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

What do you want then, OP? You don't want help, you can't stay in, and you're worried about the precedent set by one organisation that only allows members to enter anyway of now also requiring masks, in spite of this not being adopted in other shops and not looking likely to be. What would you like to happen?

@LifelsAPigsty

Maybe, maybe not, but I'm not sure what it has to do with mask exemption

Because rules are so lax and there is no proper surveillance/exemption mechanisms people are tempted to push them as far as they can even though they shouldn't

The OP chooses to go out when she could get deliveries. If not online then ask a neighbour.

@TorringtonDean

The OP chooses to go out when she could get deliveries. If not online then ask a neighbour.

Are people being deliberately thick, as has been pointed out to you, just because you can get a delivery, doesn't mean everyone can.

How are you expecting for her to get to her doctor or any health appointment, not all can be done over the phone. How is she going to get to work?

ITS NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING YOUR FUCKING GROCERIES.

Oh and for those people saying use volunteer groups. If any of you have vulnerable relatives who get sorry we can't help you, shop online because the healthy but unable to use a mask are having to use them, I hope you are not going to come on here and complain

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.
True OP.
But there's an awful lot of people who ARE looking for loopholes to do what they want. Like I said up thread, I know someone making silly videos about how she's being discriminated against and emailing shops making (silly facebook copy and paste) legal threats because staff have asked about a mask. She also shares the conspiracy theories about covid, has declared she does not consent to following the restrictions and she stands under common law because she read something on Facebook about the magna carta.

She absolutely IS looking for loopholes not to wear a mask because she doesn't fancy it and she is trying to coopt the struggles of those with disabilities to make her point.

Cosco are breaking the law. It's shocking the number of people here that think this is okay but they are the reason why laws are in place. Hopefully someone affected will take legal action sooner rather than later.

@LolaSmiles

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. True OP. But there's an awful lot of people who ARE looking for loopholes to do what they want. Like I said up thread, I know someone making silly videos about how she's being discriminated against and emailing shops making (silly facebook copy and paste) legal threats because staff have asked about a mask. She also shares the conspiracy theories about covid, has declared she does not consent to following the restrictions and she stands under common law because she read something on Facebook about the magna carta.

She absolutely IS looking for loopholes not to wear a mask because she doesn't fancy it and she is trying to coopt the struggles of those with disabilities to make her point.

LolaSmiles might just want to go to Cosco to browse some non essential items. They don't need to explain their reasoning or have some vital or health related reason for visiting. They might have lots of friends and family who are desperate to do shopping for them or have lots of alternate places where they could obtain shopping without visiting Cosco but they might just prefer to shop in Cosco. They are entitled to access Cosco in the same way as anyone else and could easily do so if Cosco wasn't preventing them with their illegal rule.

Not sure why anyone would want to shop there as it sound like a dreadful place but it's the principle...

I think that it might be more helpful to look at the current situation in a 'what can I do to help others keep safe' rather than 'my rights are' way.
So if I can't wear a mask shopping to help keep others safe I'll use online shopping or click and collect or ask for help.
Same with pharmacy items etc.

For me personally it means keeping dc in the car when I go shopping rather than troup them round as one example.

There are going to be some pinch points but if people focused on keeping others safe as a priority universal bans like Costco's wouldn't be needed.

@lakesidexmas

I think that it might be more helpful to look at the current situation in a 'what can I do to help others keep safe' rather than 'my rights are' way. So if I can't wear a mask shopping to help keep others safe I'll use online shopping or click and collect or ask for help. Same with pharmacy items etc.

For me personally it means keeping dc in the car when I go shopping rather than troup them round as one example.

There are going to be some pinch points but if people focused on keeping others safe as a priority universal bans like Costco's wouldn't be needed.

It's dangerous to leave dc in car when you go shopping. Didn't someone have a child taken into care for doing something similar?

They are old enough to safe.
Normally they would pootle round the shops with me but I ask them to wait in car currently.

Sorry to hear this op. Most people haven't heard of TN so won't be sympathetic but I think it is probably one of the main reasons to actually be exempt. I have TMJ and the mask makes my jaw ache and spasm but I can tolerate it for short periods. I wouldn't risk it at all with TN.

Unfortunately, lots of people are using the exemption as an excuse to not wear a face covering which makes it much more difficult for those who genuinely can't.

I don't agree with Costco's rule and hope it doesn't roll out everywhere. Stay safe.

@TorringtonDean

The OP chooses to go out when she could get deliveries. If not online then ask a neighbour.

I don't 'choose' to go to work, hospital appoi... Oh, never mind.

@amateursleuth

What do you want then, OP? You don't want help, you can't stay in, and you're worried about the precedent set by one organisation that only allows members to enter anyway of now also requiring masks, in spite of this not being adopted in other shops and not looking likely to be. What would you like to happen?

For people not to be abusive, say I'm using loopholes to get out of wearing a mask, that I could if I wanted to, to understand that staying at home for possibly years, and for companies not to set worrying illegal precedents... That'd be a start.

to understand that staying at home for possibly years isn't possible or realistic

Depends on the age of the child my son is 12 yes I leave him in the car its better than dragging him around the shop

Billie18
I don't want to go to cosco

It was more that the OP seemed to be disputing that some people are taking a land and looking for ways to exploit loopholes.
If I were to take a lighthearted bet, I'd cynically say that someone who argues they can ignore the restrictions because the magna carta says so and regularly posts misinformation and conspiracy theories is unlikely to be genuinely exempt.

There are absolutely people looking for loopholes just as there has been through the pandemic. There's been countless threads of people thinking they can do what they like. Some on here were defending people choosing to travel the length of the country from tier 4 because they might be happier in their holiday home.

Looks like a system giving official proof of exemption would be the way then. Getting abused for not wearing a mask is wrong and I'm sorry that's happened to you.

We’ve been asked whether a business can refuse you entry for failing to make a face mask, and whether even being asked to wear one amounts to a breach of the Equality Act.

In short the answers are:

- A blanket policy of not allowing access without a face mask is unlawful;
Asking you to wear a face mask sensitively and being ‘mindful and respectful’ is not unlawful;

As ever, if you face issues with being refused access because you can’t wear a mask, you should collect as much information about the experience as you can. What was the name of the person you spoke with and can you prove where you were?

Legitimate claims can be made to change unlawful policies and compensation awards will depend upon the ‘injury to feelings’ embarrassment and humiliation caused by the experience.

www.frylaw.co.uk/archives/articles/face-masks-the-equality-act/

On their home page at the moment they have a downloadable guide to making a complaint, including templates for complaining about mask exemption refusal.

www.frylaw.co.uk/

I agree with you OP, this is important whether you want to visit this particular shop or not. I have completely no problem wearing a face covering for hours on end, this doesn't directly affect me at all, but I still think it's important.

Over the past year we have all had some very basic freedoms and human rights removed from us and that has for the most part been absolutely necessary. And it's not over, in fact things are really quite hairy, so we can look forward to our rights and freedoms being curtailed for many more months to come.

The least we should demand is a strong evidence base, proportionality and fairness. The Equality Act has not been suspended because of the virus. Other Acts have been suspended, including the Care Act, which has already had a devastating impact on some disabled people and carers and their ability to live safely and with dignity.

The EA is not some 'nice to have' thing for when everything's going well. The worse things get, the more discrimination becomes a problem and the more important it becomes to uphold and defend the EA.

If you want to throw disabled people under the bus over masks then be prepared to say goodbye to all your own rights too. Once the EA is declared irrelevant because of the pandemic then it's irrelevant for everyone, not just disabled people.

I hope none of you are likely to need maternity leave, childcare or even just a job in the near future.

except that even if it's officially recognized that some people need to be exempt others don't want unmasked breathing/coughing/explosive speech directed at them.
and right now someone's exhaled breath could lead to someone else's death.
maybe those who genuinely cant wear a mask need to receive the vaccine sooner?

Legitimate claims can be made to change unlawful policies and compensation awards will depend upon the ‘injury to feelings’ embarrassment and humiliation caused by the experience.
So the shame and claim lawyers are on this too? Yes if laws have been breached should be dealt with, but claiming compo?!

except that even if it's officially recognized that some people need to be exempt others don't want unmasked breathing/coughing/explosive speech directed at them.
and right now someone's exhaled breath could lead to someone else's death.
maybe those who genuinely cant wear a mask need to receive the vaccine sooner?

Then don't go near someone who is not masked, I can bet those who genuinely cannot wear a mask won't go near you for fear of being abused.

And as am sure the courts would seek the evidence that the exemption is legitimate, why can not this evidence just be provided to those who need it to spare them this rigmarole?

@Stormyinacoffeemug

Hi OP, I havent read the whole thread so forgive me if this has already been suggested. I cant wear a mask for medical reasons and have been through a lot of abuse from people who dont see my lanyard or dont understand. After a lot of worry of how I was going to do my christmas shopping without having a breakdown, I bought a face shield. I shopped around and instead of the ones that attach to the forehead, I got one that clips onto a pair of glasses (cost under £3). It puts no pressure on the face at all and I even forget I am wearing it which has led to some amusing smacks in the face! Is this type something you could maybe try?

Sorry this has happened to you and it’s great you’ve found a way around it.