I don't understand the mask rules

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

OK, I do understand the new mask rules - we now have to wear masks in shops and on public transport. But I don't understand the rationale for this.

I don't have an issue with wearing a mask, and I'm.aware that some areas of the UK have never stopped wearing masks in public. But in England it now seems that, if I pop into the Co-op for a pint of milk, I have to wear a mask, but if I'm in a cinema, theatre, nightclub, for several.hours then I don't.

For what it's worth, even when it was no longer mandatory I've continued to wear a mask in indoor public spaces. But I don't understand the logic for bringing it back in some spaces but not others.

Surely it should be mandatory in all indoor public spaces or what's the point?

Is it not so the government can be seen to be doing something whilst not actually doing anything that will mightily piss off those poor bastard sectors already left on their knees after the last lockdowns?

The new rules will be explained today so these setting might be added

Javid is meant to be speaking about the mask mandate in the next few days.

It might become clearer then, but I doubt it (he was out of his depth in vaccines, and I can't see him coping well with the full health portfolio)

Even if you see parts of the policy as throwing up anomalies, the basic idea of 'wear a mask indoors in public' is pretty easy to follow and will make a difference

@Wilkolampshade I think you're probably right. It is such a weak message, and won't help anyone or reduce the spread of the new variant.

But nothing is stopping you wearing a mask in those places, or just not going to them to avoid the risk.
You don’t have to wait to be told, you can make a decision which is in your own best interests.

@GoodnightGrandma

But nothing is stopping you wearing a mask in those places, or just not going to them to avoid the risk. You don’t have to wait to be told, you can make a decision which is in your own best interests.

The problem with this is that nobody else has to wear a mask if they don't want to. And it's their mask wearing that keeps us safe

Just my thoughts, but supermarkets and public transport people are still going to use at somepoint even if masks are brought back as people need to eat, and often need to travel. Bringing them back to a sector that was hit really hard and people actively choose to go to perhaps feels like it might cause more of a backlash if people threaten to boycott?

Even if you see parts of the policy as throwing up anomalies, the basic idea of 'wear a mask indoors in public' is pretty easy to follow and will make a difference

Exactly. I was in a fully packed cinema the other day and, prior to the lights being dimmed, I couldn't see a single other person wearing a mask. I had strangers either side of me for over two hours in really close proximity. That situation won't change as people don't have to wear masks in cinemas. There is no logic

I had no idea the rules were even changing. A lot of people won't follow it this time.

So don’t go to places where people don’t have to wear masks !

Most people go on public transport and to the shops much more frequently than they go to the theatre or a nightclub. So it focuses on the public areas that see the most number of different visitors.

And not sure about clubs but certainly all theatres I’ve been to have asked to see a covid pass. Shops and trains don’t do that.

@GoodnightGrandma. I know that, and I've chosen to carry on wearing a mask in public spaces in order to protect other people.

But if the aim is to slow down the spread of the new variant, me avoiding the cinema doesn't help that. Most people will carry on going to the cinema l, theatre,pub etc without a mask, and thus the virus will spread through the population.

I'm not talking about reducing my own personal risk, but trying to reduce community transmission as a whole.

Doesn't make sense especially as you're more likely to catch it if sat next to someone for two hours. It's no hardship to wear a mask for a couple of hours, helps protect others and keep numbers lower until we know more.

Well it’s an economic move isn’t it.

If they make people wear masks in hospitality sectors a lot of people just won’t go. Everyone needs to go to the shops / supermarkets.

It’s daft, you should have to wear masks in public indoors spaces as it helps a bit and is easy to do. I’m guessing it will shortly extend to cinemas.

You aren’t in charge of the community, so start by looking after yourself.
I’ve worn a mask the whole time in shops, I don’t need telling that it’s the sensible thing to do, particularly as we head into winter.
I don’t go to the pictures etc because of the obvious risk. I’ve had my flu jab and 3 Covid’s, I’m looking after me, which is what we should all be doing.

As long as hundreds are still packed maskless inside schools, I would imagine things will continue to spread.

But there is a difference between a cinema and a shop.
One is a choice one is essential.
I am glad it's now a rule again- it makes it easier for places to enforce.

@EmmaGrundyForPM

Why be shocked that this government gives crap advice.

The rules will be made clear and then have to be voted on in HOP.

Best thing. Just where a mask.

@GoodnightGrandma

You aren’t in charge of the community, so start by looking after yourself. I’ve worn a mask the whole time in shops, I don’t need telling that it’s the sensible thing to do, particularly as we head into winter. I don’t go to the pictures etc because of the obvious risk. I’ve had my flu jab and 3 Covid’s, I’m looking after me, which is what we should all be doing.

Yep this - and accepting the risks are different for different areas too. We go to the cinema for example because we live rurally and our local cinema is empty most of the time- we went to see Ghostbusters last weekend and we were literally the only ones in there! I wouldn’t be heading to a packed cinema in the middle of London. Everyone needs to use their common sense.

As ever they have done the bare minimum, the decisions Johnson makes are always about politics, he really does not care at all about the impact on people.

So he has brought back masks in a limited way because saying 'there's a new variant but we're doing nothing' would have knocked two points of his poll rating.

It isn't about making sense. Johnson decided long ago he would not try to prevent deaths really.

@GoodnightGrandma

But nothing is stopping you wearing a mask in those places, or just not going to them to avoid the risk. You don’t have to wait to be told, you can make a decision which is in your own best interests.

That’s all very well for those of that continue to wear masks. Many do not and need that clear messaging.

I genuinely don't know, I live in Northern Ireland and we've continued to wears masks while England stopped. I hadn't been to a bar for about 2 years (due to covid but mainly due to having 2 young children) and I went the other week and it was a free for all, no masks, no social distancing. To me it feels crazy that i have to wear a mask 8 hours a day in work, wear one in the supermarket etc yet not in a pub at all 🤷‍♀️

Oh and it was the lack of social distancing that definitely put me off, drunk people being so close they're actually spitting on me as they talked, I'd forgotten about that!

Mask wearing can't be meaningfully mandated because it's nobody's job to 'enforce' it.

I'm in Scotland, where mask wearing is still required in shops and on public transport. Many people don't bother at all, many more dangle masks on their chins and even in my local orthodontists the staff do the nose peeping thing.

On the bus, most teenagers don't wear them and lots of adults don't either, or wear them below their face.

I wear a mask because it's required, but I'm totally unconvinced of the efficacy and I think it's mainly to make us feel safer or that we're doing something. Our numbers were way beyond England's at one point when we had a mask mandate and they didn't.