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

@MountainDweller There have been now delivery or click and collect slots in my area recently and during the first lock down. I'm not clinically vulnerable and therefore not entitled to priority slots or extra assistance.

I'm still disabled and not prepared to give up my legal rights to access services in favour of those who are clinically vulnerable and can also use those services in priority ways I can't.

Hopefully you've at least made some people stop and think before they make disablist comments

It would be nice wouldn't it?

However on a site where posters feel empowered to tell disabled people "just try harder" to be better, that their Aunty Meg once had a similar named condition and managed to climb Everest so obviously the OP isn't trying hard enough and posters routinely lecture the disabled on their conditions because being an armchair internet pundit gives them expertise beyond a poster's own specialist medical advisors I'm not hopeful.

Most times the motivation behind such posts is the sheer horror that someone might be getting some spurious and perceived advantage that they can't grab for themselves.

I have to agree with the shop on this occasion. I am medically excempt as I have asthma but I have to wear one at work because I work in care. My asthma landed me on steroids this week and it was really hard and uncomfortable wearing my mask but it had to be done because it does protect other people .

Most times the motivation behind such posts is the sheer horror that someone might be getting some spurious and perceived advantage that they can't grab for themselves

But I don't think that's what it is here? I think some issues are like the not recognising being maskless can cause anxiety for other people, but then like on the thread stating that a specific maskless shopping time shouldn't happen as they would be at risk from other non mask wearers?

In a specific maskless time the risks to everyone there would be far higher than in the situation where only a few are without masks.
How would you police that to ensure that only those that are mask exempt are in there at that time?

Would you prevent everyone else from going in there at that time? I can't see businesses who will be considering their profits going for that.

And there will be a chorus of mask wearers claiming it is not fair that they cannot shop when they want.

I'm sorry, but I agree with this policy until we can have a proper scheme that you can register your medical conditions which prevent you wearing a mask (like we allow guide dogs into shop - but not other dogs).

I think mask wearing is important to protect infection, that's why surgeons/lab-workers etc wear them.

Most times the motivation behind such posts is the sheer horror that someone might be getting some spurious and perceived advantage that they can't grab for themselves

I think this is pretty spot on tbh.

I think you have to accept the majority of people do not want to be around people without masks, whatever your reason people do not want to be put at risk. I don't blame Costco they have a duty of care to their staff to keep them safe. Medics are clear masks are important in reducing transmissions, so allowing people into enclosed spaces without them is increasing risks for their staff.

I’m quite surprised that with cases doing nothing but rise at an exponential rate since we had to wear them that people think masks are any use at all. I’ve been quite anxious about Covid but I don’t give a shit if people in shops aren’t wearing one. I just assume they must be exempt and get on with my day.

You seem to of tried everything

Everything you seem to of tried and can’t be done. It seems you need to go out without a mask. Fair enough. But you can do other things. Ok so no food delivery. Go to Amazon. They deliver to pretty much everyone.

Your TN makes you vulnerable

You can ring the supermarkets. They will prioritise you. Your RA makes you vulnerable. You know this. You wouldn’t be lying. It doesn’t shrink you unless you’re on the medication. But it does make you vulnerable.

Again. The Red Cross WILL help you

Again AMAZON can deliver food

The staff need to protect themselves and others around them. It may not be ok. I get that. I recently wasn’t allowed to be in the Apple store. Because I can’t wear a mask. That’s fair enough. I’m exempt with a very visible facial disfigurement. But that’s ok.

If you let me know whether north. South. East or west. I can tell you a charity which can help.

What will happen is the shops will close

Then the only place you’ll be able to wear them is food shopping. Work and the doctors.

Costco here in the US doesn’t even have the visor exception. It’s a mask or no entry. Reminds me of the “no shirt, no shoes, no service” signs on restaurant doors.

It’s a membership-only “club” and anything they sell can be bought elsewhere. They also deliver. That’s how they can do this. It’s an essential shop in that it sells good but it’s not that essential that it’s the only shop that sells food. If there’s a Costco in your town, there will be a Tesco/Sainsburys/Morrison’s/Coop/Aldi etc also.

Surely the amount of genuinely exempt who also dont want to wear masks ( my 13 year old is exempt as has SEN which includes sensory processing but he wants to wear a mask ) is tiny? So at any one given time you would have one shopper inside without a mask?

Add to that the people who do masks on but hanging below the nose. I cant get angry over it.

I do think its disablist and it's not on. No one has to get within two metres of anyone with no mask on.

People need to remember then we all one stroke, car crash, heart attack away from becoming disabled. It's one more shitty deal on top of whole load of struggles inna world that the majority are blissfully ignorant to.

It's not ok to other people on gender or race. But disability? Fair game? Why?

@MadameBlobby

I’m quite surprised that with cases doing nothing but rise at an exponential rate since we had to wear them that people think masks are any use at all. I’ve been quite anxious about Covid but I don’t give a shit if people in shops aren’t wearing one. I just assume they must be exempt and get on with my day.

That's my attitude too.

@MadameBlobby

I’m quite surprised that with cases doing nothing but rise at an exponential rate since we had to wear them that people think masks are any use at all. I’ve been quite anxious about Covid but I don’t give a shit if people in shops aren’t wearing one. I just assume they must be exempt and get on with my day.

Guess you’ve never heard of seasonality. The virus lives longer on surfaces in cold weather and people are inside together more. And the most risky places are indoor venues where people don’t wear masks eg pubs and restaurants, classrooms, workplaces.

So somebody actually asked this on a forum

On the face of it, and assuming there is no way for him to wear a mask or visor at all (e.g. wearing a mask with an extender strap, such that it is secured behind the head at the top of the neck) or whether Costco accept other face coverings (e.g. wearing a scarf to cover the mouth and nose), it does seem like the policy is discriminatory, and (in the case of your friend) it is (or would be) disability discrimination.

The question then becomes whether the policy can be justified such that it is necessary and proportionate to achieve a legitimate aim. The most obvious potential argument, but which is in no way guaranteed to succeed, would be to say that it's necessary to exclude exempt persons to protect vulnerable and extremely vulnerable staff and customers in store. An (perhaps stronger) analogy would be a taxi driver refusing guide dogs because he himself is severely allergic.

masks DO make a difference. Why do you think they are worn in medical settings? Although we don't have access to medical masks, the disposable ones or the proper fabric ones (if washed after each use) do help. The World Health Organisation don't make stuff up. Of course lacy frills worn by dumbfuck models don't do anything, but no-one with any sense follows the example of models of 'influencers'.

it's Costco. It is no-one's essential or only shop. If you can't/won't wear a mask and this is the only consequence - count your blessings.

Good for costco
I havent read all 23 pages.and i dont know about your specific conditon OP but i wear a shield(and a mask)at work and the shield.is very light.
Not uncomfortable as such,although.visibilty is poor and it gets hot. However , i have to wear all day or all night, a trip to the shops isnt the same.
Im not referring to you OP, im sure you have a very valid reason not to wear either.

I don't buy it though that whenever i take public transport to work, more than half the commuters are also exempt. Really? I know not all conditions are visible but honestly, some journies there are more ppl without a face covering than with.
Mostly, but not all, young ppl.
Lots of them maskless and eating and drinking too!!

@murbblurb

masks DO make a difference. Why do you think they are worn in medical settings? Although we don't have access to medical masks, the disposable ones or the proper fabric ones (if washed after each use) do help. The World Health Organisation don't make stuff up. Of course lacy frills worn by dumbfuck models don't do anything, but no-one with any sense follows the example of models of 'influencers'.

it's Costco. It is no-one's essential or only shop. If you can't/won't wear a mask and this is the only consequence - count your blessings.

PPE in medical settings is in no way comparable to the pieces of damp unwashed cloth most people are sporting

Cases have done nothing since we had to start wearing them. I do wear one but am extremely sceptical. Bearing in mind that even in rife areas 99% of people don’t have it so it’s not stopping that much at all.

*nothing but increase

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'Do you find it unbelievable that some people can't walk and feel very disappointed in them'

Nope. As I said I have a relative with severe problems. Look, the tiny percentage of those with trigeminal issues just pull a scarf or snood up. Anyone with actual psychological issues or those who think masks affects their breathing capabilities wear a visor. Those with cognitive issue like dementia of course would struggle but if it was that advanced that they couldn't understand they would be with a carer or a family member anyway.

It's all an inconvenient truth. Again, I wouldn't ever challenge anyone but people do because we all know we should all be using them.

Well said.

They are breaking the law.

Look, my breathing is restricted in a mask (ecv) but I am not disabled .

People have various reasons for being unable to wear masks, but these are unconnected with disability. They may be disabled; they may not be.

Therefore people objecting to those refusing to don a mask are not disablist.

I object to people not wearing a mask because they are infringing my (and other people’s right) to not catch a virus which - for me - would be very serious if not fatal.

This is not about allowing someone fair and equal access to somewhere, but preventing them transmitting a disease.

rights have to be balanced by responsibility.
the virus makes no distinction between people.
these are not normal times.
unless we can get on top of this pandemic, much of this discussion will be irrelevant.
priorities are different in time of emergency.
everyone needs to play their part.
and everyone who is a decent citizen should want to.

Yes, I posted upthread about a case involving a theme park. A disabled person said it was discriminatory that they were not allowed to ride with the safety bar up. They lost, as their right to ride with the safety bar up impinged on the right of other riders not to have a person flying through the air and hitting them. I think this case is like the mask issue. It’s other people who are affected by the desired liberty of another.