[England] People ‘expected’ to wear face masks in enclosed public spaces after 19 July

[DumplingsAndStew]

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/face-mask-nadhim-zahawi-covid-b1882018.html

New guidance will be issued by the government telling the public they are “expected” to wearface coveringsin indoor enclosed places, the vaccines minister has said.

Nadhim Zahawialso said he was “confident” the government would ease almost all legal restrictions on 19 July — despite surging cases of the virus and concerns expressed by scientists.

Speaking onSky News, he said: “It’s important we remain cautious and careful. The guidelines that we’ll set out tomorrow will demonstrate that, including guidelines that people are expected to wear a mask in indoor enclosed spaces, and of course remain vigilant.”

While the guidance will not be legally binding, his remarks appear to be a shift in stance fromBoris Johnson’s comments just last week, whosaid people “might choose” to follow the guidancein areas where cases are on the rise and in enclosed spaces, such as public transport at peak hours.

[quote ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia]In London TfL has just imposed common sense masked passengers as condition of transportation irrespective of governmental confusing mixed messaging or last minute u turns.

Face masks must be worn on London tube, buses and trains after Freedom Day: www.standard.co.uk/news/london/face-masks-london-tube-buses-and-trains-b945612.html[/quote]
Great news

Not really bothered as never use public transport and mainly shop online, I would probably most like choose shops where I don't have to wear a mask on the rare occasion I use them.

@ Pigeonorcoot

Yes agreed great news as only simple and easy proactive approach.

However as we all perfectly know and see common daily - we have much superficial performative minimal temporary masking in London generally with snowflakery tribes either wearing chin warmers or even some more tenacious types buying fake non protective brightly coloured lanyards complete with floral symbols and a accompanying fake card attachment with no questions asked and only your conscience to overcome.

These accessories are selling out fast and now widely worn over so many heads of countless suddenly self declared disabled otherwise healthy looking people especially surprisingly among the younger adult population!

It makes a mockery of a sensible civic duty of care system based on trust when so many cannot be trusted even to be truthful with a disease that is evidently so contagious and challenging to contain when common sense is missing.

It is disingenuous and insulting to those that are genuinely diagnosed by medical specialist experts as medically exempt and so do actually have a disability and are medically vulnerable with less health privilege and not taking the piss can’t be arsed types! Not even to put a mask on for a temporary time period as worn daily by surgeons for hours.

These things don’t do anything to protect yourself or others and only serve as an exemption from rules or guidelines or criminal fines where enforced.

It makes the whole trust system untenable and leads to further lockdowns with more lives and livelihoods impacted.

I tend to see these lanyards worn together in pairs of younger people traveling together as if that means social distancing does not matter too! It is so obviously a joke now and real disabled people need to stop Covidiots stealing their thunder and trivialising their medical vulnerabilities as this is ultimate disablist physical signalling! And you wonder why the pandemic is challenging to contain and stop super spreading and mutating!

www.amazon.co.uk/sunflower-lanyard-hidden-disability/s?k=sunflower+lanyard+hidden+disability&tag=mumsnetforu03-21

@IceCreamAndCandyfloss

We will just avoid indoor places as i suspect many won’t bother as it’s not law. Not worth the risk for non essential visits.

My sentiments exactly.

@swimlyn

I have always felt from Day One of this breaking out that anyone coming near to you without a mask, or not wearing their mask correctly, is saying to you: “I do not care at all about you, your family, your friends; you can die or be disabled and I don’t care”.

Also, of course, they’re saying the same about their own family etc.

I’ve reassessed a lot of neighbours, acquaintanceships and friendships over this. 80% have gone now. They don’t care about me, so…

👏

@Stuffin

I won't be wearing a mask on the 19th.

Any business that mandates it will just be avoided. Really if pubs, restaurants or shops want to keep restrictions including masks then fine as I am sure there will be enough that don't.

I'm sure they won't miss you.

@ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia

I agree.

Far too many jumping on the mental health bandwagon. Because they know it’s that last taboo that people won’t challenge.

And you see it on here - people not giving a flying fig about the vulnerable/controlling the spread of infection - and then - a HUGE amount of faux concern about mental health - as it can be weaponised as a reason not to wear a mask.

Completely dilutes the issue for those with genuine mental health needs. Just makes it worse.

It's pretty deluded to think that the majority will be wearing masks on public transport in London despite Sadiq's decision - they can't be fined after July 19 so people might wear one to get on a bus or get into a station, but remove/pull it down afterwards. There'll be no enforcement at all (and people can just claim to be exempt with no evidence). I certainly wouldn't want to be using the tube or buses if I was anxious or CEV.

As far as I’m concerned if people want to continue wearing masks then that’s their choice however I won’t be wearing mine from next week. I won’t give an excuse as to why not as I don’t have one. I just don’t want to wear it anymore. If people look at me snidely then so be it.

Undercover what do you think is a genuine mental health need? Currently I know more people that have died by suicide than covid. They did’nt all have diagnosed mental health issues but clearly something was wrong. Why do they not matter?
The vulnerable have been vaccinated but those whose lives have been affected by the way we are being forced to live now count for nothing to some people.
I know someone whose life revolves around working in the office and going to the pub after. No family to isolate with. He committed suicide as he felt there was nothing left to live for. He didn’t have mental health problems. His life just didn’t fit in with the new covid world.

@Carycy I would suggest that many people buying lanyards off Amazon do not have genuine mental health needs.

And - for anecdotal evidence I don’t know anyone who has committed suicide and about 20 or so people who have had their health impaired by Covid, and a great many more who have had their lives impacted by Covid.

This is why I will wear a mask - to stop the spread of infection while Covid is still a threat - worldwide, and to stop hospitals becoming overwhelmed.

@EpsomQ

As far as I’m concerned if people want to continue wearing masks then that’s their choice however I won’t be wearing mine from next week. I won’t give an excuse as to why not as I don’t have one. I just don’t want to wear it anymore. If people look at me snidely then so be it.

I'll be the opposite. I consider myself lucky that I work in an office where 90% of my colleagues are working from home. I cannot imagine the stress that hospitality/shopworkers/ public service workers have been under for the last eighteen months, and if I were one of them, I would be very worried indeed about the forthcoming free-for-all. So out of consideration and respect for all of the employees out there that have to deal with me and the rest of the public, I will continue to wear a mask. A mask doesn't protect the wearer, it protects people from the wearer. How effective it is is irrelevant, even if it reduces the chances of infection by a small amount, in my opinion, it's a small sacrifice to make.

I would suggest that many people buying lanyards off Amazon do not have genuine mental health needs.

On what basis do you make this suggestion? You know there's no formal means of proving exemption?

@Orf1abc - just by the fact I could click and get one right now!

Amazon and eBay have said they will remove NHS staff lanyards and pass holders from sale after HSJ raised concerns to the online shopping giants they could be used for fraudulent purposes.

If people have been fraudulently using NHS staff lanyards, they’ll do the same for sunflower ones!

A number of social media users have claimed people are fraudulently using our Sunflower lanyard as a way of demonstrating their exemption from wearing face masks and that we, as a company, support that. We in no way condone the misuse of our Sunflower lanyard and find it distressing it might be used for this purpose.

Jessica Hatchett, Pembrokeshire County Council’s access officer, said: “Any fraudulent use of the Sunflower reduces its effectiveness for those who genuinely need it, as not all disabilities are obvious.

“I would like to remind those who need the lanyard to get it from a legitimate source, and not pay higher prices for copies that promote incorrect use.

“Even if you are exempt from wearing a face covering, you may not need the lanyard.”
A spokesman for the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower said: “We in no way condone the misuse of our Sunflower lanyard, and find it distressing it might be used for this purpose.

A lanyard is simply a piece of cord you wear around your neck or wrist. You need to attach your exemption card to a lanyard if you wish. You can also just keep it in your purse or have the details put onto your phone. The government (in Scotland anyway) issue these in conjuction with the NHS. Nobody, even if exempt, needs to wear anything around their neck. All you need to say, if asked, is that you are exempt, and no one has the right to challenge this or question. The rules are set now in England, wear a mask or not, it's that simple. Everyone needs to do what's best for them now. In Scotland, it looks like we will be wearing them until Christmas.

@Ginandfantalemon is it right that people will say they are exempt when they are not?

The reasons for being exempt are so wide.... everyone could convince themselves they have an exemption. Problem is that's all it is, self declaration

Nobody policed it from the start. So no questions were ask when it was a legal requirement, so even less will question it now it's not

@luckylavender I have a condition where I would not be required to wear a mask though out of courtesy to others I always have , but I've struggled at times.... why is it 'pathetic'???

I'm going to pick and choose when I wear it depending on volume of people nearby

[quote UndercoverToad]@Ginandfantalemon is it right that people will say they are exempt when they are not?[/quote]
Most definately not. I am exempt but don't have the confidence to use my exemption card, so I've remained at home for fear of confrontation. It's bloody hard, one year now. However, exemption cards are easily obtained, too easily in my opinion, and now that English rules are sort of 'please yourself what you do', I can imagine there will be many who abuse this situation. I don't think there is a solution because nobody can be challenged for not wearing a face covering.

I couldn't agree more sageblue.

People can talk about exemptions until the cows come home, but if someone is wearing a mask under their chin or coming too close, there's no exemption excusing that is there?

Just got the word out large chain store will not be enforcing mask/social distancing from Monday

It's over for us

Good they shouldn't try and enforcing things that arent law.

In Newham, where just 35 percent of the population has received both jabs, anyone entering, or working in, a council building will have to wash their hands, wear a mask and maintain social distancing.

Hospitals in Norfolk will continue to ask people to wear face masks despite the government easing national Covid-19 restrictions on Monday.