Surely shops aren't allowed to do this?

[AntFarm]

Our local post office/store has got a sign up outside stating that everyone entering must wear a mask and that exempt people must show proof of exemption before entering. It then goes on to list proof of exemption as :

A doctor's note on headed paper
Exemption letter from DWP
Hidden disabilities exemption card

If you cannot wear a mask and do not have any of these then you are not allowed to enter. They have, so generously, said that children under the age of 11 do not need to show proof.

I am not exempt, neither is anyone in my family, and we all happily wear masks no problem. It just doesn't seem right or fair that someone should have to show medical or personal documents to someone in a shop!

@amijustparanoidorjuststoned As long as you wouldnt moan if you couldnt get an appointment due to the time being taken to administer it.

There are badges and lanyards you can buy for under a pound or download. You dont always need a medical condition that needs a dr note. Its not just people with disabilities who are exempt. Would people with blue badge feel happy to show that. No one wants to get ill.

HeresMe

Because doctors won't provide such note”

Ours will, for £13 fee. Don’t know if they waive it for benefit claimants.

@SantaClaritaDiet

Their medical history isn't displayed on the badge for randoms to know about though is it? It is given in confidence to get a badge and held under data protection laws. It just gives them the right to park in that area.

no one is asking for the full life story. An exemption card to prove you are exempt is enough.

If it's genuine, it's not discriminating or any of the nonsense shouted on this thread. It's pretty obvious you are not wearing a mask, you are basically claiming you have some disability that makes you refuse to wear it! The card would just prove that you are not making it up.

If you were really genuine, and understood the actual purpose of the mask, you would welcome exemptions strictly limited to those who need it! You would be the first to be protected by them, that's the point.

So are those who cannot wear masks not allowed to buy food etc until the government sets up a system to administer exemption card applications?

Some odd comments here about post offices.

Since when were sub post offices a public service? Post Office Counters is a private limited company.

You can't demand to use it or be allowed in when it' s part of a shop.

I don't understand the OP at all- are you for or against the notice in the shop?

My village shop / sub PO says masks have to be worn. They are entitled to refuse entry to anyone not complying.

If you cannot wear a mask (and that is a tiny, tiny minority- there have been medics talking about this online and there is hardly anyone who cannot wear a mask for the time they are in a corner shop- maybe 5 or 10 minutes? ) then ask someone else to do your shopping or errands.

Most villages have set up volunteers to do just that for anyone who cannot go out for any reason.

You are making a mountain out of molehill OP.

Ours will, for £13 fee. Don’t know if they waive it for benefit claimants.

So nice of them nice tidy profit don't be proud of it your doctors are profiteering scum.

@raddledoldmisanthropist

One of the legal exemptions is for people who would be caused severe distress by wearing a mask...You're quite correct OP, they're not acting legally.

That's an exemption to who is required to wear a mask by law. It does not prevent a business from having tighter rules.

The Equality Act does.

So are those who cannot wear masks not allowed to buy food etc until the government sets up a system to administer exemption card applications?

the current system is penalising people at risk and forcing them to stay locked up, is that fair?

I suspect there is a direct correlation between those shaming people for not wearing masks and demanding to know the ins and outs of their medical conditions and those who thought/think most of those on DLA/PIP are scroungers.

So lets not pretend its about protecting the vulnerable shall we. Or that we are all in this together. Lets stop being disingenuous.

Its about getting out there and spending. Its about being able to go to the pub. Its about being able to go on holiday and EVERYONE wearing masks speeds that up.

The economy has taken a huge hit

But dont pretend its about the vulnerable when they have already been bullied, harassed and filmed on public transport and in shops for not being able to wear masks.

And some companies are acting in a similar way One bus company deleted a social media post saying that from Monday 29th June passengers would have to PROVE their disability/medical condition if not wearing a mask. After they were told they were in breach of the Equality Act.

Prove you are disabled so you can get PIP
Prove you are disabled so you can get food delivered.
Prove you are disabled so you wont have your condition exacerbated by wearing a mask.

A sickening hat trick!

All about the vulnerable? Yeah Course it is!!

@Gwenhwyfar

"And why should someone have to prove they have a disability/condition that exempts them when they are not required to do so by law"

They have to prove it to get a disabled parking badge don't they? Otherwise anyone can say they're exmpt.

To official people at the council, not to a random shop owner.

I've noticed that chemists and post offices are being stricter than units that are purely retail outlets. Possibly because their client base is everyone, including those who would not generally engage in discretionary retail spending as a leisure activity. Similar to libraries, staff already routinely deal with people whose lifestyle/circumstance adds an element of risk not encountered with the same degree of frequency in other retail roles, so I guess they're being more cautious plus managers are already more in the mindset of harm management.

As such, it's understandable, particularly when you can literally print off an exemption card yourself, should you require one.

@SantaClaritaDiet

So are those who cannot wear masks not allowed to buy food etc until the government sets up a system to administer exemption card applications?

the current system is penalising people at risk and forcing them to stay locked up, is that fair?

Neat swerve of the question there.

And anyway, if there were some kind of system implemented where exempt people had to and could obtain medical proof to take to shops etc, that wouldn't prevent people from entering without wearing masks. So anyone for whom the presence of unmasked exempt people in shops presents a problem... would still have that problem.

If it's genuine, it's not discriminating or any of the nonsense shouted on this thread. It's pretty obvious you are not wearing a mask, you are basically claiming you have some disability that makes you refuse to wear it! The card would just prove that you are not making it up

not refusing to, wear one, unable to wear one. big difference.

If you were really genuine, and understood the actual purpose of the mask, you would welcome exemptions strictly limited to those who need it! You would be the first to be protected by them, that's the point

i understand the reasons for the, and im very genuine, i don't think if th government doesn't require proof that its on the PO or anyone else to try and enforce that. my son and others like him has a hard enough time in life, i don't need anyone making it worse.

As such, it's understandable, particularly when you can literally print off an exemption card yourself, should you require one.

And of course also if you don't require one, but just fancy it, what with them having no official validity and no qualification process. Making them absolutely fucking useless.

So lets not pretend its about protecting the vulnerable shall we. Or that we are all in this together. Lets stop being disingenuous.

not just the vulnerable let's be honest. You wearing a mask protects ME.

If you cannot wear a mask (and that is a tiny, tiny minority- there have been medics talking about this online and there is hardly anyone who cannot wear a mask for the time they are in a corner shop- maybe 5 or 10 minutes? ) then ask someone else to do your shopping or errands

its part of my sons job to mail orders for the job hes busted his arse to do well. a job he loves and hes good at. being told he wouldn't be allowed in the PO because he can't cover his face would break him.

I can see why as lots of people seem to be taking the mick. I was appalled by how many people I saw not wearing one when I was shopping last week, ones where it was obvious they were likely just thinking the rules didn’t apply to them. Eg 3 or 4 family members not wearing a mask - I get that it could be legit but I seen so many.

The issue is that around 1/3 of people I see aren't wearing masks. Predominantly they are under 30, males mire than females. Do they have a high incidence of lung disease, ptsd? No they just can't be bothered to wear one (I doubt it's even a philosophical objection). So as potentially discriminatory as it is I get where shops are coming from. A security guard was doing his best at Asda, had free masks available but people were saying they refuse to wear them to his face and apart from calling the police there's nothing they can do

Oops I forgot to say that it would be easier if everyone with a medical condition/disability were given a card or something they could show to staff if they couldn’t wear one. Too many people flout the rules and it’s the legitimate ones who suffer.

@SantaClaritaDiet

So are those who cannot wear masks not allowed to buy food etc until the government sets up a system to administer exemption card applications?

the current system is penalising people at risk and forcing them to stay locked up, is that fair?

Not willing to answe my question then.

If you cannot wear a mask (and that is a tiny, tiny minority- there have been medics talking about this online and there is hardly anyone who cannot wear a mask for the time they are in a corner shop- maybe 5 or 10 minutes? ) then ask someone else to do your shopping or errands.

So people with disabilities who are often some of the most isolated in society are supposed to become even more isolated? Why can’t others adapt and just stay a bit further away?

Honestly, the attitudes of some posters on these threads towards people who genuinely can’t wear a mask are absolutely horrible.

If people wanted compulsory exemption certificates they could write to their MP or otherwise campaign for them. Have they done that? I suspect not. No they prefer to have a go at vulnerable people instead.

In my local post office I was told I could take my mask off if I wanted to! I was struggling with my glasses steaming up.

OP please report this, both to the Post Office (who won't be impressed) and to the council, although I don't know which department. I normally would say give places a chance to sort things out if they're doing something wrong but this is clear disability discrimination and it's scummy. They don't deserve the benefit of doubt.

For the record I can and do wear a mask, this does not affect me directly other than to cause disgust.