Sainsbury's and Tesco have joined the bookseller, Waterstones, which has said customers should wear masks to protect staff and other shoppers.

[UndercoverToad]

Good.

Tesco (I believe) insist that people wear shirts in stores do they don’t get sweaty chavvy men topless buyung beers and barbecue stuff in the summer and pyjsmas and slippers.
So they could it they chose simply say that shoppers must wear masks.
The fact that they don’t means there is no actual H&S issue in not wearing masks, and they know that mandating a pointless and ineffective measure would alienate their customers.

@Fangsalot89

Well it’s not mandatory so there’s no point wishing for things that are out of your control.

Just make your decision, and be done with it.
Either wear a mask, or do not.

I personally couldn’t give a shit if people decide to wear them or not. Totally their choice. My own community has already taken them off in our local shopping precinct. You’de struggle to find someone in a mask here.

[quote Fangsalot89]@Chillychangchoo Not necessarily forever but citizens shouldn’t be given the option. It should continue to be mandatory[/quote]
Should we also mandate exercise, salt, saturated fat intakes etc?

If the purpose is to protect the NHS from overwhelm, then surley we should be tackling it from all angles.

I accept one can not catch diabetes from contact, but, where would government intervention stop?

[quote fromdownwest]@Mickarooni - If you do not mind what people do, then you will not mind me not wearing a mask.

Did people wear masks during flu season?[/quote]
@fromdownwest

I don’t mind if you wear a mask or not. I mind that you seem to assume I’m superior. I take responsibility for my own health, by wearing a mask. I don’t judge people who didn’t wear a mask when it’s been the law, so I’d prefer to be afforded the same courtesy.

Covid is riskier for me than seasonal flu. I tend to go out less in winter and spend a lot of time in hospital, unfortunately.

The government allows alcohol to be sold, despite it causing hundreds of thousands of deaths every year (directly or indirectly), with only guidance around how much we should drink, despite it causing massive pressure on the NHS, so it’s the same with masks.

@Chillychangchoo Not wishing for it as such but it’s morally the right thing to do with literally no argument against. The fact that everyone is out for themselves regarding mask wearing is madness.

They can fuck off

@fromdownwest Well, I mean we could ban cigarettes and alcohol for starters. I’m good with that.
I’m also good with certain foods being whacked into that category too. People are continually proving time and time again they aren’t responsible to make decisions and while people should be able to do what they want, when they want, the waters are muddied some what when it is an issue for people other than yourself as an individual.

Yes, I'd hesitate a very uninformed guess that alcohol devastates more families than Covid ever will and yet people are necking the stuff 24/7

@Fangsalot89

Ahh right that old chestnut. Morality vs Immorality.

Wow.

You’re very devisive aren’t you? Infact that comment tells me all I need to know about you as a person. You are extremely intolerant.

As it stands after the 19th July I’ll still wear a mask at work for very long shifts (I am one of those immoral social care workers helping people for a living). So if I decide to take it off after a 12 hour shift when I pop into Tescos for a pizza, then I will.

Hopefully there will be a space for me still up there at the pearly gates.

‘Literally no argument against’.
My DH lip reads. He doesn’t go out anymore because he can’t tell what anyone is saying. I know many people in this situation.
Mouths aren’t just vehicles for transmitting disease. We use them to communicate. Covering them heeds communication for a lot of people.
I wear a mask. Will probably continue to do so after the 19th. But saying there is literally no argument against them is bullshit.

*divisive

@Chillychangchoo
Is it divisive to expect people to still wear masks in a public place while a global pandemic carries on? Wearing one isn’t hard work and if you can, you should because society isn’t just about you. But yes, me thinking it’s ridiculous people choose not to wear one is an entire work up of me as a person (a total stranger) 🤣

You seem to be defensive about your job by calling yourself “immoral.” No one except you thinks that. I don’t care what your job title is and I suspect it has nothing to do with your moral compass.

However, if you can’t keep a mask on for the extra 5 to 10 minutes on top of the 12 hours already done, so that you can go get a pizza then I literally can’t argue with that. Take it off in the car. Take it off on the walk to the shop but while you’re in a public space, pop it back on. It’s not a big deal unless you make it so.

@shinynewapple21 I totally agree my point that older people (I include myself here in mid 40s) are still getting it but my point is that it is much more likely to be younger people spreading it at present because of the way the vaccine roll out has worked. If vast numbers of these people don't wear masks then the entire point of masks is negated IMO.

If you are double vaccinated, you are 75 per cent less likely to transmit it.

I wonder (idly, because it's not going to happen) whether if one supermarket broke ranks and said customers must (not should) wear masks they would get a competitive advantage from people who are pro-mask flocking there?

Would it outweigh business lost from those who wouldn't go, or got turned away?

(How this could be enforced, and how exemptions would be managed are also problematic!)

@Ifitquacks Apologies I assumed that when I said “literally no argument against” I wasn’t actually including disabilities or mental health.

@MurielSpriggs

I wonder (idly, because it's not going to happen) whether if one supermarket broke ranks and said customers must (not should) wear masks they would get a competitive advantage from people who are pro-mask flocking there?

Would it outweigh business lost from those who wouldn't go, or got turned away?

(How this could be enforced, and how exemptions would be managed are also problematic!)

who would you put on the door to police it? and who would follow them around store ensuring it wasn't pulled under nose or chin?

I refer the honourable lady to the last sentence of my post.

But I can't help thinking it would be nice if all the more anxious had a place to shop.

[quote Fangsalot89]@Ifitquacks Apologies I assumed that when I said “literally no argument against” I wasn’t actually including disabilities or mental health.[/quote]
Well ‘literally no argument’ tends to mean ‘literally no argument’, so no I didn’t get that from your post.

@Ifitquacks which is why I’m explaining myself.

@MurielSpriggs

I refer the honourable lady to the last sentence of my post.

But I can't help thinking it would be nice if all the more anxious had a place to shop.

I don't understand why wearing a mask = anxious on mumsnet? Lots of people will continue to wear them not because they are afraid of getting covid but simply so there is less chance of them passing it on to someone who may be more vulnerable. I'm not at all worried about getting covid but still give people space, wear a mask for them, not me.

I actually the think the aggressive 'fuck off, I won't be wearing one' crowd are the most anxious of the lot. So scared that 'normal' will never come back that they think by sheer force of will they can wish it all away.

@MurielSpriggs

I wonder (idly, because it's not going to happen) whether if one supermarket broke ranks and said customers must (not should) wear masks they would get a competitive advantage from people who are pro-mask flocking there?

Would it outweigh business lost from those who wouldn't go, or got turned away?

(How this could be enforced, and how exemptions would be managed are also problematic!)

I absolutely disagree that they would get a competitive advantage.

The government don't want us to wear masks. They want the wave to peak in August. All these people desperate the stop the spread would only delay the peak until winter.

Hello @Aloethere,

I don't understand why wearing a mask = anxious on mumsnet? Lots of people will continue to wear them not because they are afraid of getting covid but simply so there is less chance of them passing it on to someone who may be more vulnerable. I'm not at all worried about getting covid but still give people space, wear a mask for them, not me.

But my suggestion is for the benefit of the more anxious who are nervous about getting covid. They could shop safe in the knowledge that everyone there had a mask. People like you who wear a mask for the benefit of others would I guess feel able to shop anywhere.

Its like Stockholm Syndrome. People have been conditioned and now the rules are being taken away they are begging for them back. I am happy to be corrected but I haven't seen any conclusive scientific evidence that masks are worth the pollution they are causing. I will not be wearing mine, I am expecting it to feel strange at first.