People wearing the sunflower lanyard without masks

[Nosebogey]

Just wondering how you are finding it?

I haven’t been to any shops (bar once) since the mask rule came in. We are exempt but didn’t have the lanyards the time we went in. Everyone else in masks, a bit of staring but not much else. Since then though someone else exempt posted on the local faceache that she’d been approached by a man who removed his mask, coughed in her face, told her he had covid and that he hoped she died from it from not wearing her mask. It’s made me a bit nervous to try again because lots of people commented on her post blaming her for that situation . And someone else I know who lives in another area was shouted at in a supermarket by another customer for not having a mask on to the point where she had to leave the shop.

Have you found people to be quite understanding or have you had shitty/scary comments too?

[Spikeyball]

"The thing is, those who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons are probably just as worried, if not more, about the virus as everyone else."

Especially since some people who cannot wear masks are in the shielding group and many of the rest are clinically vulnerable.

"Because the policy is 'my mask protects you, your mask protects me'."

Masks are to reduce the spread of the virus. They are not in general public use, designed to protect any particular individual from getting the virus.

I hope those who are quick to tell people who cannot wear masks that they are putting others at risk are equally quick to tell anyone who is hugging and not staying 2m from those not in the same household. Outside of workplaces that is causing most of the spread of the virus.

[ElizabethWoodviIIe]

@nether

We have a recently deshielded person in the family, and so would have to leave the premises, unless it were possible for minimum 2m spacing. Which generally it isn't

Your reasonable adjustment is our risk of death.

Remember that by including you, others are excluded.

I take your point and there's no easy solution to this.

However if I can't use public transport I can't get to work. If I can't get to work I can't pay my mortgage or eat - you don't get benefits if you leave your job because you have to wear a mask to use the bus to get there. Come September lots of people will need to use public transport to take children to school. And so on.

It's not as straightforward as 'stay in, get your shopping delivered'. If it were I'd be doing that, believe me.

[HUCKMUCK]

@MummytoCSJH

I have trigeminal neuralgia and cannot wear a mask or a shield (unless they suddenly float in front of your face without being attached?)

I wore my lanyard in the pharmacy the other day and the woman working there still asked me if I had a face covering I could put on A bus driver yesterday also asked me if I had an exemption card despite these legally not actually meaning anything or being official, he had turned someone away just in front of me for not wearing a mask (though they did state it was personal preference rather than medical reasons) which I was quite shocked by. Luckily I had my lanyard but these aren't required so not sure what he would have done if I didn't have one to show him, I only got mine a few days ago!

There is an issue with the mixed way it is being policed. My BIL is a bus driver and he has categorically been told by his employer not to police it. There are notices up all over the bus and he can, if he chooses, remind people that they may be at risk of a fine, but is not allowed to ban someone from getting on his bus without a mask.

[nether]

you don't get benefits if you leave your job because you have to wear a mask to use the bus to get there

Neither do you get benefits because you cannot get to work on public transport because there are unmasked people on it.

[britINscotland]

I have hearing loss (cochlear implant) and visual impairment too @lorn195 but I wear a mask. My issue is trying to lipread but that doesn't make ME exempt, it makes the person I'm talking to exempt.

I have a sunflower lanyard but that is mainly to let people know that I have communication difficulties, not that I can't wear one. I hate wearing one though and I hate the daily struggle to communicate.

I have a clear face mask that a family member uses if they need to speak with me or come with me.

It is concerning that anyone can get a sunflower lanyard but that doesn't mean people are faking it either. Doctors will not give exemption letters because its illegal to ask someone to prove an exemption but I think some kind of medical exemption card is actually needed. It would be more believable I think and make things easier all around.

[lorn195]

@britINscotland I wear a scarf as the electric loops interfere with my hearing aids and glasses. It's a pain though.

[lorn195]

@britINscotland I meant elastic .

[ElizabethWoodviIIe]

@nether

you don't get benefits if you leave your job because you have to wear a mask to use the bus to get there

Neither do you get benefits because you cannot get to work on public transport because there are unmasked people on it.

There's no simple solution to this, as I've said before. All we can do is make sure we stay 2m apart and practice good hygiene because clearly, we both need to use the bus.

[HeresMe]

I'll say it again if someone isn't wearing a mask mind your own business, and for those wanting to confine people to their home, if you are that frightened about seeing a unmasked person confine yourselves rather than them.