If one of a couple can’t wear a mask, then bloody well let your partner shop on their own ffs
I have friends who have developed crippling anxiety because of the fear on being confronted as many of us disabled people have been (I'm a member of many disability and wheelchair user groups), who sometimes need to be able to go out themselves, but who need someone with them.
There's also disabled people with a carer, the disabled person won't necessarily be in a chair or have noticeable problems.
And people like me who can claim exemption but wear one, but however need someone to take their mask off to talk to me because I lipread (I've found going out full stop quite frustrating because people assume I can hear them and the more distressed I get, the harder it is for me to communicate it properly).
Currently, different areas of disability rights are being erased or ignored. It's bad enough that disabled parking spaces are being cordoned off, but able-bodied, healthy but pathetic individuals have hijacked the exemption cards, meaning that several of the disabled community have ended up in tears, being asked why they aren't wearing one, then when they're told that person is exempt, being grilled as to exactly why they're exempt.
For abuse survivors in particular, that's very traumatising.
The whole system would work fine if truly exempt people had a specific card which could only come from their doctor. I'm sure people would try and replicate them but it would be harder for people to appropriate disability, which currently is making our lives more hell than they already are.
We have a right to come out too.
I'm just glad I spent a few months practising wearing masks before they even mentioned the possibility of it being mandatory. It's problematic for me, but less than it was.