Anyone just not bother going out now

[Happycat1212]

Does anyone else just not bothering going anywhere at all now?? I’m exempt from wearing face masks but to avoid abuse I just stay home now, my mum keeps trying to get me to go to hers (I can she’s in my bubble) but I don’t drive so would need a bus but I don’t want to get on them for fear of being abused. Anyone else worry about this type of thing?

I think it's really important to keep getting out if you can. There's so little variety and mental stimulation at the moment that even a quick walk should be something. If the mask situation is your main barrier to going out, I'd just try to maximise your time in non-confined spaces - e.g. a quick walk around the local park if you have one, or even just some quiet streets nearby. It's otherwise scary how the brain is constantly trying to adapt and you might find it becomes increasingly hard for you to summon the courage to go out, for the simple fact you haven't done it for a long time.

@Inthevirtualwaitingroom

i appreciate it is awful for your teen *@Springersrock*, but i was talking to op.

although to be honest, your teen can go out, no masks are needed in the open air

My teen has had this abuse when walking down a street, walking across a park, walking our dog around the block - even while wearing a mask exempt lanyard.

And she has every right to go to a shop or get the bus to school.

I'm in exactly the same position as you, OP. I can't wear a mask (or a visor, before anyone suggests that). I've had terrible abuse in shops and on buses. I've been spat at and been told I deserved the death penalty (always by men, interestingly). I always wear a lanyard and am happy to show as much proof as I have to anyone who asks (GP isn't writing notes so I have to show my medication and my diagnosis letter from my neurologist, although nobody has ever heard of my condition). Last time I went to the supermarket about 3 weeks ago the security guard refused to let me in because I didn't have an 'exemption letter' - when I told him they didn't exist and doctors aren't providing them, but showed him the stuff I had, be said that could be anybody's and I could have borrowed it. And how was he supposed to know if that diagnosis meant I was exempt?

Up until that point shop staff had all been very lovely and understanding, including that same security guard. The general public notsomuch.

Anyway I don't bother going out anymore. I can't get an online delivery slot so DH has to do all the shopping himself after working 12 hour days. I've cancelled my hospital appointments because I'd need to use public transport to get there.

I know there's a pandemic and I agree with mask wearing. But this is so crap. for you, OP.

I think a lot of people are going to be very upset when lockdown ends and they won’t have an excuse for just plain laziness anymore.

At the moment laziness can be dressed up as “being responsible”.
Post lockdown, no excuse.

For the people saying they can't go on public transport and into supermarkets because of mask issues, I don't have a problem wearing masks but haven't been on public transport and get most of my shopping delivered. It's lockdown. There's nowhere to go. I go for a walk everyday. Few people wear masks outside and nobody gets abuse for walking outside and not wearing one.

@snowydaysandholidays

Get a taxi?

My local taxi firm has a strict no mask, no travel policy.

Yes, it's against government guidelines. Yes, I can see why they want to protect their drivers. I can see both sides. But unfortunately it means that taxis aren't an option (for me, anyway - can't speak for the OP!).

What the exempt never ever admit (and I am technically exempt fwiw) is that mask wearing is in the interests of public health . It’s not about individual “rights” . When people say “it’s my right not to wear a mask” it just sounds arseholey and selfish.

Liberty only extends as far as not impacting on others. Your right to travel on a bus without a mask impacts on my right not to have covid breathed on me or any of the other passengers.

And the excuses! There seems to be a direct correlation between those who simply can’t wear a mask and dhs who can’t possibly be trusted to do the shopping

I go for walks most days and I rarely see anyone wearing masks outdoors? Are people seriously abusing others for not wearing masks outdoors??

Would you wear a face shield, OP? I appreciate that they offer very little protection, but I think it would offer protection from potential comments.

Sunflower lanyard and faceshield would give you a bit of confidence to go to the shops.

@IrmaFayLear

What the exempt never ever admit (and I am technically exempt fwiw) is that mask wearing is in the interests of public health . It’s not about individual “rights” . When people say “it’s my right not to wear a mask” it just sounds arseholey and selfish.

Liberty only extends as far as not impacting on others. Your right to travel on a bus without a mask impacts on my right not to have covid breathed on me or any of the other passengers.

And the excuses! There seems to be a direct correlation between those who simply can’t wear a mask and dhs who can’t possibly be trusted to do the shopping

What do you mean, 'technically exempt'? You can either wear a mask or you can't, if you can you're not exempt.

People who need to go to work and access medical care also have a right to do so. Even if it means using public transport. And in law that right does exist. It's not arseholey and selfish to earn a living or to obtain medical care.

You say liberty only extends as far as not impacting on others, but your demands clearly impact on those who need to get to work or obtain hospital treatment and who are legally exempt.

@ceeveebee

I go for walks most days and I rarely see anyone wearing masks outdoors? Are people seriously abusing others for not wearing masks outdoors??

Sadly, yes. It's happened to me twice in my local park. I shouldn't be allowed where kids are playing, apparently.

Irma is right. I was in the supermarket recently and this 70 ish women with a sign around her neck saying she was exempt was leaning over the cashier because she said she couldnt hear her. You could see the spittle spraying out.

The cashier had literally no where to go.

Does this women’s rights trump the cashiers?

I agree with a pp. If YOUR health was protected by wearing one then I strongly suspect there would be less people who say they are exempt.

We don’t have these issues in other countries. No mask, then you cannot enter the store/bank etc,

I have to go to my front line job on the bus and do a food shop but aside from this, I cannot be bothered to go out now.

I wear a mask to protect others and do my bit for society. If you can't/don't wear a mask then you can do your bit for this pandemic by staying away from indoor places. You may be protected by the law when you don't wear one, but it is the morally responsible thing to do.

@Moonstone1234

Irma is right. I was in the supermarket recently and this 70 ish women with a sign around her neck saying she was exempt was leaning over the cashier because she said she couldnt hear her. You could see the spittle spraying out.

The cashier had literally no where to go.

Does this women’s rights trump the cashiers?

I agree with a pp. If YOUR health was protected by wearing one then I strongly suspect there would be less people who say they are exempt.

We don’t have these issues in other countries. No mask, then you cannot enter the store/bank etc,

Almost all countries have exemptions.

If my health were protected by wearing a mask, I still wouldn't be able to wear a mask.

The example you give is clearly not representative of all exempt people. That lady was not respecting SD guidelines - if she was getting that close, I doubt a mask would e helped anyway (you still need to SD when wearing a mask). It's unfair to use this example as 'evidence' that exemptions shouldn't exist. Exempt people usually SD, just as everyone else should be doing, too.

@DrinkSnackRepeat

I have to go to my front line job on the bus and do a food shop but aside from this, I cannot be bothered to go out now.

I wear a mask to protect others and do my bit for society. If you can't/don't wear a mask then you can do your bit for this pandemic by staying away from indoor places. You may be protected by the law when you don't wear one, but it is the morally responsible thing to do.

So we shouldn't go to work or to medical appointments, then?

I go out every day, to work, walk the dogs, go and see to my horse twice a day, plus essential shopping twice a week, I think I would go nuts if I stayed at home every day. Luckily I drive and not bothered about wearing a mask, I couldn’t care less if other people don’t wear masks and would never judge you or anyone else who can’t, I’m so sorry OP you have had such a hard time

Unfortunately there are a lot of people who dont wear a mask or wear a mask incorrectly the vast majority of which are not exempt.
I work on a Covid ward and wear full FFP3 PPE most of the day. Its uncomfortable, suffocating and myself and collegues have pressure sores on our faces. It is therefore fustrating to see others who wont wear a covering of some sort to protect others. Particularly when dealing with the effects of Covid.
There is a high level of risk to others from unmasked people in confined spaces at present. Being exempt does not take away your risk to others. Due to this they should avoid those places for now.
Every patient in hospital unless on an oxygen mask wear a mask when moving around the corridors. Every visitor to the hospital wears a mask too, no exemptions. No one has ever complained, perhaps because they are aware the hospital environment is a risk to them.
The truth is the number of those truely exempt is miniscule compared to the number people who dont wear one.

Im sorry you feel unable to visit your mum OP that must be isolating for you. I think if exemptions were medically certified and proof given (much like a disability parking badge) it would help those who are exempt.

I think if exemptions were medically certified and proof given (much like a disability parking badge) it would help those who are exempt.

Yes of course it would, because blue badge holders never get abused, do they?

Every visitor to the hospital wears a mask too, no exemptions

I accompanied a person I support to a medical appointment last week, he relies on lip reading to communicate. I was allowed to be with him the whole time maskless, so clearly there are exemptions. Oh and before anybody scream "face shield" at me, shields distort the shape of the mouth which makes lip reading difficult if not impossible.

I understand it’s difficult but if you can’t wear a mask you do need to stay home to avoid infection yourself surely ?

DH has been to hospital multiple times since September. He can't wear a mask and this has never been a problem. I'm just pleased he's going to a hospital that has a better understanding of the problem than others.

Those of us able to wear masks shouldn’t be making unnecessary trips on public transport or wandering around the shops for a browse everyday either. Everyone should only be making essential journeys.
Exercise outdoors every day is allowed so no reason not to go out at all. OP, you should be fine walking outdoors without a mask, I see few wearing them outside. You really should avoid public transport for non-essential journeys if you can’t wear a mask. As a pp said, a train is probably better if you must travel as it should be easier for people to keep their distance from you.

@trappedsincesundaymorn im referring to Covid areas of the hospital I cant comment on every outpatient department in the country. But we have clear lip reading masks for staff or carers to wear. So no exemptions.

@BamboozledandBefuddled people get abused everyday for various reasons disabled or not. Medical certification would enable those truly exemot to prove their status to access transport, shops etc. And make those who choose not to wear a mask for other reasons to comply.

Essential hospital trips are one thing, but as CharBart says, taking public transport and going to the shops maskless is really not doing your bit.

I absolutely refute people’s claim that they have to do the shopping. You may want to do your own shopping, but not being prepared to sacrifice this just sounds like “I’ll do me and hang everyone else”. As I said, those who say, “dh can’t be trusted” are idiots, and selfish idiots at that.

I walk every day and never wear a mask; you rarely see anyone wearing one in the open air.