Page 5 | How to prove exemptions?

Orf1abc · 14/01/2021 14:05

@movingonup20 Who is going to issue these cards? I don't see many NHS clinicians sat around waiting for something to do.

MerciSeat · 14/01/2021 14:09

[quote Orf1abc]@movingonup20 Who is going to issue these cards? I don't see many NHS clinicians sat around waiting for something to do.[/quote]
I'd already spoken to my GP about this last summer - he told me they weren't issuing exemptions and gave me a link to the Hidden Disabilities site to buy a lanyard. I've called again today to see if anything has changed and was told it had not, and that the GPs were busier than ever. Understandably. They certainly don't have time to be examining and evaluating the hundreds of thousands of people who are mask exempt. And I'm sure the NHS doesn't have the money to implement such a scheme, either.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 14/01/2021 14:10

'It is embarrassing to say that as an adult woman who looks healthy, I could fit and piss myself at any moment if the wind blows the wrong way'

This does sound awful. TG is extremely rare though so I can't imagine the several people I see when I go to the supermarket all have it. Perhaps your specialist nurse could give you a card to show to security staff. I presume you have a specialist nurse as your case sounds so extreme with seizures and incontinence.

If face covers and visors only protected oneself I would not give a rat's ass who didn't/couldn't but it is about protecting others. Other than the 12 in 100,000 with TG or the tiny percentage with ptsd they should be worn when indoors with others who hey guess what, may be vulnerable! How do medical staff wear them all day long if they had negative effects of respiration as some proclaim?!

XenoBitch · 14/01/2021 14:10

@Underhisi

If they can't wear a mask they could only go in shops during the hours that people are allowed mask free. Otherwise they will spreading the virus everywhere. So their parent will have to shop during those few hours.

They will be spreading it everywhere during the mask free hours too. What if they work and can't get to the shop for those hours? People with masks on also spread the virus... just not as much as a person with no mask on. They are not 100%. The main thing is to maintain a proper distance from people.

CrocodilesCry · 14/01/2021 14:12

As I say - if it's anxiety/PTSD you can say simply that? You don't need to go into the awful circumstances/incident that led to your diagnosis?
I'm not saying there aren't people who cannot wear masks because of assault or rape - far from it.
But I'm not saying for a second you need to tell people the circumstances in front of a queue in the supermarket either. Nowhere did I say that at all.

GetOffYourHighHorse · 14/01/2021 14:13

'I'd already spoken to my GP about this last summer - he told me they weren't issuing exemptions and gave me a link to the Hidden Disabilities site to buy a lanyard. I've called again today to see if anything has changed and was told it had not, and that the GPs were busier than ever'

Jesus. Stop ringing your GP, they have enough to do. Print off an 'exemption' from the the gov site or say I'm exempt to the security staff.

Viviennemary · 14/01/2021 14:15

I want to know if shops have the legal right to refuse entry to people not wearing a mask. Nobody seems to have the answer to that.,

Haffiana · 14/01/2021 14:23

@MerciSeat

But *@Haffiana*, children are potential disease vectors. I take it you insist they wear masks, too?

Yes unmasked children are disease vectors to a certain not-yet-agreed-on degree.

I don't and do not personally insist anyone wears a mask nor have I ever done so.

Stop twisting this into something else entirely. This happens on every thread about mask wearing and it is pernicious and needs to have some light shone on it because it is used to close down debate again and again.

The idea is that there should be shopping slots once or twice a week for those who are mask exempt. This will benefit the exempt because there is no need to prove their exemption, explain why or what their reasons are, feel that they are being looked down on or feel harrassed. NOT because they are 'potential disease vectors' although it is true that this is also the case.

CrocodilesCry · 14/01/2021 14:30

The idea is that there should be shopping slots once or twice a week for those who are mask exempt

Utterly crazy. So you'd have queues of people who want to wear masks waiting outside until the maskless have finished shopping?
And what about the risk to staff? It'll never happen.

MerciSeat · 14/01/2021 14:31

The idea is that there should be shopping slots once or twice a week for those who are mask exempt. This will benefit the exempt because there is no need to prove their exemption, explain why or what their reasons are, feel that they are being looked down on or feel harrassed. NOT because they are 'potential disease vectors' although it is true that this is also the case

That's not 'the idea', that's your idea.

I'm not trying to close anything down. I just want to know if you think children without masks should also be limited to shopping with their parents during your maskless hours, given they are potential disease vectors?

Looneytune253 · 14/01/2021 14:33

To be fair most exempt people can wear one. Most (not all) of the time it's just an excuse!! I know my anti mask conspiracy theorist/ 5g lunatic neighbour tells people he's asthmatic (which he is) so he doesn't have to wear a mask but his asthma doesn't stop him from standing over a fire outside with acrid smoke that actually affects my asthma INDOORS and it doesn't stop him from smoking cigarettes. I wear a mask and my extremely vulnerable relative also does with COPD and can barely breathe because he knows that it's the best thing to do. I understand there are some genuine exemptions but most countries don't allow exemptions so we defo don't need as many as we do here

MerciSeat · 14/01/2021 14:38

@GetOffYourHighHorse

'I'd already spoken to my GP about this last summer - he told me they weren't issuing exemptions and gave me a link to the Hidden Disabilities site to buy a lanyard. I've called again today to see if anything has changed and was told it had not, and that the GPs were busier than ever'

Jesus. Stop ringing your GP, they have enough to do. Print off an 'exemption' from the the gov site or say I'm exempt to the security staff.

Lots of genuinely exempt people on social media saying they've been (illegally) turned away from supermarkets by doormen insisting on letters from GPs/'proof'. Lanyards/government exemption cards not good enough.

Luckily my surgery is lovely and the receptionist was perfectly happy to talk to me for two minutes today. The conversation last summer was part of a phone appointment to tweak meds, so no worries about time wasting there.

MerciSeat · 14/01/2021 14:39

@Looneytune253

To be fair most exempt people can wear one. Most (not all) of the time it's just an excuse!! I know my anti mask conspiracy theorist/ 5g lunatic neighbour tells people he's asthmatic (which he is) so he doesn't have to wear a mask but his asthma doesn't stop him from standing over a fire outside with acrid smoke that actually affects my asthma INDOORS and it doesn't stop him from smoking cigarettes. I wear a mask and my extremely vulnerable relative also does with COPD and can barely breathe because he knows that it's the best thing to do. I understand there are some genuine exemptions but most countries don't allow exemptions so we defo don't need as many as we do here

Most exempt people can't wear one because being exempt means you can't wear one.

And almost every other country had exemptions.

MerciSeat · 14/01/2021 14:40

Sorry, should've said ALL exempt people can't wear one.

Billie18 · 14/01/2021 14:41

@Givemeabreak88

Does anyone know how you can prove that you are exempt from wearing a face mask if drs are refusing to give letters? A lot of the shops are now refusing entry unless you are wearing one. I try to shop mostly online but sometimes not always possible.

You don't have to prove that you are exempt and if anyone asks just say you are exempt. You don't have to say why you are exempt and if anyone asks just inform them that this is personal information and that they should not be asking. Most businesses should be aware of this but if you get any harassment or they refuse entry then they should be reported. If you are shopping on line out of choice that of course is fine but you shouldn't be intimidated to do so as you have just as much right as anyone else to visit shops personally.

Take no notice of some of the ignorant and rude posts here. It is bullying plain and simple.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 14/01/2021 14:42

Certain people have behaved like spoiled toddlers throughout this. They don't want to stay at home because that's not fair but they also don't want to attempt to wear a face covering because that's too much of an ask. Any discussion is shut down by "that's ableist!'
I don't understand why your need not to be in any discomfort comes above everyone else's needs during a flipping pandemic! You're not always the most important person.

Looneytune253 · 14/01/2021 14:45

@MerciSeat yes but they physically can. Just because you have the label 'exempt' doesn't mean you can't wear one. Like I've said I'm asthmatic so technically exempt but I wear one anyway as I can. My daughter is 10 so exempt on age but she wears one anyway as it's the right thing to do.

MerciSeat · 14/01/2021 14:46

@MissBaskinIfYoureNasty

Certain people have behaved like spoiled toddlers throughout this. They don't want to stay at home because that's not fair but they also don't want to attempt to wear a face covering because that's too much of an ask. Any discussion is shut down by "that's ableist!' I don't understand why your need not to be in any discomfort comes above everyone else's needs during a flipping pandemic! You're not always the most important person.

I'd much rather stay home than go to work.

Oh and if you're exempt you can't 'attempt to wear a face covering', because you can't wear a face covering. HTH!

XenoBitch · 14/01/2021 14:47

@MerciSeat

Sorry, should've said ALL exempt people can't wear one.

But then you get people who pop into threads like this with "I am exempt but wear one anyway". Arg!

MerciSeat · 14/01/2021 14:49

[quote Looneytune253]@MerciSeat yes but they physically can. Just because you have the label 'exempt' doesn't mean you can't wear one. Like I've said I'm asthmatic so technically exempt but I wear one anyway as I can. My daughter is 10 so exempt on age but she wears one anyway as it's the right thing to do. [/quote]
Huh?

Being exempt means you can't wear a mask. It's not a label.

If you can wear a mask you're not exempt. There's no 'technically' about it. Look at the government guidelines - exemption is determined by whether or not you can put on or take off a mask, not by a list of conditions.

One person with asthma may be able to wear a mask = not exempt. Another may not be able to = exempt.

GirlCrush · 14/01/2021 14:49

@Haffiana

Shops need to introduce an hour twice a week for mask exempt shoppers. That way they can all shop together. They have done this for elderly shoppers and even in the past for NHS workers.

They will need to persuade their staff to work those hours of course, but staff will only be at added risk for those two hours a week, not all the time.

This needs sorting, and this is the best way.

fuck that!!!

staff really are that dispensable? employers have a duty of care and have looked after retail staff as best they can through this. you seriously think what you suggest is acceptable?

staff will 'only be at added risk for 2 hours a week' oh thats ok then???

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 14/01/2021 14:49

@MerciSeat no it didn't help but thanks for trying. 'Exempt' is being over used. Many people say they can't wear any type of covering without even trying so quite how they have discovered they are "exempt" is a mystery. They think they are more important and special than anyone else. There are plenty of people, myself included, who have conditions and struggles that make wearing a face covering distressing but we show willing and do our small bit. Its very sad that people who want consideration and concessions made for them won't do their part for the rest of society. I would be embarrassed to be one if these people.

XenoBitch · 14/01/2021 14:50

[quote Looneytune253]@MerciSeat yes but they physically can. Just because you have the label 'exempt' doesn't mean you can't wear one. Like I've said I'm asthmatic so technically exempt but I wear one anyway as I can. My daughter is 10 so exempt on age but she wears one anyway as it's the right thing to do. [/quote]
There is no such thing as "technically exempt". If you can wear a mask, then you are not exempt. It is as simple as that.

MerciSeat · 14/01/2021 14:51

@Looneytune253 Here's the criteria for exemption. No list of conditions.

MerciSeat · 14/01/2021 14:55

[quote MissBaskinIfYoureNasty]@MerciSeat no it didn't help but thanks for trying. 'Exempt' is being over used. Many people say they can't wear any type of covering without even trying so quite how they have discovered they are "exempt" is a mystery. They think they are more important and special than anyone else. There are plenty of people, myself included, who have conditions and struggles that make wearing a face covering distressing but we show willing and do our small bit. Its very sad that people who want consideration and concessions made for them won't do their part for the rest of society. I would be embarrassed to be one if these people.[/quote]
I discovered I couldn't wear a covering when I attempted to, had a seizure and pissed myself (for the record I would love to be able to wear a mask).

I can assure you that I don't feel more important and special than anyone else. And no, I don't feel any embarrassment because I have a debilitating health condition. Are you saying I ought to?