But are face masks really compulsory though

[mummabear1967]

Masks are already “compulsory” in the England and are to be made compulsory in shops in Northern Ireland from tomorrow.

I haven’t seen that many people wearing them, the government here in NI have strongly advised people to wear them but are making it mandatory tomorrow.

I know some people are medically exempt, but how can they say it’s mandatory whenever most shops won’t be challenging customers who aren’t wearing masks? So if you don’t fancy wearing one, you can just walk into a shop and you won’t be stopped? That’s not mandatory, that makes it optional.

I’m all for masks in shops, it is 5 months too late, but I think it might help to some extent. I know it’s unfair on retail staff to have to police and enforce this, as they’ll just be subject to even more verbal and even physical abuse

Essentially no, they're not. You'd need shops, police or some combination of the two willing and able to enforce it. That's not happening.

There was a thread yesterday about this.

Basically, all the posters on it said almost everyone is wearing masks in shops where they are. They really weren’t before it was made mandatory. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

Shop staff aren’t paid enough to deal with the abuse. It’s bad enough without masks in the equation

Boris has thrown it out there but is nowhere to be seen checking back to make sure it’s working....again!!

You are correct, it is actually optional in England as it is not enforced. However I would say 80% are wearing masks in shops where I live but I have never seen a customer not wearing a mask challenged by shop staff or other customers (they probably assume that if that person is prepared to not comply with wearing a mask, they are either exempt or they may get a mouthful of abuse).

It’s just another one of Boris’s attempts to make it look like he’s doing something in order to try and hide his overall incompetence.

They aren’t mandatory, they are optional.

If the Government were really that bothered about them and they were truly essential then there would be something in place to ensure people who can wear masks, do wear them.

Anyone can not wear a mask and say they’re exempt, anyone can buy a lanyard, nobody has to prove they are exempt, in fact they aren’t even allowed to be asked if they are exempt.

Anyone can choose not to wear one if they don’t want to.

Like another poster has said, Boris has just thrown it out there, but there’s no actual monitoring of it or ensuring there is compliance.

I suppose he just puts his faith in the goodwill of the public and hopes that the majority will do as they’re told and it will make up for those who can’t/don’t want to wear them.

In England it's law. I know this as I checked the legislation as I wanted to clarify the age restrictions (following conflicting advice).

Saying it's optional is like saying the speed limit is optional. You can probably "get away with it" but that's not the same as saying it's optional.

Not all the current guidelines are law though, so always worth a google!

Saying it's optional is like saying the speed limit is optional. You can probably "get away with it" but that's not the same as saying it's optional.

Well no, because if you are caught speeding there are ramifications: fines, jail sentences, points on your licence, loss of licence etc etc

How can anyone be caught lying about exemptions if they don’t even have to prove they have one? In fact, people aren’t allowed to even ask someone why they aren’t wearing masks, never mind even asking for proof of exemption.

There is no comeback whatsoever from falsely claiming to have a medical exemption from masks, so nothing like being caught speeding.

Agree op

Mandatory.
Unless your exempt
Or claim your exempt
Or you choose not to wear one
Or you wear one wrong.

Lots of people here with masks covering their mouth only, under their chin, pulled down to eat, taken off between shops so bunged in bags or in hands

You're
You're

Most people are wearing them wherever I have been. 98 - 99% easily. Most people comply with instructions given by the government

It requires people to have a social conscience. Locally I would say 90% are complying with the rules. The people I’ve seen not bothering are young males.

Around here it has gone from 5% before it was mandatory to over 90%. The vast majority of people are just getting on with it.

There has been a huge increase in mask wearing when it changed from "strongly advised" to "mandatory". For many people this is just because they cant be bothered with any aggro from people questioning why they arent wearing one.
I dont want to wear a mask, I think it's pointless and I have asthma so technically I could be exempt (although I dont find they affect my breathing personally) but it's just easier to wear one.

The same happened back in March
Around 16rh March they strongly recommended social distancing, cutting down social contacts etc. But plenty of people still went to their mums for mothers day or went to national trust properties in large numbers. Then on the 24th it was made mandatory and people started doing it and most didnt see family for 12 weeks.

Even if only 80% wear them then it will still have an impact. Same as lockdown, as long as the majority followed the rules the spread would decrease.

When it was optional I opted not to wear a mask, the area I lived in had a very low number of cases, and I avoided going into enclosed areas or using public transport, I went to shops out of peak times and socially distanced. Now I wear a mask because its mandatory, every one seems to have forgotten about social distancing and the supermarkets are as busy as before lockdown.

Once it's mandatory most people will toe the line.

I know some people are medically exempt, but how can they say it’s mandatory whenever most shops won’t be challenging customers who aren’t wearing masks? So if you don’t fancy wearing one, you can just walk into a shop and you won’t be stopped? That’s not mandatory, that makes it optional.

I think it makes enough people wear them. Here I've only seen a very small number of people not wearing them, I think for most people it's enough that they know it's mandatory, I think the social pressure is quite strong.
There's also the question of what's the alternative? GPs have enough to do without signing notes for everyone who is exempt, and (thankfully) the UK government isn't going to say "those with disabilities who can't wear a mask must stay home". So that puts shops in a difficult position, and realistically their only option is to let people in.

@LindainLockdown it is legal. The problem is, people don't want to ask others who aren't wearing them to put one on because people who are exempt may get annoyed at the invasion of privacy.