’m much more likely to go. But I definitely wouldn’t go to a spa anyway.

it is what it is and I'll wear it happily rather than not go anywhere.

This. I've been on holiday abroad, had my hair done and visited none essential shops, all while mask wearing. It'll be easier wearing them in winter when it's not so baking hot but I'm much happier having the option to do things rather than when everything was closed. Not having a job atm, despite my best efforts, limits my current economic participation much more than mask wearing.

Its swings and roundabouts. I wouldnt do something that was for purely for pleasure whilst wearing a mask but will do all the things i need to do. Other people werent able to do the things they needed to do as there were no masks and lots of people are perfectly happy with either.

I can’t believe healthy people wouldn’t go to places because of having to wear a mask. They’re just masks, not fucking manacles. Put one and do what you want, you soon get used to it. I am doing more ‘economic participation’ now they’re compulsory.

Spas are one thing but surely if you don't go to bricks and mortar shops you just buy online instead?

My town centre is a bit rubbish anyway, so if I want things I generally have to travel or go online. Even before covid, shopping was a bit of an ordeal as you either had overexcited staff who wouldn't leave you alone (eg Lush, Benefit) or people who ignored you. Shopping online is much easier.

I've had a sports massage and having to wear a mask didn't affect my "enjoyment" and when I had my face down through the hole in the bench the therapist said I could take it off, so I didn't have to have it on the whole 45 minutes. And if you want your hair done you've got to wear one.

@Climbingallthetrees

I can’t believe healthy people wouldn’t go to places because of having to wear a mask. They’re just masks, not fucking manacles. Put one and do what you want, you soon get used to it. I am doing more ‘economic participation’ now they’re compulsory.

They are not manacles but are unpleasant, so what I want to do is affected by the knowledge that I will have something unpleasant while doing it.

Personally speaking, I'm spending less money due to covid. It's got nothing to do with masks I just don't like the faff of going out at the moment, it's just not enjoyable.

So my economic participation is less, but I don't actually buy into the right wing capital ideal that it's my responsibility to keep the economy going by spending.

Masks haven’t changed the way we support the economy since March. Too many don’t wear them, too many don’t seem to think SD applies to them not quarantine etc so I’ll continue to shop and entertain ourselves at home and outdoors. If places enforced them along with SD, they would get my custom.

I'm with you OP. I'll wear a mask where I need to e.g. going to the corner shop, but I'll avoid like the plague doing any kind of leisure activity which requires me to wear a mask as I just don't like it and feel very claustrophobic. We've also stopped eating a drinking out since the beginning of lockdown as I can't relax, so as a family we're considerably better off at the moment, even though our online spending habits have definitely increased