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!

@PurpleDaisies

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.

People with disabilities are one of the many groups that a certain portion of MN very vocally hate, so I’m not surprised really.

PiataMaiNei
if you restrict the amount of people without mask to those who have a genuinely and proven reason, you reduce the risk drastically - plus most of these people will be respecting social distancing too, whilst the snowflakes and superior mask refusers don't give a damn.

How do other countries manage? No mask = heavy fine.
It's amazing how so many "issues" suddenly get resolved when your wallet is at risk. Those with exemption prove it, and dont' get bothered.

Strictly no need for the drama we enjoy in this country.

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 some random 'medics' (wtf does that even mean?) knows everyone in the world's personal circumstances and everything about every disease and disability and mental health illness there is then?
The people with TN, PTSD from being gagged while raped, autism, and a thousand other things which would make wearing mask unbearable?
They should all stay at home, not go to work, not spend thier money but expect others to do it while they sit at home twiddling thier thumbs wondering how to pay the rent with no money coming in?

@HeIenaDove

And people still having trust in WHO with mask advice this isn't first Corona or respiratory illness so why the bull on there mask advice. Of course we wouldnt be in the position if done job back at beginning of year.

@SantaClaritaDiet

PiataMaiNei if you restrict the amount of people without mask to those who have a genuinely and proven reason, you reduce the risk drastically - plus most of these people will be respecting social distancing too, whilst the snowflakes and superior mask refusers don't give a damn.

How do other countries manage? No mask = heavy fine.
It's amazing how so many "issues" suddenly get resolved when your wallet is at risk. Those with exemption prove it, and dont' get bothered.

Strictly no need for the drama we enjoy in this country.

So what do you suggest those who cannot wear masks do until the government creates a system, implements it and approves applicants?

Maybe the staff are high risk but have to work again?

@SantaClaritaDiet

PiataMaiNei if you restrict the amount of people without mask to those who have a genuinely and proven reason, you reduce the risk drastically - plus most of these people will be respecting social distancing too, whilst the snowflakes and superior mask refusers don't give a damn.

How do other countries manage? No mask = heavy fine.
It's amazing how so many "issues" suddenly get resolved when your wallet is at risk. Those with exemption prove it, and dont' get bothered.

Strictly no need for the drama we enjoy in this country.

You have no idea what the numbers would be, neither do these medics, so your claim that the risk would be drastically reduced is bullshitting. Nor do you know whether they will SD or not. This means your argument was rubbish, as well as being an attempt to avoid answering the question put to you.

@Vodkacranberryplease what would you suggest i do with my autistic teenager whilst i buy food for him to eat? i'm open to suggestions. he doesn't have a father, he died. his siblings are either too young to manage their 6ft3in, 13stone brother, or live elsewhere and have jobs. i don't have friends able to watch him and respite care is non existent during the pandemic. if you have a solution, let me hear it.

Maybe the staff are high risk but have to work again?

The staff in a post office will be behind screens.

Post Office won’t be happy with one of their postmasters doing this, you could complain and it will be flagged up and dealt with. Post Offices are franchisees nowadays so not owned by PO directly.

The only thing I would say is, postmasters tend to me elderly so could it be that they are anxious? I’m not saying it’s right but fear could play a part. Maybe they just need to be told that it’s not easy to provide a certificate, could be ignorance. I don’t think we need to get the pitchforks out and ‘close the shop down’, they may just need a little of guidance. Probably a small business owner who is struggling - just my opinion!

@PurpleDaisies a lot of post offices are open plan now so not behind screens.

@Slat3 plenty of businesses have installed screens to protect their staff.

I live on the Welsh border, I can go five miles down the road and do my shopping without a mask , I actually manage a small shop, in England, very few people enter without a mask but I do not 'police it', if someone's comes into my shop without a mask I take the view that they have a good reason not to wear one and I wouldn't dream of questioning them. And as I am working in a shop I do not have to wear one .... the rules are very odd.

Customers will vote with their feet ... if shop staff are rude and aggressive customers will shop elsewhere.

Its not going to be possible for everyone to get someone else to do their shopping but surely its possible for pretty much everyone affected and their companions to wear something to display they are exempt. You dont have to wear a mask. It can be a simple face covering. If the op store is only letting one person in at a time there will be no queues. This argument is dividing people when we should all be pulling together to try and get rid of this awful illness.

So some random 'medics' (wtf does that even mean?) knows everyone in the world's personal circumstances and everything about every disease and disability and mental health illness there is then?

From what I've seen, a random medic means an alleged nurse who's taking a break from filming dance videos to shoot her mouth off on a topic she clearly knows fuck all about. If even half the people who claim to be NHS staff genuinely are, I'm really not surprised it had gone so far downhill even before Covid.

I got refused entry to a local shop because my 6 year old DS who is autistic, was not wearing a mask. Ironically I was going on to buy a mask from them (and was wearing one myself). The staff member (who I later learnt was medically vulnerable) had no PPE in any form.

To be honest I felt hurt and for the first time felt disability can be a massive impediment. Needless to say they lost me as a customer that day!

the posters who are getting worked up here about those who are exempt from face coverings- do you own online searches and find out that what I posted is correct.

the medic was a highly qualified dr. Yes I don't have the exact link or name but you can find it I'm sure if search.

The point being made by them was that for anyone using a shop, there are very, very few people who cannot wear a face covering(can be a scarf) for 5 or ten minutes.

The OP was posting about a small corner shop. Who would be in there for long when they only allow one person at a time?

@BamboozledandBefuddled I didn't sue the word 'random'. someone else made that up! It was a very experienced doctor at the front line of fighting Covid. People need to stop making assumptions and posting things they are ignorant of.

@HowDeeDooDee

Its not going to be possible for everyone to get someone else to do their shopping but surely its possible for pretty much everyone affected and their companions to wear something to display they are exempt. You dont have to wear a mask. It can be a simple face covering. If the op store is only letting one person in at a time there will be no queues. This argument is dividing people when we should all be pulling together to try and get rid of this awful illness.

The problem is that as there's no regulation of any 'something', whatever was being displayed could also be used by people who aren't legally exempt from wearing a mask. Making it completely useless.

The point that several of you seem to be missing is that when there is no official, regulated system for proving exemption, the exempt population cannot set one up themselves.

I could name 10 people who couldn't keep a mask on for 10 seconds.

No, they aren’t allowed to do that

i love the 'it doesn't have to be a mask, it can be a scarf' argument, as if that makes a blind bit of difference to those with autism, or trigeminal neuralgia, or PTSD related issues with having their mouth covered, or those with sensory processing disorder.

@Sockwomble, me too. without even thinking about it. when you're in the disability community i suspect most could.

@JinglingHellsBells

the posters who are getting worked up here about those who are exempt from face coverings- do you own online searches and find out that what I posted is correct.

the medic was a highly qualified dr. Yes I don't have the exact link or name but you can find it I'm sure if search.

The point being made by them was that for anyone using a shop, there are very, very few people who cannot wear a face covering(can be a scarf) for 5 or ten minutes.

The OP was posting about a small corner shop. Who would be in there for long when they only allow one person at a time?

If I can find it on a search, why can't you find it again - you're the one claiming it supports your argument. I'd be very interested to encounter a doctor who is a specialist in the reasons for my exemption, and also a specialist in the reasons for DH's. And if my mother wasn't housebound, she would also be exempt - for a different reason again, which I'm sure this 'highly qualified doctor' would also be a specialist in.