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.

@Stellaris22

Members of the public should t be challenging people, it's not really your place.

The lanyards we see are ones with sunflowers on, but really, a quick google search will show you.

Ok, the sunflower lanyards are NOT to do with masks. They have been out for years and show shop staff that the wearer might need a little help or extra patience with their shopping. The place you can get them from even sells masks with design on. If your are shop a worker, then that is disappointing that you think they mean something else. I thought the major supermarkets at least were training their staff about this?

@Stellaris22
Yes the sunflower ones are an option, but they are not the UK Gov. Official exemption cards. See here for print one. The digital one looks the same.

Wow, I've not seen any evidence of low compliance in my area, everyone is masked up indoors (and often outside too).

@XenoBitch
That is disappointing. The sunflower lanyards have been out for years and only mean “hidden disability” such as autism. But the places that sell them have been putting all over social media that their lanyards alsi mean mask exempt, it’s disappointing that not just random people now think that but shop staff as well. I would have thought they’d at least have been trained on the actual U.K. Gov exempt card...

@XenoBitch the scheme has been extended to include those who are mask exempt. The official Hidden Disabilities website sells exemption lanyards. When my GP told me not to wear a mask and I asked him if he could provide proof of my exemption (he couldn't), he told me about the sunflower scheme and their mask exempt lanyards. I wouldn't have known about them otherwise.

I think what's 'devalued' the lanyards isn't so much the genuinely exempt wearing them, but those taking the piss.

[quote MerciSeat]@XenoBitch the scheme has been extended to include those who are mask exempt. The official Hidden Disabilities website sells exemption lanyards. When my GP told me not to wear a mask and I asked him if he could provide proof of my exemption (he couldn't), he told me about the sunflower scheme and their mask exempt lanyards. I wouldn't have known about them otherwise.[/quote]
Yes, they sell cards too but the lanyard alone does not mean that someone is exempt. I already had a lanyard but ordered the card to add to it. I have a friend with Autism who wears the lanyard but is not mask exempt so wears a mask too. Must confuse a lot of people.
You would buy the card and have it on a bit of cord/whatever too

@Stellaris22

Ok.

So people get annoyed when challenged for not wearing a mask.

Solution: wear a lanyard (yes, I know it's pointless as anyone can buy them).

Response: I refuse to wear a lanyard.

If this is your attitude then accept supermarket staff have the right to challenge you and don't get annoyed.

Although as a supermarket worker I already know that we are terrible and evil apparently just for wanting a safe working environment.

The problem isn’t with shop staff asking.

It’s random members of the public like @Ilovemypantry or those who have abused and insulted my daughter who think it’s ok to harass and “challenge” people not wearing masks if they’re not wearing a lanyard

I agree, the lanyards are a very helpful visual cue and exactly the reason I bought one for my daughter, but, anyone can buy one, they’re not ‘official’ and don’t prove anything. Plus, idiots still harass her anyway

Another fine example of how retail staff just can't win.

@MerciSeat

I think what's 'devalued' the lanyards isn't so much the genuinely exempt wearing them, but those taking the piss.

I agree. The lanyards and cards were sold out for a long time when the mask law was introduced. Neither necessary anyway as the government provided a card you could print or have on your phone anyway.

@Stellaris22

Another fine example of how retail staff just can't win.

Not really. Just a failure higher up about training.

Before the pandemic, someone with a sunflower lanyard would be wearing a visible sign to show they might need a little help when in store. Now they have become a sign for people to be left alone. And that is wrong and not what the scheme is about.

Before the pandemic, someone with a sunflower lanyard would be wearing a visible sign to show they might need a little help when in store. Now they have become a sign for people to be left alone. And that is wrong and not what the scheme is about

I hadn't thought of it like this. From now on I'll wear a plain lanyard with a government exemption card on it.

@PlanDeRaccordement

I have every right to stop someone potentially spreading the virus, we all have a right to do that.

No you don’t have that right. You may think you do, but you really don’t. And frankly, given your complete ignorance of the actual laws and rules around mask exemptions you are a dangerous vigilante.

I am not a vigilante. I am excercising my right not to be forced to be in the vicinity of a potential virus spreader.

@MerciSeat

Before the pandemic, someone with a sunflower lanyard would be wearing a visible sign to show they might need a little help when in store. Now they have become a sign for people to be left alone. And that is wrong and not what the scheme is about

I hadn't thought of it like this. From now on I'll wear a plain lanyard with a government exemption card on it.

Hallelujah! Someone exempt now saying they will wear a lanyard! Everyone’s problem solved....

I am not a vigilante. I am excercising my right not to be forced to be in the vicinity of a potential virus spreader.

If you think someone is a virus spreader then the best thing you can do is keep your distance and leave them the fuck alone. There are better ways out there to get your kicks.

@Ilovemypantry

I am not a vigilante. I am excercising my right not to be forced to be in the vicinity of a potential virus spreader

But by approaching people you are voluntarily putting yourself in the vicinity of a potential virus spreader, surely? You do not have the right to approach people (and holding up the flow of customers in a supermarket, during a pandemic) to ask about their exemption. The law is clear on this. And you are potentially spreading the virus in doing so.

Hallelujah! Someone exempt now saying they will wear a lanyard! Everyone’s problem solved

What are you talking about? I've said many, many times on this thread that I wear a lanyard. I'm simply swapping it for a different kind.

Now. You haven't answered the question as to why you're stopping people in supermarkets when you've already admitted that supermarkets (such as your local Tesco) are only allowing those in whom they believe to be exempt, and turning away those who are not. If you're satisfied this is the case (and indeed door staff are vetting customers), why are you putting yourself and others at risk of Covid by approaching people who staff are satisfied are exempt? Please answer as I'd love to know your reasoning for this. I'm sure we all would!

@MerciSeat

Before the pandemic, someone with a sunflower lanyard would be wearing a visible sign to show they might need a little help when in store. Now they have become a sign for people to be left alone. And that is wrong and not what the scheme is about

I hadn't thought of it like this. From now on I'll wear a plain lanyard with a government exemption card on it.

what government exemption card is that??

@GirlCrush - if you look on the UK Gov website section about face coverings, there is a page with them on. You can print them out or have them on your phone.

@MerciSeat

Before the pandemic, someone with a sunflower lanyard would be wearing a visible sign to show they might need a little help when in store. Now they have become a sign for people to be left alone. And that is wrong and not what the scheme is about

I hadn't thought of it like this. From now on I'll wear a plain lanyard with a government exemption card on it.

I hope you print out the card tiny like a postage stamp so the vigilantes have to get real close to see

Here

Digital exemptions cards and badges available to download here too.

@XenoBitch

I am not a vigilante. I am excercising my right not to be forced to be in the vicinity of a potential virus spreader.

If you think someone is a virus spreader then the best thing you can do is keep your distance and leave them the fuck alone. There are better ways out there to get your kicks.

I try my best to keep my distance but sometimes it’s just not possible and if a non mask wearer comes near me I will absolutely ask why they’re not wearing a mask (unless they’re wearing a lanyard of course). Usually the answer is “I forgot it” or “it’s in the car” which is not a valid excuse and is frankly just taking the piss and putting others at risk.

@XenoBitch which will they pick - risking Covid by getting close enough to read it or preserving their sanctimonious twat status by doing so

I try my best to keep my distance but sometimes it’s just not possible and if a non mask wearer comes near me I will absolutely ask why they’re not wearing a mask (unless they’re wearing a lanyard of course). Usually the answer is “I forgot it” or “it’s in the car” which is not a valid excuse and is frankly just taking the piss and putting others at risk

@Ilovemypantry

But (by your own admission) shop staff are vetting customers so why do you need to?

@XenoBitch

Doesn’t matter how big or small the card is, it’s the wearing of the lanyard that denotes whether someone is exempt (or pretending to be). I doubt anyone is going to be stupid enough to get up close enough to read a tiny card, I certainly wouldn’t get that close to someone, especially if they weren’t wearing a mask.

I try my best to keep my distance but sometimes it’s just not possible and if a non mask wearer comes near me I will absolutely ask why they’re not wearing a mask (unless they’re wearing a lanyard of course). Usually the answer is “I forgot it” or “it’s in the car” which is not a valid excuse and is frankly just taking the piss and putting others at risk.

If they are already in the shop then the staff will have already asked them that.. and if they did indeed forget or leave it in the car, they will have been offered one (or go to car to get it). So anyone still in the store without a mask will have already been challenged, maybe shown a discreet form of exemption, and let in. So, basically you are just challenging people because you want to bully people. If you are so desperate to challenge people then apply to work in the shop. As a shopper, you should be doing your shopping, not talking to others, and fucking off home ASAP.