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

"I imagine there will eventually be a system where you have to carry a doctors letter. Why don’t you pre-empt that and get one?"

Doctors won't write exemption letters.

@Livelovebehappy

Sorry OP, but I agree with their policy. It’s sad that you can’t wear a mask, but surely you can see how by not wearing one you are putting staff and shoppers at risk? It’s just pointless having the rule currently, as some wear and some don’t. Should be all or nothing.

I agree. Those who can't use either surely can see that for the greater good they need to skip Costco for now.

Costco should of course refund their membership fees pro rata.

Disabled or not, one person going into a shop minus a mask vs 10 others wearing masks; the one person’s needs does not, and should not, trump the needs and the rights of the other 10. That’s not being disablist, it’s being a realist. Lots of really good advice on here on how to get round it, but predictably every suggestion has been discounted by OP. It might not seem fair, but sometimes the majority have to have their rights recognised too, especially when it comes to being able to do what they need to do in a safe environment.

transplantedscouser because the virus is spread by droplets from coughs and sneezes and breathing on people. Obviously a visor, although not as effective as a mask, will largely prevent this. Put simply, I would rather be stood by someone wearing one, than by someone wearing nothing at all.

"especially when it comes to being able to do what they need to do in a safe environment."

Why do they need to do it?

Can someone tell me why a visor is worth wearing?

It makes you look as if you are 'at least making an effort', so hopefully averting some of the irrational venom that is coming your way if you are spotted in public while unable to wear a mask.

See also: drawing one on with face paint.

underhisi ah, so you think the majority should stay indoors at the expense of allowing people without masks be able to shop instead? Okay. 🙄

@Londongirl888

Hi Op sorry to hear of your circumstances

I shop at Costco and fully support them and I hope others follow suit

I have 3 friends today tested positive one is very ill all 3 only go to the supermarket.

Here is the support group. www.tna.org.uk/what-is-trigeminal-neuralgia/ for your condition

They offer local support reach out to them they will have contacts to help you.

I think you have to safeguard other people during this awful time. Others have rights to be safe sounds like you are out and about with work and hospital appointments and shopping and exposed to risk.

I struggled to get online shopping slots and signed up for all of them I have a choice of slots and different supermarkets now never have a problem.

There are lots of charity volunteers who will pick up shopping for you. Local Facebook volunteers.

Do you know a friend or neighbour who could order your shopping with their online delivery I do that for others.

Local food shops are doing delivery

Get a milkman they deliver everything from milk to compost!

The government advice is that act as if u have it to protect others.

We have all had to make changes and maybe with these present shopping is not good for u at the moment u as you are exposing others to risk.

Good luck with finding a solution

Did I see someone here playing "mask exemption bingo" ? If so I think I've found a winner...

Thrown in a few new and unusual ones too I reckon.

Costco are breaching the 2010 equality act and also government guidelines on mask wearing which clearly state that wearing a visor without a mask underneath is not good enough. So pointless move by Costco. I think we need to uphold the 2010 act in it’s entirety. Chipping away at it even in an emergency is a slippery slope to chipping away at more of it such as maternity rights. The measure of a society is its ability to protect the rights of the vulnerable even in the most challenging of times. I am mask exempt, wear a lanyard and have a doctor’s note, but I have noticed more and more people wearing the lanyard so I can understand why people are suspicious. I abhor anyone using a disabled person’s exemption just to get out of mask wearing, it incites hatred against those genuinely in need. I am lucky and am able to do online delivery in my area. I do so not because of the mask issue but because I hate supermarkets! I do my very best to wear an organic cotton masks when in hospitals and doctors but still wear the lanyard as I need to take regular breaks. But going in-between shops constantly on high street or sitting in a cinema for 2 hrs or an extended period on public transport - I can’t do it as it sets off my anxiety which I think maybe due to some PTSD from a medical condition.

Disabled or not, one person going into a shop minus a mask vs 10 others wearing masks; the one person’s needs does not, and should not, trump the needs and the rights of the other 10. That’s not being disablist, it’s being a realist.

Yes, let's be realists. Out of those 10 others wearing masks, how many have picked their nose and not washed their hands? How many have been socialising in multiple different households? How many have been shagging around or going to illegal parties? How many have symptoms but have avoided getting a test? How many have been told to isolate but aren't because they think the rules don't apply to them or because they simply can't afford to?

You can't see any of those things, each of which is far more risky than being around someone who isn't wearing a mask. You can see whether someone is wearing a mask or not so you're focusing it all on them. That's why it's disproportionate and that's why your post and the OP are both discriminatory.

especially when it comes to being able to do what they need to do in a safe environment.

Mandatory face coverings were brought in as an excuse to cram us back into shops, public transport and workplaces at less than 2M distance. None of these are a 'safe environment' at this level of crowding, whether people are wearing masks or not.

I'm struggling to imagine where on earth you live in this country that not one single supermarket can give you a delivery slot and reaching out to all volunteer groups is met with "sorry we can't help people with arthritis".

Maybe I live a sheltered life.

Completely agree with Costco! The rules need to get tighter to keep everyone safe. Plenty of suggestions here op, and you manage to discount them all. Visor that doesn't touch your head could be a great solution, but as it's not collapsible, you can't use one?! Nonsense!! It's not a baby elephant you need to transport, it's a 30cm lightweight sheet of plastic.
But obviously you aren't looking for a solution are you... quite obvious by how many times you mention that you'd LOVE to wear a covering but can't 🙄.

@TheBeesKnee

I'm struggling to imagine where on earth you live in this country that not one single supermarket can give you a delivery slot and reaching out to all volunteer groups is met with "sorry we can't help people with arthritis".

Maybe I live a sheltered life.

I live in the south east, volunteer groups are overwhelmed or were shut down and haven't started again after the second lockdown.

Also been struggling to get slots at supermarkets since November

I'm still on page 1 but this is an awful comment:

There are very, very few people who are both genuinely mask exempt and need to be in a shop.

Either we all 'need to be in a shop' from time to time or none of us do. Fuck this disablist shit.

I suggest people struggling to get shopping join their local Facebook group and ask for help. Lots of people are willing to help, collect and drop off groceries, take a grocery delivery in for you etc. Just ask and someone will assist I promise you. Many people in my community are doing this.
If you're going to work, OP, why don't you ask a colleague to help or ask your employer you can get some groceries delivered to work at a delivery time that is available.
There are delivery slots available if you book in advance. Do it now for a date in the future.
There are lots of solutions, you just need to find them OP.
My father had TN so I'm aware of the pain and have much empathy for you.

@Burnthurst187

Just shop elsewhere if you don't agree with their policy

Just go to a different pub if this one doesn't allow black people in.

Of all the inequalities this pandemic has revealed, the blatant discrimination against disabled people really takes the biscuit

Costco have online ordering I’m shielded technically I could have a mask exemption but Costco are well known for staff and customer care and I see this policy reflecting Taft. Being exempt from wearing a mask doesn’t make you exempt from catching or spreading Covid

It’s not the same as racial discrimination but full marks for trying
Other vulnerable people have the right be protected and there are solutions for those shielding or who can’t get to the shop even if it’s because they can’t wear a mask
But if you want to drag racism into it BAME people are likely to suffer more so deserve to be protected if they go to Costco

Very sorry to hear of your condition, and yes, it must be extremely difficult for you.
However, the shops can choose who they admit or not, and Costco may have decided that, on balance, they need to protect themselves and other shoppers. You will need to choose somewhere else to shop unfortunately; none of us has a "right" to shop where we wish, whatever our conditions….

Of course disability discrimination is not the same as race discrimination but they are both types of discrimination that the Equality Act says are unlawful. Maybe you'd be happier with these examples:

Just apply for a different job if they don't employ women
Just go to a different hotel if this one won't allow bookings for a lesbian couple
Just send your child to a different school if this one condones bullying of Muslim children

All these types of discrimination are different but the underlying principle is that it's never acceptable to tell someone who is being unlawfully discriminated against to just go elsewhere.

And this is unlawful discrimination because it's massively disproportionate. Masks just help a bit, as one measure among many, and if there was no exception for people who can't wear a mask because of a disability then they just couldn't use public transport or go in any indoor public spaces at all, for the forseeable future. That's a huge, disproportionate disadvantage.

Also it's not acceptable for a business to say those who can't wear a mask should just use online delivery / click and collect instead. This is what the statutory code says about the requirement to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled people:

7.4 The policy of the Act is not a minimalist policy of simply ensuring that some access is available to disabled people; it is, so far as is reasonably practicable, to approximate the access enjoyed by disabled people to that enjoyed by the rest of the public. The purpose of the duty to make reasonable adjustments is to provide access to a service as close as it is reasonably possible to get to the standard normally offered to the public at large (and their equivalents in relation to associations or the exercise of public functions).

www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publication-download/services-public-functions-and-associations-statutory-code-practice

This is backed up by case law.

Also - technically I could have a mask exemption

House!

@WanderingMilly

Very sorry to hear of your condition, and yes, it must be extremely difficult for you. However, the shops can choose who they admit or not, and Costco may have decided that, on balance, they need to protect themselves and other shoppers. You will need to choose somewhere else to shop unfortunately; none of us has a "right" to shop where we wish, whatever our conditions….

Shops can choose who they admit or not as long as it's not for a discriminatory reason.

Every single one of us has the right not to be discriminated against because of a protected characteristic, e.g. disability.

It’s the people who can wear masks but wear them around their necks who I can’t abide. You see them on buses in London all the time and nothing is done about it.

Well, it looks like you need to anticipate the mask mandate tightening up and prebook delivery slots now! Book them for weeks away. If you are worried about other shops being stricter, then prepare now.

You could also get a cheap freezer second hand delivered, or a new one that curry’s or similar will carry in and install see this: business.currys.co.uk/catalogue/kitchen-domestic-appliances/refrigeration/chest-freezers/essentials-c95cfw20-chest-freezer-white/B287106B?cidp=Froogle&gclid=CjwKCAiAz4b_BRBbEiwA5XlVViNBO2KvD2OCtliCgQGRFxkRmkB-e0pDTEpjA7WiBnTNb7togQ9-txoCyw8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

You might not have room for it, but it can sit in a living room or wherever as it will be a temporary solution. Jan sales will have some massive bargains too

You can then book a delivery slot in 4-8 weeks’ time and put loads onto it. You can then immediately book another delivery for next available slot 4-8 weeks after THAT - and not have to worry about this (nor put yourself and others at risk) again.

@LangClegsInSpace thank you!

I'm one of those pesky asthma sufferers who's asthma is triggered by breathing in damp air, the kind you get with face coverings. When I tried to wear one I ended up in a&e on a nebuliser and oxygen then on extra steroids for several weeks which isn't as much fun as it sounds.

I get lots of abuse because I look like a healthy 40 something woman. And apart from the whole inability to breathe in certain situations, I am. I run, I walk, I lift weights. Because exercise is a minimal trigger and I can control my asthma enough to do it.

The thing that concerns me most about covid isn't the disease, it's the attitude of people. Some of you need to take a long hard look at yourselves.