Costco denying entry to mask exempt unless they wear a shield

[LifelsAPigsty]

Surely this is discrimination? Some people who can't wear a mask can't wear a visor either (I can't, I have trigeminal neuralgia and can't tolerate any pressure on my face/head/temples). There are other conditions which make wearing them impossible, too. I'm sure the government guidelines state this sort of action isn't permitted?

I don't shop at Costco personally but I'm so worried other places will follow suit (and no, I can't avoid shops sadly - no delivery slots for months here and I don't drive so no c&c. Also no friends/relatives to shop for me).

Yet another layer of anxiety and worry

Mask compliance in public spaces and shops is recorded at 96% in my State currently.
While their are always going to be genuine medical exceptions like OP, (who I believe I have read posts from earlier in the year) I would expect the number to be similar in the UK.
If the mask wearing numbers are lower in the UK it suggests that people aren't taking the situation seriously enough, which given the new strain isn't very sensible.

@Lordamighty as I also said, my concern is that other places might follow suit. And that Costco are not allowed in law to do this, and what the implications of them doing so are.

Do you usually not give any thought to things which may not (currently) affect you, but may negatively impact others?

My mum has TN, an attack is like being stabbed in her head over and over again. She’s also super sensitive to anything on her face.

People don’t understand that even a slight breeze can set it off.

Not read the whole thread but have read all of OP’s posts.

I really hope that every single person having a go at the OP is planning on getting the vaccine, and similarly berating any of their friends and family who don’t get it. And telling anyone who can’t get it that they should shield and lose their jobs. Because this is exactly the same. There will always be a small number of people who cannot do the public health requirement - whether that be getting a vaccine or wearing a mask. Therefore it is beholden on all of us to can do it to comply, protecting everyone.

Also I totally get OP’s point on a “mask less” shopping hour. Say 50 people are in a store and one has covid and no mask. If the other 49 are wearing masks then they’ll have some protection, maybe a few will get it but only a few. But if all 50 are uncovered, maybe most of them will get it - and suddenly a small outbreak is a large one.

The people who should be ashamed of themselves are the people who are not wearing a mask because they can’t be arsed, they believe some stupid conspiracy theory, or because they find masks uncomfortable. They’re the ones to blame for this policy.

OP FWIW I would be very surprised if other retailers went down this route, the potential for negative backlash is immense. Costco aren’t as worried about their reputation as Tesco etc. But I understand your worry that if Costco get away with it others may follow.

Tier 4: Stay at home. Maybe you are somewhere else. You are allowed to leave home to buy food but obviously it’s not desirable. I’m sure you follow the rules carefully but some people seem to spend all day touring all the shops that are open. That’s not following the spirit of the law at all.

[quote LifelsAPigsty]@Lordamighty as I also said, my concern is that other places might follow suit. And that Costco are not allowed in law to do this, and what the implications of them doing so are.

Do you usually not give any thought to things which may not (currently) affect you, but may negatively impact others?[/quote]
Yes I do, I am a Costco member & I give people who are not wearing a mask a wide berth because I have extremely vulnerable family members who rely on me.

Which of the shops that you actually go to have refused you entry for not wearing a mask, OP?

@LifelsAPigsty - I'm so sorry you have to live with your condition - it's so, so debilitating. You have my utmost sympathy ❤️

@TorringtonDean

Tier 4: Stay at home. Maybe you are somewhere else. You are allowed to leave home to buy food but obviously it’s not desirable. I’m sure you follow the rules carefully but some people seem to spend all day touring all the shops that are open. That’s not following the spirit of the law at all.

I'm not in Tier 4. But even those who are are permitted to leave home for shopping, caring, work that can't be done from home, medical appointments etc.

@amateursleuth

Which of the shops that you actually go to have refused you entry for not wearing a mask, OP?

I didn't say any had. What I said was, I was concerned others may follow Costco's lead. And that their actions were illegal and discriminatory, and against government guidelines re the wearing of visors.

[quote MyGazeboisLeaking]@LifelsAPigsty - I'm so sorry you have to live with your condition - it's so, so debilitating. You have my utmost sympathy ❤️

[/quote]
Thank you

I think shops and the likes are stuck because they have to take peoples words on being excempt and some people do just use that so that they don’t have to bother.

Stopping access for those who do have a genuine reason to not wear a face covering isn’t the answer though.

@psychomath

And anyway, if people are really that determined to fake an exemption, what's to stop anyone claiming they had a traumatic experience that they've never told anyone about, and getting an official certificate that way

I doubt those brazen enough to lie about being exempt before getting on a bus would take the trouble of faking, printing, carrying at all times and producing a fake certificate when asked. Too much hassle for most of them I reckon.

I think the medical system has enough to deal with right now without also having to process hundreds of thousands of applications for mask exemptions

If they are true exemptions they shouldn't be hundreds of thousands

Also it seems anything is too much to ask from the medical system these days. Assessments like these are part of their responsibility, surely?

There is a vast difference between something being ‘within the law’ and the optimal choice. This touches more on those who are not exempt but claim to be, but too many people in the UK are doing everything possible within their tier rather than understanding those are maximums to account for emergencies. And then, of course, saying anyone who points out that a strict, enforced lockdown where no one leaves their house at all is necessary as a result of this is a fascist. Employers should be forced to make WFH possible, or place employees on furlough until this is over. It’s not about ‘but legally I can!’ It’s a question of whether you should.

I’d strongly suggest posting locally, you may be surprised that others are happy to help. I’m sorry you feel no one would help you, that’s extremely sad, but maybe people will surprise you. We are vaccinated but our neighbours aren’t yet, so we help out with everything such that they don’t need to go out into public so often.

[quote trulydelicious]@psychomath

And anyway, if people are really that determined to fake an exemption, what's to stop anyone claiming they had a traumatic experience that they've never told anyone about, and getting an official certificate that way

I doubt those brazen enough to lie about being exempt before getting on a bus would take the trouble of faking, printing, carrying at all times and producing a fake certificate when asked. Too much hassle for most of them I reckon.

I think the medical system has enough to deal with right now without also having to process hundreds of thousands of applications for mask exemptions

If they are true exemptions they shouldn't be hundreds of thousands

Also it seems anything is too much to ask from the medical system these days. Assessments like these are part of their responsibility, surely?[/quote]
There are 14.1million people in the UK living with a disability, a proportion of whom will be exempt. Even if that's only 10% (a very conservative estimate), there's almost a million and a half people.

There are millions more with health conditions which are not classed as a disability but which nevertheless render sufferers exempt (like me). See also things like autism, severe skin conditions, sensory issues, some respiratory conditions.

Then there are the many people who suffer with PTSD as a result of rape or DV who cannot tolerate a face covering. There are other MH issues which make a mask impossible to wear, too.

Are you saying that these aren't 'true exemptions'? And is it really so difficult to accept, given these figures, that hundreds of thousands of people are exempt?

What I said was, I was concerned others may follow Costco's lead

And I and some other posters have said that on the basis of the current situation this seems very unlikely. What makes you think that other shops will follow this approach, in the face of the tide generally going in the opposite direction?

I'm sorry you feel that no one would help you. I can only comment on what's happened near me and
I have seen a number of people ask for help on local social media and had multiple offers. Have you asked for help and had no response?

@LifelsAPigsty

Are you saying that these aren't true exemptions

No, and I take your point

What I was thinking of is that for those with conditions like yours, I imagine it shoud be very straightforward for GPs / Consultants to be able to issue a certificate. I don't think much additional assessment would be required/burden put on the medical system.

For those with conditions that are not yet formally diagnosed (or e.g. rape victims who have not been able to seek help) the process would require more time and in some cases may be tricky. But the mere requirement of a process to go through would be a big enough hurdle in my opinon to put chancers off.

I think the issue is some people don’t wear one because they find it a bit uncomfy and so use whatever they can as a reason why, that takes away from the true issue that people like the OP face.

Due to my anxiety I can’t manage to wear a mask for more than a few minutes when walking around, thankfully I can manage a bit longer when at hospital appointments with DS or whatever. I simply don’t bother going shopping because I know I can’t cope but my issue isn’t enough to for a second make me exempt.

On the other hand DS is the type of asthmatic who genuinely can’t tolerate a mask. He still doesn’t go anywhere really anyway but when he goes to hospital appointments or whatever he does have a genuine exception.

@amateursleuth

What I said was, I was concerned others may follow Costco's lead

And I and some other posters have said that on the basis of the current situation this seems very unlikely. What makes you think that other shops will follow this approach, in the face of the tide generally going in the opposite direction?

I'm sorry you feel that no one would help you. I can only comment on what's happened near me and
I have seen a number of people ask for help on local social media and had multiple offers. Have you asked for help and had no response?

I don't need help, though. I'm not vulnerable. And no amount of help means I can stay at home for months, as some posters have suggested I should.

@sergeilavrov

too many people in the UK are doing everything possible within their tier rather than understanding those are maximums to account for emergencies

^This

@trulydelicious @sergeilavrov

Correct. Too many people are taking advantage of what they see as the loopholes. The basic message is clear but people seem to be wilfully blind to the fact we are trying to contain a pandemic.

[quote trulydelicious]@sergeilavrov

too many people in the UK are doing everything possible within their tier rather than understanding those are maximums to account for emergencies

^This[/quote]
Maybe, maybe not, but I'm not sure what it has to do with mask exemption.

[quote TorringtonDean]**@trulydelicious* @sergeilavrov*

Correct. Too many people are taking advantage of what they see as the loopholes. The basic message is clear but people seem to be wilfully blind to the fact we are trying to contain a pandemic.[/quote]
Being unable to wear a mask isn't a loophole. Being unable to wear a mask (but still needing to earn a living/go to medical appointments/care for family etc etc) is not being wilfully blind to the fact we're trying to contain a pandemic.

I was thinking about supermarkets and social distancing, do you think if I wore a 2 metre wide hoola hoop under my dress that would help?

Agree with them as well.
Other people can shop on your behalf if you can't wear a mask.
Shouldn't be shopping without one.