If someone is claiming mask exemption due to asthma

[DriedFig]

And is a smoker, is this unreasonable?

@UsedUpUsername

Smoking is actually protective against Covid, fun fact. Bad for asthma though 😂

Sorry but that's total bull.

Smoking is associated with a significant increase in risk of death from covid.

They probably won't choose to be exempt from an oxygen mask or ventilator

HOUSE!!

I will take my prize now please.

In Asian countries, including the one where most of my family live, there is barely anyone who can't wear a mask, even in hot weather, with asthma etc most people will wear one. We have one great aunt who can't due to a serious lung issue, and she wears a visor. Looking around on public transport and at school dropoff here, it seems like at least a quarter of the population must be exempt, either we are particularly weak or people really can't be arsed.

Smoking is associated with a significant increase in risk of death from covid.

It's a bit more complicated than that. Smokers are massively underrepresented among hospitalised covid patients (about 1/4 of the expected prevalence) but some studies suggest that smokers who are hospitalised tend to do worse than other patients. One theory is that abrupt nicotine withdrawal makes them more susceptible.

harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-020-00437-5

TBH I think there should be no exemptions.

I've got asthma and can usually wear a mask, but have had to take it off a few times when I've found it harder to breathe. I prefer to wear a reusable cloth mask rather than the disposable kind. Everyone's asthma is different and has different triggers so others may be unable to wear one at all.

No.

@notrub

TBH I think there should be no exemptions.

My aunt has half a lung missing and while she struggles in a close fitting mask, instead she wears a face shield everywhere.

So those with health conditions/disabilities/PTSD as a result of rape or DV which prevents them from wearing a face covering of any kind should just stay locked away?

And OP, no, it's not unreasonable. If you can't wear a mask, you can't wear a mask. Smoking is irrelevant.

[quote LangClegsInSpace]Smoking is associated with a significant increase in risk of death from covid.

It's a bit more complicated than that. Smokers are massively underrepresented among hospitalised covid patients (about 1/4 of the expected prevalence) but some studies suggest that smokers who are hospitalised tend to do worse than other patients. One theory is that abrupt nicotine withdrawal makes them more susceptible.

harmreductionjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12954-020-00437-5[/quote]
So if you're a smoker, recent ex-smoker, vaper, NRT user etc. and you get covid bad enough to be hospitalised, make sure you have some patches with you and make sure they are properly prescribed and continued while you are in hospital.

There are a lot of unknowns but this could save your life and it won't do you any harm.

I’m asthmatic and have no increase in symptoms when I wear a mask. I also have hayfever and have massive increase in symptoms when I take the mask off well, this week I have.

This drives me mad. Personally I’m not keen on mask wearing but I do it, and the reasons people come up with not to wear one are ridiculous. I actually think things like anxiety and claustrophobia are much more valid than asthma - by that definition no one with asthma would be able to be a surgeon because believe me there are no exemptions in theatre - you wear a mask or you’re not there. If people can wear a mask for 8 hours to perform or assist in surgery then most people can wear a mask to buy something in Tesco.

If you’re that bothered about it stay at home then you won’t even know if others are wearing masks or not, or smoking or not. There are far worse things happening in the world right now than worrying about whether random strangers are wearing a bit of old tablecloth over their faces.

I think there are enough people who just choose to not wear a mask, or wear one properly for you to concern yourself with. The ones with no exemption.

Asthma differs in severity hugely and the ability to wear a mask can differ hugely from day to day. Smoking is irrelevant. That is like saying the fat covid patient ate a doughnut rather than a carrot stick.

Drs and nurses with asthma wear masks all day.

The law says that if you can wear a mask then you must, regardless of medical conditions, and if you cannot wear a mask then you don't have to, regardless of medical conditions.

Simple really.

"TBH I think there should be no exemptions."

If you are saying everyone is able to wear a mask then you are being ridiculous.

@Sleepyblueocean

"TBH I think there should be no exemptions."

If you are saying everyone is able to wear a mask then you are being ridiculous.

That poster comments on every mask thread that those who 'claim' to be exempt are lying and anyone who supports them is an idiot and suchlike. Thankfully people like that seem to be in a shrinking minority and most people are sensible and understanding, and becoming moreso. I'm exempt and I've noticed a huge change in recent weeks. Until Jan/Feb this year I regularly received abuse, threats and have been spat at, but recently when I've been out people have been much kinder. Yesterday two people (masked) spoke to me really pleasantly in a supermarket and one offered me a candle she was buying to smell! Maybe it's confidence in vaccines, reducing cases or just people being sick of it all. Either way, attitudes like those of @notrub are, happily, on the wane.

@Bigbus

This drives me mad. Personally I’m not keen on mask wearing but I do it, and the reasons people come up with not to wear one are ridiculous. I actually think things like anxiety and claustrophobia are much more valid than asthma - by that definition no one with asthma would be able to be a surgeon because believe me there are no exemptions in theatre - you wear a mask or you’re not there. If people can wear a mask for 8 hours to perform or assist in surgery then most people can wear a mask to buy something in Tesco.

If someone has asthma badly enough that they can't wear a mask, then they wont be embarking on a career in surgery. Same as if they can not stand for long periods too.

@Ijustknowitstimetogo

Drs and nurses with asthma wear masks all day.

That does not mean that those unable to wear a mask are suddenly able to because of their job. If they have asthma bad enough to the point they can't wear a mask, they wont be working as doctors or nurses. They would never have got past Occupational Health.

I work in a supermarket and have asthma, I manage to wear a mask for 6+ hours a day.

I've lost count of how many times someone shouts 'I have asthma' aggressively as an excuse. It's infuriating and makes light of actual asthma sufferers.

@Stellaris22

I work in a supermarket and have asthma, I manage to wear a mask for 6+ hours a day.

I've lost count of how many times someone shouts 'I have asthma' aggressively as an excuse. It's infuriating and makes light of actual asthma sufferers.

As with all conditions, severity and the way they affect people varies greatly. For example, I have trigeminal neuralgia - for me, one of the triggers is touch to the face/temples/head, which means I can't wear a mask or a visor. However some people with TN are triggered by cold or wind, so wearing a mask can actually be beneficial for some sufferers.

Some people with asthma can tolerate a mask, some can't.

If people can wear a mask for 8 hours to perform or assist in surgery then most people can wear a mask to buy something in Tesco.

But we're not just having to wear them to buy something in tesco. We're having to wear them to travel to work, wear them all day in work and then wear them to travel home and if we need to go to the shops still need to wear them. It can't be good for you to have both nose and mouth covered for such long periods of time. It's so unnatural. And at least in theatre people wear them for good reason. There is a massive difference in infection risk where you have an opened up body on the table than if you're picking up a pint of milk

Did op plop her today thread and run?

This comes very much in the category of non of your business. You don't and can't know everything about someone else's circumstances.