Supermarket refuses service without mask

[torn2020]

The supermarket in my small town has taken the decision to refuse entry to anyone without a mask, even if they're exempt/carrying a card/wearing a lanyard etc. Apparently the exemption cards "were being abused".

Judging from comments on the local Facebook group, there's overwhelming support for this.

I'm horrified/disgusted at the overt discrimination and lack of empathy. Would say I'll boycott but actually have no choice since I'm unable to wear a mask (due to PTSD from being choked and strangled as a child, for those who like to jump in and say I should just put up with it for a 5 min shop). Apparently mask exempt people "don't have the right to just go wherever they want".

AIBU at despairing at humanity just a little bit more today?

@QuestionMarkNow

You dint give a shit about the health of other people?

Please tell me I misunderstood

1. If masks help stop transmission, I’m as at much risk as “other people” from non mask wearers. I still manage to go about my business not being a cunt and abusing and hassling random people.

1. Masks don’t work anyway.

1. Over 99% of people don’t have Covid. You’re therefore not “at risk” of people who don’t have it.

@QuestionMarkNow

You dint give a shit about the health of other people?

Please tell me I misunderstood

You clearly don't give a shit about the health of those who can't wear masks.

Well I refer you to my post about ‘mask dont work’

As for the number of people that are actually infected, I agree with you.
But if this is the starting point, then we don’t need to have any restriction in place at all. Because so few people are infected so the risk is clearly extremely low, right? So no SD, no washing hands etc...

I think they are just right. You don’t need to be exempt.
I was on holiday on an island, there are no special needs badges for a face mask. It is policed. Unless you have 3rd degree burns on your face a mask MUST be worn.
In which case you probably wouldn’t be outside.

Clinically it has been studied and current facial injury is the only reason not to require fabric over nose and mouth.

Your being a brat, and putting others at risk. It’s okay though loads of people are being total brats about it.

@QuestionMarkNow

Well I refer you to my post about ‘mask dont work’

As for the number of people that are actually infected, I agree with you.
But if this is the starting point, then we don’t need to have any restriction in place at all. Because so few people are infected so the risk is clearly extremely low, right? So no SD, no washing hands etc...

I don’t agree on masks. Even when they made them mandatory NS said the evidence for them was limited. It’s just tokenism IMO. Unlike SD and handwashing where we know they made a difference because we saw cases decrease once they were implemented.

I have no problem wearing a mask and I do and did even before they were mandatory (although I am cynical about the point of them) but I cannot control what others do.

@Marpan

I think they are just right. You don’t need to be exempt. I was on holiday on an island, there are no special needs badges for a face mask. It is policed. Unless you have 3rd degree burns on your face a mask MUST be worn. In which case you probably wouldn’t be outside.

Clinically it has been studied and current facial injury is the only reason not to require fabric over nose and mouth.

Your being a brat, and putting others at risk. It’s okay though loads of people are being total brats about it.

@Marpan

I think they are just right. You don’t need to be exempt. I was on holiday on an island, there are no special needs badges for a face mask. It is policed. Unless you have 3rd degree burns on your face a mask MUST be worn. In which case you probably wouldn’t be outside.

Clinically it has been studied and current facial injury is the only reason not to require fabric over nose and mouth.

Your being a brat, and putting others at risk. It’s okay though loads of people are being total brats about it.

Oh my goodness.

So survivors of rape are brats? Those with TN are brats? Autistic people, those with serious skin conditions, DV survivors - all brats?

There is no such clinical study. Complete tosh. My GP and neurologist have both agreed that my condition is grounds for exemption.

Where is this island you were holidaying? Was it Fantasy Island, by any chance?

There are no 'special needs badges' for exemption in the UK either, fyi. There's no such thing.

Your being a brat, and putting others at risk.

so my DD with autism and severe learning difficulties is a brat.

Your being a brat

It's you're.

HTH.

Pay no mind to that one, Penny, it sounds like two posters/sock poppets who were here last week and got banned. 'Marpan' just told a person who said she has a phobia to 'grow up' and 'it's just a cotton bud down your throat for a minimum amount of time'. Wind up merchant.

@Burpeesshmurpees

This is painful!! Masks help stop transmission - just because some people can't wear them doesn't make that not a fact. Those of you saying masks don't help are either lying or you have just been so brainwashed by the governments lies. The ONLY reason we were told that masks don't help at the beginning is because the UK govt hadn't stocked up in advance and wanted (understandably) the masks that were available to be given to HCPs. IF YOU CAN WEAR A MASK IT IS YOUR CIVIC DUTY TO DO SO. It's also the law. Please don't listen to the nonsense posted up thread

Had the NHS run out of pieces of cloth and elastic? News to me.

The government are telling us to wear them but they have said themselves the evidence is very limited.

I do wear one so quite who your rant is aimed at I’m not sure but given how quickly cases are going up everywhere they are worn I can be cynical about them and I see them as just tokenism. What difference does it make to you?

So? I’m not responsible for what other people do. More fool them if they take public health advice from mumsnet. I have not once advocated that anyone not exempt should choose not to wear a mask.

@Burpeesshmurpees

Spot on! Agree in totality. Though the non believers will think they are both entitled and exceptional. Look around the real world as not many fall into that category. If not do Covid risk mitigation management for civic duty them why not at least protect your inner circle love ones. Parental responsibility springs to mind. I just can't understand why global expected and accepted Covid best practice risk mitigation combined measures are seen as an inconvenient joke or even attack on their personal human rights even when they are intended to keep you alive so that you will still have your human rights. If the unmasked ever need the handy work of a surgeon I wonder if they dare be anti mask?

I don’t agree with the shop. Masks offer minimum protection anyway and most people don’t use masks correctly.

even if you have a 'condition' which could make you exempt its still down to the individual to assess themselves first and try a mask to see

is there a list of these hidden disabilities?

@WellRiddleMeThis

even if you have a 'condition' which could make you exempt its still down to the individual to assess themselves first and try a mask to see

is there a list of these hidden disabilities?

No (and they're not all disabilities anyway - some people have health/MH conditions which prevent mask wearing).

One person with asthma may be able to wear a mask while another won't. Similarly some people with TN find that it's triggered by a draught/wind, so a mask protects against an attack, while for others any touch to the face is a trigger so masks are out.

I've seen people on here saying 'I have X condition which means I'm exempt but I wear a mask anyway'. If you can wear a mask, you're not exempt. If you can't, you are.

Some shop assistants wear masks, others do not. It would be sensible to timetable those who are non-mask wearers on days when it is non/lower mask wearing.

Shops should be able to refuse people to protect their staff - if it is unavoidable that A mask-wearer is on a non/lower mask wearing day. They do have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for their staff.

@Namenic

Some shop assistants wear masks, others do not. It would be sensible to timetable those who are non-mask wearers on days when it is non/lower mask wearing.

Shops should be able to refuse people to protect their staff - if it is unavoidable that A mask-wearer is on a non/lower mask wearing day. They do have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for their staff.

There are no non/lower mask wearing days, thank goodness.

Why can’t you just use click and collect? Or ask someone else to go for you? That’s the part I don’t get. Ask a local volunteer group, or order online.

It's a toss up really isn't it between the rights of those whose health conditions mean they can't wear a mask, and those, formerly shielding people, whose health conditions mean it's not safe for them to shop if there are too many (possibly any) people without masks.

Both can't comfortably be in a shop at the same time. So either you have mandatory mask slots, or specific slots for those that are exempt -forcing people do to their shopping at a particular time, or one of the group's needs to stay away from the shops.

Given the shielded have been required to hide away for months, I'd rather they shop safely at the moment, and masks be truly mandatory.

And yes, that means no unmasked children in shops either (young ones could be in buggies with rain covers over it?).

If we had a similar proportion of people claiming exemption as other European countries, then that wouldn't be so bad, but it's illogical that we have such a higher proportion.

I find it quite disturbing though when the response to 'they wouldn't like an oxygen mask for Covid either' (which you would be conscious for) is met with 'it would be really difficult, but I'd manage' - Whilst I understand that in life threatening situations, people can do extraordinary things to survive, when it's not quite so extreme, it feels like some are willing to do it for their own welfare, but not to protect others.

If compulsory use of masks is to continue, I think we need a system of exemption cards, so that those whom a Dr sign off as being exempt (can be done via a phone call consultation) get an official card, which gives no details as to the reason for the exemption, but is proof of it. Then those without the card either don't get entry or get fined.

@SpearmintPeppermint

Why can’t you just use click and collect? Or ask someone else to go for you? That’s the part I don’t get. Ask a local volunteer group, or order online.

Because sometimes, I might need to nip to the shop for milk or whatever. But mainly, because there is no requirement for me to do so. Mutual aid groups are there to help those who need it - not to do the shopping for people who are exempt from wearing masks, who are able to do their own shopping.

C&C requires a minimum spend, as does ordering online (if you can get a slot).

And many exempt people need to use public transport - a volunteer can't go to work for us, can they?

No doubt due to all the bolshie twats who are indeed abusing the exemption. I'm sorry for shop workers who have to deal with this, and sorry for the small number who have a legitimate reason for not wishing to wear a mask ( although I see why this is questioned by some).