From the random box of covid restrictions we now get....

[WaxOnFeckOff]

Facemasks in shops.

I mean really, what is the point now? If they were useful then the time when they were useful was months ago.

Surely the chance of catching covid in a shop is minute, the chance of then being ill is more minute and the chance of dying is vastly remote.

It just feels like it another thing to say just to keep control? I have no problem doing things that make sense and protect others, but really? Public transport where you may be in the vicinity of someone for longer seems fair enough but shops doesn't make sense.

IME so far, having a mask dangling from your neck without even being worn seems to give people carte blanche to stand less than a foot away from others.

OK - my DH just back from the bank and picking up a parcel from M&S. So many people wearing masks but taking them off as soon as out of shop, then putting on again in next shop so constant touching of mask and face.

Friend meanwhile been to supermarket - mobbed - no queues outside but letting huge numbers in and very little social distancing. Most people with glasses fiddling with masks or putting glasses on heads as they do steam up and people genuinely can't see -so again constantly touching faces.

How is this better than no masks and limiting numbers in a shop at any one time? I genuinely don't get it.

Yon, I tried Morrisons for a change of scenery, plenty slots but more expensive than sainsburys fo a slot but shopping seems cheaper so sure it will cancel out. Its not due until tomorrow night so can update then. I've not used delivery since lock down as I was leaving slots for those shielding or quarantined, I usually use Sainsburys . I noticed they had a click and collect option at Morrisons too which I'd use if available. at my nearest store.

Not got time to answer all but public transport is completely different as its harder to distance, its smaller, lower ceilings and you are generally in a confined space for longer.

Some people started wearing masks really early in this, and I think governments were worried it would hammer PPE stocks. Plus we were all meant to be inside a lot more. I think it's pretty sensible to wear them as people are out more. I do still find it strange, so am curious about countries where mask wearing has been more widespread and how they have coped with the issues.

I am no longer going to go to the supermarket unless essential and am going back to online shopping - which I had to do when we had 3 weeks self-isolating.
my view as follows:

• sainsbury - really good online and click and collect experience although food costs seem higher. You can chose to substitute individual items or not and there is a substitution promise
• morrisons - cheap food costs but too many random substitutions for my liking and no ability to say no substitutions wanted.
• tesco - slots quite pricey but again there is a substitution promise.

There are plenty of convincing discussions and information about why wearing a mask is helpful. From actual scientists.

It's absolutely vile but like everything else I just view it as something that will help us get closer to a semblance of normality sooner and hopefully help avoid a second lockdown.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils I'm pretty sure that nobody is going to demand a doctors note so if you are so fearful I would just go without and go out and enjoy spending your money.

There are plenty of convincing discussions and information about why wearing a mask is helpful. From actual scientists.

Do any of those advocate waiting a week after you've decided to introduce it?

- morrisons - cheap food costs but too many random substitutions for my liking and no ability to say no substitutions wanted

Tomorrow might be interesting then. Finding with sainsburys that I'm over £40 before I get out of the fruit and veg bit and we are not vegetarians and I have literally one bag of stuff. It's getting to the point where I am £180 a week in sainsburys plus a bit in the co-op mid week and that's very little alcohol, no ready meals etc. Plus we go to costco every couple of months and spend about £400.

It's really ridiculous. I did one shop at Morrisons a few weeks ago and I found it too busy, I didn't know where things were and was trying to be quick since there was a queue of people waiting to get in. It was a lot cheaper though so I thought i'd give the on-line a try.

I'm pretty sure that nobody is going to demand a doctors note so if you are so fearful I would just go without and go out and enjoy spending your money.

Not willing to risk it, sorry even though I have a doctor's letter. My mental health has really struggled in lockdown, too much time to think possibly and I need to protect myself. One of the first comments dh read to me this morning on the bbc website had someone essentially doing that. There are multiple mask threads where people absolutely say they'd tackle non compliers and even our local minister has been posting all over Facebook about the selfishness of everyone who isn't wearing one.

Do any of those advocate waiting a week after you've decided to introduce it?

Clearly a notice period was given along with the caveat that if you were able to wear a mask you should be doing so.

I assume that this gave shops time to create signage, up their mask orders etc ... gave people the chance to source or make face coverings...

@fivebrokentests is there anything about the Scottish Governmebt you don't like? 😂

yes DH is complaining about the cost of food going up. We both have our main full time jobs, thankfully, but DH has a second business from home that has lost all of its bookings and additional income. I thought online shopping might work out cheaper because there is less temptation but clearly not from reading the posts above.

Yes @WaxOnFeckOff let me know how you get on with Morrisons as we have a Waitrose, Morrisons and Asda near here. Sainsburys and Tesco also deliver although they are in Glasgow and thus will probably be in more demand.

DH is confused by the face mask rule. He messaged asking me if it was just supermarkets cause no one was wearing a mask in the petrol garage nor Greggs at lunchtime. (He forgot he promised to stick to join me in dieting and eating packed lunches the greedy bastard )

@Mascotte loads and loads. I could moan all day about aspects of education in particular. I'm not a natural SNP supporter and I'm not entirely sure where I've said I love them.

What I have said is that I think masks are sensible. The most recent science seems to back that up. I also think that overall the Scot Gov's handling of this crisis has been broadly good. This is reflected in the numbers.

What I can't stand is the constant weirdness surrounding NS and, to be honest, I'm approaching that as a feminist and not a fan. She's Alex Salmond's shadow, she's bossy, she's controlling, she is on a power trip ... she's just picking out ideas randomly, she's making it up as she's going along etc etc I cannot see this attitude happening if she were a man. She can't win. As a woman that saddens me. I think she's handled this very well.

Boris seems to get away with murder and he's fucked up at every single turn and he's offensive 🤷🏾‍♀️

I couldnt care less if NS is a woman, man, ciswoman or whatever and I resent that that's what you are insinuating. Nothing I have said picks her out because she's a woman. I comment about NS as she is the leader of her party and of Holyrood and the one dictating policy. If she was a back bencher then I doubt I'd have any awareness of who she was or any comment to make.

Should we not challenge just cos she's female?

This is Scots net we are discussing devolved issues so Boris has nothing to do with it.

Also pretty sure people weren't given a weeks notice for public transport but could be wrong. However if it was that vital then a week wouldn't have been given, it would have been immediate with 24 hours grace given. It doesn't have to be a mask, most people have some material in their house they could cover with in a short term situation. Funny enough when it was optional I didn't see any staff wearing one.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils

I'm pretty sure that nobody is going to demand a doctors note so if you are so fearful I would just go without and go out and enjoy spending your money.

Not willing to risk it, sorry even though I have a doctor's letter. My mental health has really struggled in lockdown, too much time to think possibly and I need to protect myself. One of the first comments dh read to me this morning on the bbc website had someone essentially doing that. There are multiple mask threads where people absolutely say they'd tackle non compliers and even our local minister has been posting all over Facebook about the selfishness of everyone who isn't wearing one.

the #wearamask thread on Twitter has a lot of horrible ignorant posts and they are nearly all users with saltires next to their names.

Disability equality (and also gender equality) are going back years.

I have no less than six hidden disabilities but I look fine so I must be!

where are the 18 new positive tests? Are they 'cross border' or (whisper it) did they come from somewhere other than grubby England?

www.travellingtabby.com/scotland-coronavirus-tracker/

this should help but doesn't distinguish between community cases and those in the community which is frustrating but not sure that info is available to the chap who produces this

I mean between those acquired in a care setting v those in the community

Sorry @fivebrokentests myst have mixed you up with someone else

I watched Englands coronavirus briefing yesterday and there was a question about masks.

After the news about Boots and John Lewis i think they are reluctant to bring it in here although Sadiq Khan is crying out for it.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils there is someone on another thread threatening to covertly film people without masks. and apparently the first they will know of it is when the piece of film goes up online.

Proving the old adage that bullies are cowards.

@YonBonnieBanks Disabled Lives Matter just aint trendy enough.

@Mascotte no probs!

Ok OP I get it. You hate the masks, you see no value in them (even though a whole host of scientists say otherwise) and you don't think any notice should be given to wear them. Fair enough. I think you're wrong but I doubt I'll ever be able to convince you otherwise. It just seems like a very simple thing that will help us all but hey. I don't see how it's any more or less controlling than any other measure which has been introduced. I think the idea of it being a slippery slope is ludicrous. A slippery slope to what?

I apologise for insinuating you were sexist. I'm sure you're not. I do still think NS is subject to sexist treatment but to be fair you're probably not part of that and I was trying to explain (poorly) why I get so annoyed at the language used to describe her.

Even in devolved matter Boris is sadly still relevant.

twitter.com/hand_glory/status/1278066472351182848?s=20

Yep Wear these masks. Very sterile im sure. Dirty floors usually are.

@HeIenaDove oh dear 🙈 horrifying

The point I was making was that if they are vital fine, it's then up to me to wear one or not shop. But, then don't wait a week. It's the inconsistencies and the smoke and mirrors that does my head in.

I agree re people using sexist language or talking about what she wears or her appearance in general and have challenged posters in the past about this.

If you want to start a post about Boris etc I'll gladly contribute and we'll possibly have more in common.

That's me done. Apparently it's for the foreseeable future and hopefully not permanent according to BBC Scotland (which suggests it could be). Dh says we're moving (he's a dual national of an EU country and a high earner whose job can be done from anywhere, colleagues worked Australia and Austria pre pandemic), just what I need even more stress.