How should masks be enforced in public?

[User158340]

Indoors in general (shops, public transport etc).

I don't believe in making it mandatory because there are people who are genuinely exempt but there's so many piss takers.

There should be 'medically exempt' badges dished out by GP's only, on prescription essentially.

This should have been GP led from the get go, not trusting the British public. We see where that gets us.

Some people that have been victims of domestic violence or assault can not wear masks... and what happened to them might not be known to their GP.

If the government are convinced that masks are helpful in preventing the spread, they should look again at the list of exemptions (eg: everyone with asthma- masks don’t restrict your airflow. I’m asthmatic and wear one for a 10 hour shift at work, no problem), and yes then have some proof of exemption. Same with not being able to shop alone - that would have to be due to a physical or mental impairment known to your GP.

there's so many piss takers.

How many? Presumably you have something to back up your assertion.

It's too late for a formal exemption scheme now. It wouldn't just involve GPs, but also consultants, specialist nurses, support charities. They're already stretched to breaking point. (I did write to my Conservative MP on this at the beginning, but never got a response.)

@HermioneWeasley Not everyone with asthma is exempt. Perhaps familiarise yourself with the rules?

Morrisons have now announced - like Costco - that customers must wear masks.

Thing is, I was outside my Local Tesco and Coops this week and saw poor mask compliance, despite the signs that masks are mandatory.
I guess the old bouncer on the door is the only way.
There was a Twitter post today about the abuse stores get from some of the Covid deniers and anti-maskers.
I feel for the staff and those who genuinely can't wear masks.

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/morrisons-bans-shoppers-without-masks-19603947

@HermioneWeasley

If the government are convinced that masks are helpful in preventing the spread, they should look again at the list of exemptions (eg: everyone with asthma- masks don’t restrict your airflow. I’m asthmatic and wear one for a 10 hour shift at work, no problem), and yes then have some proof of exemption. Same with not being able to shop alone - that would have to be due to a physical or mental impairment known to your GP.

Yes, I have asthma as well and when the masks came I didn't think i'd be able to wear them but you get used to it. Severe asthma may well be different.

I think 99% of people aren’t using masks correctly anyways and they’re probably doing more harm than good. I don’t see how taking off and putting on the same dirty mask over and over again whilst out and about is really doing much good at all.

@middleager

Morrisons have now announced - like Costco - that customers must wear masks.

Thing is, I was outside my Local Tesco and Coops this week and saw poor mask compliance, despite the signs that masks are mandatory.
I guess the old bouncer on the door is the only way.
There was a Twitter post today about the abuse stores get from some of the Covid deniers and anti-maskers.
I feel for the staff and those who genuinely can't wear masks.

We need to get tough for a few weeks until we get things back under control again. The vaccines will start to make an impact soon.

@HermioneWeasley

If the government are convinced that masks are helpful in preventing the spread, they should look again at the list of exemptions (eg: everyone with asthma- masks don’t restrict your airflow. I’m asthmatic and wear one for a 10 hour shift at work, no problem), and yes then have some proof of exemption. Same with not being able to shop alone - that would have to be due to a physical or mental impairment known to your GP.

So what will you be doing for those people the GP doesn't know about? I'm fine - my GP is fully aware of my PTSD and the reason for it - being gassed in a war zone. My best friend however - not only does her GP have no idea she was raped 30 years ago, neither do the vast majority of people. Is she supposed to explain this to everyone who asks?

Perhaps you would prefer that those who can't wear masks starve to death? Oh, and given that GP's now charge an arm and a leg to write anything they aren't already paid for, you'll be fine that it is only poor people who can't afford the price who'll be unable to go to the shops?

Just because you are asthmatic and can wear a mask (or so you say) doesn't mean that everybody else can. It is posts like this that feed to mythology that people who cannot wear masks are just taking the piss.

How does a shopper prove a medical exemption? Are exempt people going to be issued with a badge?

@middleager

Morrisons have now announced - like Costco - that customers must wear masks.

Thing is, I was outside my Local Tesco and Coops this week and saw poor mask compliance, despite the signs that masks are mandatory.
I guess the old bouncer on the door is the only way.
There was a Twitter post today about the abuse stores get from some of the Covid deniers and anti-maskers.
I feel for the staff and those who genuinely can't wear masks.

Morrisons have now announced - like Costco - that customers must wear masks.

That's not factually true. They have announced that customers must wear masks unless medically exempt. Since the policy was that already. nothing has changed - they have just announced what they were already doing!

I don’t see how taking off and putting on the same dirty mask over and over again whilst out and about is really doing much good at all.

The disposable ones should only be worn once and then thrown in the bin (certainly not worn regularly).

Key workers aside who should have PPE supplied for them - people shouldn't be in the position of needing to wear masks more than a few times a week at the most. Essential shopping, that's about it for the most part.

@middleager Morrisons are still permitting entry to those who are exempt.

I’ve not seen many people not wearing a face covering. On the whole I think people are complying. I really struggle wearing one, there’s no medical reason but they really make me panic. Also menopause makes things worse As I get so hot in one. I wear it because I have to but I really avoid going anywhere where They are required.

@middleager

Morrisons have now announced - like Costco - that customers must wear masks.

Thing is, I was outside my Local Tesco and Coops this week and saw poor mask compliance, despite the signs that masks are mandatory.
I guess the old bouncer on the door is the only way.
There was a Twitter post today about the abuse stores get from some of the Covid deniers and anti-maskers.
I feel for the staff and those who genuinely can't wear masks.

Morrison's have announced that customers must wear masks unless they are exempt.

@User158340

I understand the issue completely and assault triggers is one of the legitimate reasons. I said that if the government are convinced that mask wearing is a vital precaution then they should review (with a view to reducing) the exemptions. If they’re not vital we can continue as we are with hugely wide exemptions and nobody required to prove anything.

@BlairCorneliaWaldorf

How does a shopper prove a medical exemption? Are exempt people going to be issued with a badge?

It's still self certified. What Morrisons have announced doesn't change the government guidelines on exemptions.

100% mask wearing - no mask no entry ideally.

But I don't think that will happen so it should be that you have to have an official, provable, medical exemption certificate like you do not to wear a seatbelt. Issued by GPs.

@lockeddownandcrazy

100% mask wearing - no mask no entry ideally.

But I don't think that will happen so it should be that you have to have an official, provable, medical exemption certificate like you do not to wear a seatbelt. Issued by GPs.

Perhaps you should... But such a thing doesn't exist.

"Perhaps you should... But such a thing doesn't exist" @MerciSeat

If you are stopped for no seat belt you have to prove that you are exempt. Should be the same for masks

@lockeddownandcrazy

"Perhaps you should... But such a thing doesn't exist" *@MerciSeat*

If you are stopped for no seat belt you have to prove that you are exempt. Should be the same for masks

You've used the seatbelt argument approximately 387 times now. Until recently you were convinced there were no exemptions at all, until posters linked you to the exemptions which exist.

And yes - you do have to prove them. If you're exempt from wearing a mask, you don't, and no equivalent scheme exists to prove exemption. It doesn't matter whether there should be or not - there isn't. And be honest, if one were introduced, some people would still say those were proven exempt should just stay at home/were selfish pisstakers.

We are going to have to come to term with wearing masks or continue to traumatise healthcare staff and lose unnecessary lives. It's that simple. I'm old enough to remember how much people bridled against sear belt laws. They wanted exemptions then for being fat, for having a bad heart, for having panic attacks when restrained...the list went on. Funny enough everyone got over it eventually.

There should be 'medically exempt' badges dished out by GP's only, on prescription essentially.

This would be both hugely expensive and a massive waste of GP time.

@wixked

We are going to have to come to term with wearing masks or continue to traumatise healthcare staff and lose unnecessary lives. It's that simple. I'm old enough to remember how much people bridled against sear belt laws. They wanted exemptions then for being fat, for having a bad heart, for having panic attacks when restrained...the list went on. Funny enough everyone got over it eventually.

Seatbelt exemptions exist.