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, it does. I developed severe asthma two years ago (though not in the shielding category). Having spent months during lockdown only buying online, relying on my husband going to one supermarket to buy food (no delivery slots), I tried to get out and spend what I can, while I can, across the wider economy when lockdown restrictions eased. Unfortunately I struggle badly with masks due to my asthma symptoms and have once again retreated to buying online wherever possible. My small contribution to high street trade might not be missed in isolation, but it all adds up.

Not the mask wearing, it the actual pandemic. People don't SD or wear masks in many areas, and that's what puts me off

larry it’s not against the law to cycle without a cycle helmet though. If helmets were made compulsory I expect there would be a fair few grumblers who might be put off cycling. The issues are v different though - you’re only protecting yourself, you have to lug it around with you everywhere eg to the museum, shops etc, it squashes your hair etc. However, once you are wearing it, you can still cycle along perfectly comfortably from A to B having a lovely time. The journey itself can be joyous. I wear mine, but I certainly didn’t wear it throughout my 20s, more fool me. A better analogy might be wearing a cheap low grade anti-air-pollution cycling mask.

Masks in shops by contrast are uncomfortable and alien. You can’t really escape from this. They are the antithesis of discretionary shopping.

@Bellablahhole

Yes, it does. I developed severe asthma two years ago (though not in the shielding category). Having spent months during lockdown only buying online, relying on my husband going to one supermarket to buy food (no delivery slots), I tried to get out and spend what I can, while I can, across the wider economy when lockdown restrictions eased. Unfortunately I struggle badly with masks due to my asthma symptoms and have once again retreated to buying online wherever possible. My small contribution to high street trade might not be missed in isolation, but it all adds up.

You sound like you're a ripe candidate for mask exemption to me.

Sock what's wrong with visors that they are not allowed in Scotland now?

Nothing is wrong with visors as eye protectors, nor for protecting you in circumstances where you think droplets may land directly on your face.

But they offer nothing beyond that. They do not reduce the amount of effluvium that you are producing, because there is a gap around the bottom and everything you exhale goes straight round - as can everyone else's exhalations

So visor only when there is a greater spray risk

And never without a mask

They're an addition - not a substitute

On MN, There are anti-cyclists threads -- that often mention lack of helmet wearing.

There used to be a lot of "stupid parents not using seat belts for their kids" threads. These are supplemented now by the "They didn't use a carseat!' threads.

There are very unpleasant comments made about smoking preggos.

We do have those comments for sure.

Not for me. I mostly shop online anyway, but on the occasions I go non-supermarket shopping (or if I go anywhere else like a NT property etc), I don't mind having to wear a mask. I've been shopping a couple of times in town and it was absolutely fine. If anything I've spent more during lockdown, but almost entirely online.

Early signs weren't promising in regards to mask wearing and footfall:

www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/07/slight-dip-in-footfall-as-face-coverings-become-mandatory/

Wonder whether it's improved since?

@scaevola

Nothing is wrong with visors as eye protectors, nor for protecting you in circumstances where you think droplets may land directly on your face.

But they offer nothing beyond that. They do not reduce the amount of effluvium that you are producing, because there is a gap around the bottom and everything you exhale goes straight round - as can everyone else's exhalations

So visor only when there is a greater spray risk

And never without a mask

They're an addition - not a substitute

This.

I'm so tired of people suggesting visors as an alternative to those of us who are exempt. Alone, they're next to useless (quite apart from the fact that a lot of people who can't wear a mask can't wear a visor, either).

A few weeks in, and I had a panic attack at the supermarkets at the weekend. Environment matters a lot and the humidity of a face covering trips sensory overwhelm and my breathing just goes without warning.

I have coped with little pops to a convenience store for 3 items at a time. I have coped with medical appointments that involve being still in a quiet environment.

On my forthcoming holiday, I will not be attempting attractions like the Sea Life Centre. I find them near my sensory limits at the best of times. The chance of a panic attack is far too high to even consider it as a leisure activity. Fortunately we chose the area for its natural landscapes as we weren't certain what would be open at the point of booking.

I am making use of cafes and pubs that are mask free.

So indoor entertainments requiring masks and all but the most perfunctory of shopping will not be happening.

I’ve certainly found that it’s impacted my family a lot.
If we have no choice to go to say a supermarket or chemist then we will wear a mask but we are now ordering online a lot more.
We are no longer doing things we would have done like going to a beauty salon, visiting museums etc if you have to wear a mask.
Many people I know are doing the same.

I'm continuing to do the MN haircut on myself

I don't object to masks in principle and I wear one everywhere I am obliged to. However, I dislike wearing them - I wear varifocal glasses and the mask fogs them or pushes them to an angle that affects my vision or both. So I don't feel any inclination to go to places where masks are required if I don't have to.

Yes, I pop into the supermarket but that's it. I have spent significantly less.

I'm spending money online instead of in real life shops. Jeff Bezos is absolutely loving the mask regulations.

I can and do wear one when I have to but actively avoid places where they are needed.

Because of masks, two shops in our village (one the butchers) have been able to re-open normally. The butcher is vulnerable and was doing his best for his customers by taking phone orders and doing SD deliveries. He can now open properly and insists on all his customers wearing masks to help keep him safe (he still does phone deliveries for vulnerable/disabled customers). So it's now easier for people to get back to going into his shop to buy their meat etc and he's back to normal trading levels. He couldn't do that if his customers weren't wearing masks.