Good on Morrisons and Sainsbury’s

[Dongdingdong]

I’m very pleased to hear that both these supermarkets will be banning anyone not wearing a face mask (unless they have a medical exemption) from entering their stores. If only we had the resources to do the same on London buses. I cannot stand the non mask wearing idiots who think it’s perfectly acceptable to spread their germs and potentially the virus to others, including elderly and vulnerable people.

Well done Morrisons and Sainsbury’s!

To be honest I think if someone is exempt and they can’t wear a mask then it must be frightening to go out without one especially with the new strain. But as this thread shows some have no option but to do so.

@MrsMiaWallis

I do. And it is hard, because even with a lanyard, I'm still threatened and abused and spat at and told that I should 'stay at home'

Not a lot I can do about it. I've never seen that behaviour myself. Sounds awful. Why can't you wear a mask?

None of your business. Wearing a lanyard doesn’t actually mean anything anyway as anyone can get one. I am medically exempt and I am not justifying to some keyboard warrior on here.

You have no idea whether they are or not. Your prejudice is appalling. Unfortunately for you the law does not agree with you

If the specific person I was talking about WAS medically exempt then he probably should have said so, don't you think? Or do you think it was fine of him not to wear a mask and not explain why/that he was exempt?

Why do people have to explain why they are exempt?

Why is that anyones business but theirs and the dr.

@TransplantedScouser

Does anyone know where on the government website it says its a self certifying process?

I've had yet another row with "D"M. I wear a lanyard for reasons I don't wish to share with her.

This morning in the hunt for unwaxed lemons I went into four super markets (ASDA, Sainsbury, Morrisons and coop). I did all my shopping at Sainsbury but then had to go to three others as they had no lemons.

Only Morrisons even challenged me and when I pointed out I was exempt, guard said "ok then love"

he had a pointed comment when I walked out with four bags of lemons about "essential" - and I just smiled.

Anyway, I spoke to the mother and when I pointed out it wasn't enforceable, she was adamant that you can get something from the doctors if you ask.

I know its somewhere that doctors are advised not to give them out, but I can't find it

Full guidelines here

They have opened themselves up to discrimination cases now, a security guard does not have the authority to stop anyone.

@Whatwouldscullydo

Why do people have to explain why they are exempt?

Why is that anyones business but theirs and the dr.

They don't have to say why do they? They can say they are medically exempt and that's the end of it. Unfortunately you are going to get idiots abusing it, but hopefully enough people will do the right thing.

@24HoursInPoliceCustody

They have opened themselves up to discrimination cases now, a security guard does not have the authority to stop anyone.

Presumably it's a privately owned space so the supermarkets can say who they do or don't want in.

It would only be discrimination if they refused entry to someone who could prove they were medically exempt.

I should so because I certainly never pushed any further. Saying they are exempt is amd should be enough

Who are these people who feel so entitled to know exactly what is wrong akd then judge according.

If they just mean there will be someone stood at the door reminding people to wear a mask, perhaps giving them out to those who have 'forgotten' theirs, but letting people in without hassle if they say 'I'm exempt', then that's fine. It probably will make a difference too. A lot of people who would be prepared to just wander in without a mask if not challenged, would nevertheless feel very uncomfortable about actually having to lie.

They would run into trouble if they started demanding to see lanyards, exemption cards etc. or demanded to know the details of why someone is exempt.

@MrsMiaWallis

I use Waitrose now, despite being resentful about how much it costs. They have a couple of burly security guards on the door being very strict about masks 👍

Every shop should have security on the door. They're paid to deal with cantankerous yobs, minimum wage shop assistants shouldn't have to.

Ultimately it's a bit deterrent. The cowards who hurl abuse at shop assistants wouldn't say boo to a burly security guard.

The security guard at our local Waitrose is quite easy on the eye. Which is nice.

You can generally tell who is genuinely exempt - the exempt usually keep their distance whereas the non exempt non mask wearers are always right up your arse.

@WrongKindOfFace

You can generally tell who is genuinely exempt - the exempt usually keep their distance whereas the non exempt non mask wearers are always right up your arse.

As I said previously, in my experience those who wish to threaten and abuse exempt people are not afraid to be 'right up your arse'. In fact all concern about social distancing/infection seem to go right out the window when they've a mind to press their face into yours or take their mask off to spit at you.

@Sparklingbrook

To be honest I think if someone is exempt and they can’t wear a mask then it must be frightening to go out without one especially with the new strain. But as this thread shows some have no option but to do so.

But the mask provides little to no protection for the wearer, it's for the protection of others. That's why it's so selfish when people who can wear a mask refuse to do so.

But the mask provides little to no protection for the wearer, it's for the protection of others.

Well if someone wearing a mask was to sneeze/cough within my two metres I would rather be wearing my mask than not.

I have not really read up on the science of the masks lately-it seemed to continually change.

If they were wearing a mask then the sneeze wouldn't reach you. Your mask might protect you slightly.

@MrsMiaWallis

If they were wearing a mask then the sneeze wouldn't reach you. Your mask might protect you slightly.

Any protection is fine by me TBH even 'slight'.

Yes, sure, of course. But that isn't the main reason why they help to break transmission

@MrsMiaWallis

Yes, sure, of course. But that isn't the main reason why they help to break transmission

I CBA to get into your mask argument. Sorry.

I don’t think there’s any harm in shop staff nice reminding people going in to wear a mask where able. It might make others less judgemental if they know people who aren’t wearing masks have confirmed they can’t. It might also help idiots like me who have gone into both the bank and Waitrose having forgotten to put my mask on. In neither case did anyone challenge me and I was half way round Waitrose before I realised - cue embarrassed fumbling in handbag!

I have marshalled the door where I work and I ask customers if they have remembered their mask if they aren't wearing one.
I have to accept if they say they are exempt and that is that. Fortunately I haven't suffered any abuse and most take their masks out of their pocket.
I have done this role on and off since March and more people are definitely wearing them now.

I got an email from Sainsburys this morning.
They also plan to enforce the one person shopping rule. I think because people are bored a trip round the supermarket is seen as a change of scenery. They are encouraging only one person in to buy essentials rather than family groups.

@Blueberriesonmyshreddies

I have marshalled the door where I work and I ask customers if they have remembered their mask if they aren't wearing one. I have to accept if they say they are exempt and that is that. Fortunately I haven't suffered any abuse and most take their masks out of their pocket. I have done this role on and off since March and more people are definitely wearing them now.

Out of interest do you ask people who are wearing a lanyard? I wear one whenever I go out and do far have never been challenged. I wouldn't mind if you did, I just wondered what your company policy was.

I think it's about time supermarkets started enforcing wearing masks. I think anybody without a lanyard/badge or whatever should be challenged. Some people might just forget, or be hoping they don't get pulled up, and if someone reminds them at the door to put it on that's one less person potentially spreading it.

Of course some people are medically exempt and could not tolerate wearing one for any number of reasons, however, not everyone who is exempt is actually physically unable to wear a mask.

I know people who have asthma, vertigo, anxiety, I have a grandparent with a serious lung condition that affects her breathing. They are all able to wear a mask at least some of the time and so wear one despite being 'excempt'. Some times they may feel unable to and that's obviously absolutely their call, but they don't flounce about here there and everywhere never wearing to mask because they are on a list.

Obviously this can't be policed, but exempt people could maybe think about whether they are unable to or whether they could actually wear one with little to no discomfort sometimes.

I think people who are exempt should wear a face shield to at least offer some kind of barrier. But anybody with a clear sign that they are exempt shouldn't be approached.