[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.

I'm so wearied by this. They realised people were squealing hysterically about masks being voluntary and that these voices were squealing more loudly than the people who were relieved about the end of compulsory and pointless mask wearing. And they U turned. But wait! It's not an actual U turn because they used the word "expected".

No one has ever been able to explain satisfactorily why masks work if rates plummeted last spring before we had to wear them, and then started increasing when compulsory mask wearing was brought it. It's almost... gasp ....as though they make no discernible difference.

@gardeninggirl68

Well I will not be continuing to wear mine

Work in retail and I'm done with them I'm afraid. Everyone I work with feels the same.

I work in retail too, I'll continue to wear mine, sick of customers coughing over me.

They are putting the responsibility with business owners, as it means they van then happily reduce all the help offered - such as furlough etx - as there will no legal reactions that mean companies can't return to business as usual. But businesses will be put in the very difficult position of trying to balance financial recovery with employee wellbeing and customer demands.

It's all very convenient.

I will continue to wear a mask where I think it's appropriate. I think allowing people to travel on full capacity tube trains unmasked is insane.

Can, not van!

Effectively this means men - especially white men - will be allowed to drop the masks and return to normality, and it will be women and ethnic minorities will feel pressured to continue as they will be the ones confronted aggressively, shamed, filmed, ejected, and threatened with arrest for quite legally permissible removing their mask.

That's how it works when government hand over "enforcement" to the people.

Why is it madness? They may be being overcautious, but they are not hurting anyone.

Completely disagree. I think they people who are wearing them outside in the fresh air and breeze, against all evidence, and reinforcing the unscientific paranoia of the fearful, are doing society a great disservice.

Restrictions, not reactions.

I shouldn't post in haste!

@PicsInRed

Effectively this means men - especially white men - will be allowed to drop the masks and return to normality, and it will be women and ethnic minorities will feel pressured to continue as they will be the ones confronted aggressively, shamed, filmed, ejected, and threatened with arrest for quite legally permissible removing their mask.

That's how it works when government hand over "enforcement" to the people.

Perfectly put, and this is my fear.

People need to be strong about this, and after the past 16 months, many have run out of strength.

No one has ever been able to explain satisfactorily why masks work if rates plummeted last spring before we had to wear them, and then started increasing when compulsory mask wearing was brought it. It's almost...gasp....as though they make no discernible difference.

Because last spring we were mixing very little under Stay at Home direction. Masks were introduced once mixing started rising after removing the Stay at Home direction.

@LightAsTheBreeze

I won't be wearing one in shops as people have a choice to go in a shop but I will wear one in the dentist or other medical waiting room and hairdressers if the hairdresser is wearing one herself, I don't use public transport

Do you realise how fed up retail staff are of people like you? We are humans too. Disgusting attitude.

Masks work by putting a barrier between the person who has it and the person who hasn't. A closed door . lockdown has a similar effect....

England was in lockdown for both Spring 20 and 21...

@HesterShaw1

Why is it madness? They may be being overcautious, but they are not hurting anyone.

Completely disagree. I think they people who are wearing them outside in the fresh air and breeze, against all evidence, and reinforcing the unscientific paranoia of the fearful, are doing society a great disservice.

I don't know where you live but during the whole pandemic, I've rarely seen people wearing them outside in the fresh open air. Maybe between shops, but that's as far as it goes.

I don't know where you live but during the whole pandemic, I've rarely seen people wearing them outside in the fresh open air. Maybe between shops, but that's as far as it goes.

I live on an Atlantic coast surrounded by the freshest of fresh air. The wind is constant. And yet people wear them in the street, on the beach, and I even see them on the cliff path wearing them. Many of them are youngsters. It's mindboggling, and very sad.

@TheVampiresWife

I'm vaccinated, but don't fancy a big viral load from being in close contact from people who are probably unvaccinated (judging by how selfishly they were acting)

This sort of nasty, judgy, conclusion-jumping shit is just going to get worse, isn't it.

If you can't wear a mask then don't spend time yelling across at people on a crowded tube where it is impossible to distance. So vaccinated or not, definitely selfish.

And to those objecting to the word 'selfish' - hits too close to home, does it?

No way I’ll be wearing a mask from the 19th July…they are a farcical piece of pantomime which continue to propagate the fear narrative peddled by the government. If others want to wear them, that’s fine by me. Most of the population are vaccinated including the elderly and vulnerable and children are low risk. Now is the time to return to normality. I refuse to live my life in fear - life is full of risk, covid is only a small part of it.

@DumplingsAndStew

No one has ever been able to explain satisfactorily why masks work if rates plummeted last spring before we had to wear them, and then started increasing when compulsory mask wearing was brought it. It's almost...gasp....as though they make no discernible difference.

Because last spring we were mixing very little under Stay at Home direction. Masks were introduced once mixing started rising after removing the Stay at Home direction.

Oh I see. Thanks for the explanation.

back atcher.

But these magic masks didn't actually prevent anything did they?

I've been on a bus this morning - 4 passengers including me. The others were a very frail looking elderly lady and two young men. No prizes for guessing which two weren't wearing masks.

Magic masks indeed!

But the desire to wear them
Is strong in the terrified. Let them crack on and leave the rest of us alone

I think it seems sensible. I was planning on still wearing a mask anyway as I’m unvaccinated so hopefully it will provide some protection for others.

@WouldBeGood

Magic masks indeed!

But the desire to wear them
Is strong in the terrified. Let them crack on and leave the rest of us alone

You don't have to be terrified to feel that continuing to wear a mask in public indoor areas is sensible.

Crack in @ilovesooty

On

@SupermanInk

I think it seems sensible. I was planning on still wearing a mask anyway as I’m unvaccinated so hopefully it will provide some protection for others.

Thank you for doing that.

@HesterShaw1

Why is it madness? They may be being overcautious, but they are not hurting anyone.

Completely disagree. I think they people who are wearing them outside in the fresh air and breeze, against all evidence, and reinforcing the unscientific paranoia of the fearful, are doing society a great disservice.

You're really reaching here. People are entitled to make their own risk assessments, no matter how bonkers you personally think they are. Masks are certainly not the be-all and end-all, but they help. Attitudes like yours don't.

Effectively this means men - especially white men - will be allowed to drop the masks and return to normality, and it will be women and ethnic minorities will feel pressured to continue as they will be the ones confronted aggressively, shamed, filmed, ejected, and threatened with arrest for quite legally permissible removing their mask.

Ah blame white men, what a load of twaddle, and in my area those you latter suggested would be shamed are the ones who haven't been wearing them throughout this.