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.

It'd be great if some kind of pointing out the obvious could be given publicly to the under nose mask wearers, not that it should be needed. There is no defence they can claim. Wear one correctly or don't at all if you count yourself as exempt.

I wonder if some of the people claiming exemptions would consider wearing masks if it was for their own safety rather than others

Doubt it, given exemption = inability to wear a mask.

@Iheartmysmart

I’ve had the same mask since they were made compulsory. Gets washed if I accidentally leave it in my jeans pocket but the rest of the time it’s either screwed up in my bag or on the floor in my car. I wear it if I have to but don’t really give a damn whether it actually does anything.

Well done you. Have you worn the same knickers in all that time?

Or they could hold a scarf in front of their face as a barrier.

This cannot be a serious suggestion. Holding a scarf in front of your face would be just like the also suggested visor, as good as nothing. Also as good as nothing would be holding up a cross, wearing a lanyard, or ringing a leper bell.
What you really want is some visual sign that a person who cannot wear a mask gives a fuck about you. So you are making up all kinds of ridiculous criteria about what non mask wearers should do (those of you who don’t want to lock them in their homes and let them figure out how to get food and medication in).
But do you know that social distancing alone cuts transmission by over 90%, while wearing a regular cotton mask only cuts transmission by 30%? So just stay away from anyone not wearing a mask. They’re not endangering you any more than a mask wearer unless and until they are also not social distancing.

I think people who cannot wear a mask should not go into public spaces. It's not safe for them, or for the other people around them. I'm sure there will be volunteers who will do that person's essential shopping for them. There's no need for them to be "out and about".

So just stay away from anyone not wearing a mask. They’re not endangering you any more than a mask wearer unless and until they are also not social distancing.

Unfortunately, a lot of non-mask wearers are the close-up shouty in-yer-face types.

I've been in East Coast USA since March, and here since April masks have been mandatory - no exceptions/exemptions - it's a no mask no service (inside) rule - BUT - every shop/business has phone numbers by the entrance - if you cant wear a mask a member of staff will get what you want and bring it outside. It could be a solution?
In reality most (learn to) put up with them, including in my Fiance's immediate family - PTSD and Asthma sufferers and a guy with one lung!

I'm not saying the US as a whole handled Covid well at all, but this part of it makes sense

@Cyw2018

Is refusal to wear masks really a significant problem?

I live in Gwynedd which has had the lowest covid rates, by a long way, in Wales and England for a long time (unfortunately rising now as of the last 3 days) and has been in lockdown since before Christmas. As a result of the low case numbers combined with lockdown a lot of people of been treating the rules with some degree of 'flexibility', yet even here the vast majority of people are wearing masks when required.

Where are all these places where mask refusal is a problem?

Would you like a list? I'll start with Rhyl.

[quote lockeddownandcrazy]@Biscuitsneeded you can buy the lanyards on ebay so they have no validity at all - for example here - you can buy the lanyard and the 'hidden disabilities exempt' card[/quote]
But it still filters out many of the lead-swingers as they are not going to go to the trouble.

Like a PP, I find that the genuinely exempt are quiet and polite when asked by an official. The lead-swingers on the other hand are often spoiling for a fight.

My utmost contempt though is reserved for those wearing them around their chins.

I’m in the USA. Midwest. Most shops are no mask no entry. No exemptions. Announcements that it’s mandatory and if you don’t wear a mask then you can shop online for delivery or store pick up. I have seen people wearing face shields, and those seem to be allowed. I believe there are medical exemptions within the mask mandate, but it’s easier for the stores to say no mask no entry and I’ve seen about 2 people without one since May.

When I go shopping the only people I see without a mask are young retail staff. I haven’t seen a customer without one for months now.

@Changethetoner

I think people who cannot wear a mask should not go into public spaces. It's not safe for them, or for the other people around them. I'm sure there will be volunteers who will do that person's essential shopping for them. There's no need for them to be "out and about".

For the millionth time... How about going to work/medical appointments/using public transport to get there?

@JamieLeesCurtains

So just stay away from anyone not wearing a mask. They’re not endangering you any more than a mask wearer unless and until they are also not social distancing.

Unfortunately, a lot of non-mask wearers are the close-up shouty in-yer-face types.

Funny, because I've found that the ones who've threatened to hit me, tell me I deserve to die, that I'm a filthy disease breath tramp and spit at me are the close-up shouty in-yer-face types. Interestingly some of them have no qualms about spreading infection when they lean into my face/take their mask down to do the above.

@Wishing14

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.

It doesn’t do much good and the studies are inconclusive. I think they offer psychological benefits because people will feel safer if others wear masks. But let’s not kid ourselves that some germ-filled rag that you keep in your pocket and wash once a week is some magic virus protection.

As for wearing masks outside, outdoors transmission really is very low. If you’re exercising or just walking and just pass someone momentarily, you are highly unlikely to catch anything from them.

@Changethetoner

I think people who cannot wear a mask should not go into public spaces. It's not safe for them, or for the other people around them. I'm sure there will be volunteers who will do that person's essential shopping for them. There's no need for them to be "out and about".

You what? First of all, the masks people wear in shops offer vanishingly little protection and in many cases probably facilitate spread because they aren’t washed. Second, fuck off with your ‘there’s no need to be out and about’ judgement for people who can’t wear a mask. Who the fuck are you to decide that?

Supermarkets should be employing security to deal with this not leaving it up to the shop staff to police it and get abused

@McSilkson that was an interesting article to read, thank you for posting the link. Though it does also go on to say

"The WHO COVID-19 IPC GDG considered all available
evidence on the use of masks by the general public including
effectiveness, level of certainty and other potential benefits
and harms, with respect to transmission scenarios, indoor
versus outdoor settings, physical distancing and ventilation.
Despite the limited evidence of protective efficacy of mask
wearing in community settings, in addition to all other
recommended preventive measures, the GDG advised mask
wearing in the following settings..."

So even though the evidence is patchy, the WHO guidance is still very clearly to continue with mask wearing in addition to other measures.

"I think people who cannot wear a mask should not go into public spaces."

Are you applying to children and babies too?

@Underhisi

"I think people who cannot wear a mask should not go into public spaces."

Are you applying to children and babies too?

I would hope so. It’s clear that children can transmit the virus. If someone with a disability or other condition should not be allowed in a shop without a mask, surely it’s just as dangerous to allow in a toddler or baby without one?

Oh wait. No, that’s okay for some reason but people on here lack any empathy for someone with a disability and would rather that person stayed at home as there’s ‘no reason’ for them to be out.

Here there seems to be a certain subgroup who don't wear masks, generally mid 20's to mid 30's, mostly men, often in work clothes eg with tool brands on their fleece, the women tend to be of a certain look too ... I've been observing this since masks came in

@RedRiverShore1

Supermarkets should be employing security to deal with this not leaving it up to the shop staff to police it and get abused

Just to say - I've never once been challenged by shop staff and if I were, I'd never, ever give them abuse - why on earth would I? Can we please stop it with this idea that people who can't wear masks are obnoxious and abusive when challenged.

@movingonup20

Here there seems to be a certain subgroup who don't wear masks, generally mid 20's to mid 30's, mostly men, often in work clothes eg with tool brands on their fleece, the women tend to be of a certain look too ... I've been observing this since masks came in

And what 'look' what that be, pray tell?

In the countries where masks are mandatory in shops with no exemptions, what are the rules for public transport etc?

"I would hope so. It’s clear that children can transmit the virus. If someone with a disability or other condition should not be allowed in a shop without a mask, surely it’s just as dangerous to allow in a toddler or baby without one?"

Who knows how many households or childcare that child/toddler/baby has been in. If people want a no mask no entry rule then it has to be applied to everyone.

I believe that masks should be made compulsory unless you can prove exemption. We've got to the point now that there needs to be more done. I totally understand that there are many different reasons why someone can't wear a mask but we're talking more about people who won't wear one