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

So can we start excusing dentists, doctors and surgeons from wearing masks?

Presumably you can wear glasses? Can you not get one of those visors that's attached to a pair of plastic eye goggles. Pretty sure SHEIN has them.

You really can't get a delivery slot at any of the supermarkets? Not Sainsburys, Tesco, Morrisons, Asda, Waitrose or Iceland?
What about Coop on Deliveroo?
Or Morrisons on Amazon Prime?
The 3rd party websites where somebody will go round the supermarket and deliver to you?

Somehow we've managed not to set food in a supermarket since March. Where there's a will there's a way.

I feel sorry opp for your condition. But other people don’t wear face masks and it makes it hard for people like yourself just put a scarf around your neck and lightly hold it against your mouth.my dad has copd and wears a mask as he doesn’t want abuse

Can you shop online? I know your condition is absolute agony and you have my full sympathy. Being on a ventilator in icu is pretty awful, having been there, I have experience. Find another way to shop. Ask people to help? Local councils are sorting out help in my area & churches too.

@RubyViolet

Why don’t non mask wearers ask Costco and other companies for an hour a week that they can attend . It would have to be with staffing taken into consideration and ventilation permitting but it would be helpful for people who can show they have these chronic conditions that mean that they can’t wear a mask surely.

Hundreds of maskless people together would surely be a huge risk to all involved, staff included - far more so than one or two genuinely exempt in a store?

Visors don't put any pressure on your face, head or temples

They're as light as a feather.

@Happymum12345

Can you shop online? I know your condition is absolute agony and you have my full sympathy. Being on a ventilator in icu is pretty awful, having been there, I have experience. Find another way to shop. Ask people to help? Local councils are sorting out help in my area & churches too.

It's not just shopping - it's work, hospital appointments and getting around generally.

As I said my main concern is that other places will adopt these policies.

What about Aldi click and collect? They don't have a minimum spend.

@WorraLiberty

Visors don't put any pressure on your face, head or temples

They're as light as a feather.

So is wind, and that can trigger TN.

Most visors are worn across the temples or suspended from 'glasses', none of which would be any good for many TN sufferers.

@hardknocklife123

No, its not, there are people on here yourself included that are saying people who can't wear masks shouldn't go out. It might be a small section of society but you are still willing to exclude that section.

I know there are people that take the piss with it, which is why a solution should be found. The OP was not saying its just about Costco, its about what happens if other shops start to do it, then what?

I am not sure if I am in the OPs area, but like her, you cannot get help unless you are vulnerable or have a positive Covid test. There have been little to no home delivery shops since early November. The only reason we managed to get one is because we have some flexiability, some people don't.

And it may come as a shock to people, but those who can't wear masks or anything over their mouth or nose still have to go to work if they can't work from home and some of them don't drive, so have to go on public transport. So while you can agree with Costco and other stores doing this, plus transport. You are discriminating against disablities. Its that simple.

As I said my main concern is that other places will adopt these policies

Well, they can't, because it is against the law in the UK.

People are worried about the virus I wouldn’t want to be behind you in a supermarket

@Ugzbugz

So can we start excusing dentists, doctors and surgeons from wearing masks?

There's a lady who posted here on mask threads over the summer who was unable to pursue the medical career she wanted to because she was unable to wear a mask.

Somebody upthread made the point that a person in a wheelchair can't be a firefighter. Surely if you have a medical condition which prevents you from wearing a mask, you're unable to enter the medical profession.

If it gets really bad they might but I hope not I’m sorry about your condition it sounds all full

@happystone

People are worried about the virus I wouldn’t want to be behind you in a supermarket

I don't want to be in the supermarket (or on the bus, or at the hospital) without a mask. I really, really don't.

I wouldn’t want a nurse treating me with out a mask would you

But why a visor - they don’t do any good but virtue signal!

I agree with you OP. Slippery slope. Shut different abled people away. It’s shocking really

I wear a mask. But I’m also in
The camp of thinking the way we are all
Wearing them is spreading it (touch mask and face to put it on). They are doing fuck all
To prevent the spread

There are a lot of people shielding who cannot go to a shop at all because the risk from others is too great. They do not insist that a shop clears out all its customers so that they can go around safely by themselves, do they?

It is hard for all of us, and much harder for some. That is how it is.

Sorry op but I really think you need to try harder for a delivery slot. They do exist, lots and lots of them. Clearly other people are getting there first, have you tried to figure out how? What time the slots are released? It does take some effort, but they are there. I am not in the least concerned about the risk to me from you not wearing a face covering, but I am very concerned for you given you have pre-existing health conditions already. I really think you are putting yourself at great risk of getting covid and potentially being very ill.

I never get online groceries as I prefer to leave the slots for those that really need them, but after having a few people right up in my face to grab stuff off the shelf I was at today and no face coverings on, I can see why people prefer to have it delivered. You would think if people genuinely had health conditions that exempted them from face coverings, they would at least take care to maintain social distancing, for their own sake if nothing else.

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?

Opp I generally feel for you. People’s like yourself shouldn’t have this added stress.has you doctor got any advice

@happystone

I wouldn’t want a nurse treating me with out a mask would you

If they were exempt, I'd understand. I wouldn't want anyone to risk the sort of pain my attacks cause, unconsciousness, wetting themselves in public.

OP, this concerns me too, it's a dangerous path to take. I am mask exempt, I cannot tolerate anything on my face, head or neck without melting down- I am autistic. In 'normal' life, this doesn't affect me at all as I just keep my hair down, and wear contact lenses instead of glasses. But now it causes issues. I can tolerate a lanyard for a short period of time. I have to go out and pick up food shopping that I can't get online as there are 4 of us in our household with food allergies, There literally is no other choice for me but to go to the shop unless you know someone who is willing to read the ingredients to find food that is safe from 9 allergies and their derivative products, and then be willing to return those if the item they pick up is actually not safe due to may contains or previous cross contamination from that brand. If you are technically exempt but can wear a mask, great, wear one, but please recognise this is not the case for all of us.