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?

Yes, I can’t wear a mask and don’t fancy being shamed for not wearing one so won’t be going anywhere where one is required.
To be honest it’ll save me a fortune so I’m looking on the bright side.

No. Masks are a trivial inconvenience.

The pandemic which necessitates them, however, is definitely limiting my economic participation.

Masks don't change my spending habits, but Coronavirus has.

Not masks but the fact of covid has limited mine.

Yes.

I would be out spending money on the high street. I would also book a few spa treatments over the next two months before baby arrives. With masks, I just don't.

No, why would it (unless you have medical or MH issues that prevent mask wearing). Wearing a mask is annoying but I’ve dealt with worse things. Life goes on. I’m not pausing my life just because of a flimsy piece of fabric.

Masks aren’t making a difference to my spending, the presence of a virus is. Wearing a mask makes me feel marginally more secure when going places I can’t avoid, such as doctors appointments or paying for fuel when the pay at pump isn’t working, but the reason I’m not shopping, eating out or otherwise going about my usual daily business is because we’re still in the middle of a pandemic, not because I’d have to wear a mask to do so. Most people probably think I’m being over-cautious but I have underlying health conditions and my dad is ECV so not taking any chances, and really not that bothered about visiting pubs/restaurants etc.

@Drivingdownthe101 I'm exactly the same. The constant asking why I'm not wearing mask

So yes for the foreseeable I am saving an absolute fortune

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.

Same. Covid is limiting my economic participation, not mask wearing. It's the thought of being contacted by track and trace, and having to stay completely in the house for 2 weeks during my summer holidays that is impacting what I do and who I see. I don't mind wearing a mask for the supermarket shop or whatever. We're doing outdoor things, usually involving kite flying or river swimming, which are not adding anything to the economy I'm afraid.

Yes. I've avoided shops as much as I can't since masks. They impact my enjoyment so I wouldn't bother going shopping for leisure etc. I do the weekly food shop and that's it.

I can’t wear a mask.

I go out as little as possible.

Er no, the fact there's a pandemic is.

I think it’s hard to say where the balance will fall between those who find masks off-putting and those who find them reassuring. But the fact is that either way a proportion will be avoiding or minimising certain activities and it will have a knock-on effect

No masks aren’t that onerous (apart from excess litter which is a bit bleh)

However my discretionary spending has changed due to overall situation..

I agree. I don’t mind wearing a mask for essential activities like shopping. But I was thinking of going to a hotel with my DC in October half term, and don’t think I’ll go now, as don’t want to have to wear masks in the hotel as it’ll spoil the enjoyment of it. I find masks uncomfortable and I’ve ruined my glasses as they keep falling off the mask.

I also was going to book an appointment to get my hair coloured, but didn’t think I will now as have to sit under the hot lamps and don’t really want to do that while wearing a mask.

I will actively seek out places where mask wearing is happening and will avoid places where it is not.

I prioritise mine and others health.

I don’t like wearing them so will do so as little as possible. I’m buying as much as possible online and will just wear a mask when I need to pop to shops that sell the handful of things I can’t buy online.

I won’t be going anywhere like museums, cinemas, church, or other indoor places where I have to wear one for any length of time.

So far I've bought lots of kit for outdoor sports I'm hoping to enjoy right into winter, also a few meals out, takeaways, and snacks at outdoor booths. I've probably spent more this month than usual, just online or in places where masks aren't needed.

Yes.

I wear one as needed but I don't enjoy it and I don't enjoy seeing other people wearing them either. It's dystopian and depressing.

I'd rather stay in I'm afraid. I'll go to restaurants as they're not needed there. Beauty salons were meticulously clean before the pandemic and I feel sorry for them having their businesses limited by these rules. They're working very hard to be as safe as possible.

@Lindy2

I will actively seek out places where mask wearing is happening and will avoid places where it is not.

I prioritise mine and others health.

As do I. So I’ll just be staying at home. I cannot wear a mask. I don’t want to be shamed for not wearing one. So I won’t go anywhere that requires one.

Not changed what I do one bit.

I'm exempt from wearing a mask but even if I wasn't, I'd be restricting going to places where they're required. I'm doing a weekly supermarket shop - sticking to my list, in and out as fast as possible. No browsing or buying clothes/household stuff. Pharmacy once a fortnight to collect prescriptions, no other shops at all. We're going to pubs/restaurants but will stop if masks become mandatory for that in any way, even if exemptions apply. Hairdresser and manicurist appointments cancelled. We should have been going to an exhibition in October (cancelled by the organisers) but were going to have a couple of nights away as the hotel was booked anyway. We've cancelled that now and I told them to keep the deposit as it isn't their fault. I'm shopping online for things I actually need but our random/luxury spending is down massively.

I am following the rules and understand the reasons but find them horribly claustrophobic so am now ordering online only.

However in your spa example, they'd be losing a lot more money if they did a spa treatment for someone contagious but asymptomatic and not mask wearing, someone got sick and they had to close the whole facility for a deep clean and self-isolation, or if visitors got sick and they got bad press or got sued (not to mention, that as decent people they presumably want their staff and customers to remain healthy for moral as well as financial reasons).

Too many people are blaming the economic damage on the protection measures instead of the virus.

@BlusteryShowers, you make a good point.
People in masks have started to feature in my nightmares.

I will actively seek out places where mask wearing is happening and will avoid places where it is not

This. What's the name of the spa you were planning on going to, OP? I'll go and spend 2k there so that you don't have to!