Has anyone else noticed less people wearing masks?

[TheSilence]

I’ve noticed it more and more the last week or so, but today I went in 3 shops and in each one there were probably around half the people not wearing one, whereas before it was around 90%. Have I missed a rule change where they’re no longer compulsory? Or maybe there’s just more exempt people going out.

But we aren't always wearing them at work now I admit as the only person not double vaccinated is me and I'm due for my second vaccine in 2 weeks

No still masks in shops. Still a lot of older people wearing masks outside in quiet areas. Considering they have all had their jabs now makes me think they are still quite frightened.

It irrationally irritates me when I see people wearing them outside . But that's getting rarer.

Can't say I've noticed fewer people wearing masks 😷

@feelinggeriatric I am one of the people who wears masks outside when I’m hoping from one shop to another as it’s more convenient . It’s far easier and more hygienic to keep it on for few minutes whilst I’m carrying all my shopping. It’s more convenient and saves me time than taking it off and putting back on whilst I’m on the high street.

I am one of the people who wears masks outside when I’m hoping from one shop to another as it’s more convenient

Me too.
I also wear one all day for work, then shopping etc so sometimes I just forget to take it off.

I know with the rise in heat I’ve not been able to wear one without fainting cause of how clammy it gets inside it. I am 7 months pregnant though

Yes, I've noticed this, though not too much in shops. I get it at work and find it annoying. If someone doesn't want to wear a mask, that's one thing, but don't stand so close to me!

@Smileyoriley

Yes, particularly in less well heeled areas and more "affordable" shops.

In our town there are more than ever - outside, in their cars, walking on their own, walking on the beach in a fresh breeze.

I honestly can't understand their mentality.

Fair enough wear them in indoor spaces, but what possible rationale is there for wandering along the prom wearing one?

I've noticed this, too.

I think attitudes towards masks are changing as restrictions ease, people get vaccinated and cases/deaths remain low. I'm exempt and in the past I've been on the receiving end of some horrible abuse, at one point almost every time I went out. Over the last couple of months or so I've noticed that hasn't happened so much. I've not even had a side-eye or a tut for weeks now.

@Roomba

I've noticed this in the last couple of weeks. It feels like people are deciding they don't need to bother anymore now that deaths are low and people are getting vaccinated. One fellow school mum said to me 'Well, we won't have to wear them anyway soon, will we? They're just being over cautious at the moment!'

It felt like one in three weren't wearing masks when I was in Lidl the other day. None of the staff were that I saw either.

Given you can still fall ill with COVID after vaccination - just less severely - supposedly you can still trasmit the virus in that stage? So you would need to wear a mask? Certainly, while there are still people in the community unvaccinated, I believe mask-wearing (if you can) is best.

High level of compliance and low numbers here.
Large proportion of population remain unvacccinated. We need to protect them wherever possible.

Yes I've noticed a lot recently in shops and security staff ignoring them.

Nope, didn't see anyone without one in Sainsburys this week or post office, newsagent.

@landofgiants

Yes, I've noticed this, though not too much in shops. I get it at work and find it annoying. If someone doesn't want to wear a mask, that's one thing, but don't stand so close to me!

See as someone who can't wear a mask, finds everyone wearing a mask makes my sensory issues more pronounced and tries to give people lots of space (I don't like people in my personal space though and would love the 2m between strangers to remain, even though I know its not practical) I find it near enough the opposite. I'm usually the only one not wearing a mask in my local shops, school playground etc and people in masks are.always getting too close, to the point of knocking in to my backpack. Or they look at me as if I'm crazy for not pushing past as they block the aisle at the supermarket. I live in a small town,.luckily I rarely get even a second glance because everyone knows me and they know I tried to wear.one (and saw.the result of trying). So I don't get abuse for not wearing it. We also have very low numbers (5 cases over the last month), so I'd have thought we would be the sort of area where people start to "forget" to wear their mask

Yes, particularly in less well heeled areas and more "affordable" shops

This has been my experience.

I’m exempt and up until a month ago had barely been in a shop since last august. I’ve had enough now so I’m back shopping as normal. I’ve had one member of staff ask me to wear a mask but otherwise it’s not been mentioned. I think compliance is still high in shops, school run compliance is definitely dropping. I’ve gone from the only one not in a mask to a good handful not wearing them. I always found the school run mask requirement odd, at our school you are not allowed on the school premises anyway.

Finally people are showing some spine

Plenty still wearing here. I've seen some very stylish ones too.

I've found they can be liberating. Garlic lunch before going out? No problem.

I'm saving money on makeup (my preferred lipstick brand isn't the cheapest).

It's also quite fun feeling free to secretly mutter to myself when someone's annoying me.

I'm also happier knowing I'm reducing the risks to people around me. I'd feel so terrible if I was asymptomatic and unwittingly infected someone - particularly if they ended up dead, in hospital, or unable to work for ages because of Long Covid. Popping a mask on whilst the majority are not vaccinated or only partially - it's the decent thing to do.

They've all suddenly woken up in the morning and decided to exempt themselves.

@Tealightsandd

I'm also happier knowing I'm reducing the risks to people around me. I'd feel so terrible if I was asymptomatic and unwittingly infected someone - particularly if they ended up dead, in hospital, or unable to work for ages because of Long Covid. Popping a mask on whilst the majority are not vaccinated or only partially - it's the decent thing to do.

I feel the same - I've bought another set of masks from Seasalt so I can wear them as and when I go into the office. It's the right thing to do, as far as I'm concerned. I feel quite unprotected without a mask, even if it isn't about my protection, it's how it makes me feel (like not wearing a seat belt).

I work in retail and I actually had this conversation with a colleague yesterday.

I've noticed in the last week an increase in people not wearing masks. As I work in a village store I know these people aren't exempt as as they've been wearing one previously. I completely understand wearing a mask isn't the best experience but for the amount of time customers are in my store its is only a small ask. My longest shift is 6hrs and I only remove during my break time. I feel grateful I'm not working 12hr plus in full ppe!

I can only assume its because of all the reasons pp have mentioned. Being vaccinated is a big one. Due to my age I'm still not eligible for my first vaccine yet. Which is fine I'm happy to wait however it is a slight kick in the teeth when during this year I've been shouted at, abused, swore at and spat at. I guess that's a whole other conversation and thread.

I looked up at a bus yesterday and for the first time I noticed a couple of people upstairs without masks. There has been really good compliance locally.