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.

I would never judge anyone for not mask wearing

Based on mumsnet, plenty will. My fear is it won't be made un-mandatory. It's fine for us now but once dh is back in the office, I'll need to go shopping but this means I can't. Our NHS trust have made it mandatory too based on the letter about dc's appointment so that means no medical care either.

Where things are open it all feels very back to normal, no masks etc

Maybe that’s part of it? As things open up again, there’s a risk that it all feels too normal. The sad truth is that it isn’t and can’t be yet. And as we travel further and mingle more, the risk will increase. I personally would rather be able to go further and do more and wear a mask in certain indoor environments than be in the kind of lockdown we were in at the outset.

I’d rather masks were compulsory everywhere now (apart for those who are exempt ofc), so we can head back to a mask-free world sooner? I just want to get coronavirus over and done with!

MumofHunter How the hell do you know what people with disabilities and health conditions have faced on public transport? We regularly face discrimination. Just because we don't make every incident public doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. You have no idea what has happened and what will happen in shops and public transport. People with invisible disabilities already have to justify themselves when using facilities such as the accessible toilets(as do some with visible disabilities). There was a thread about this just the other day on MN. I've had to argue with more than one member of staff about my need to be accompanied by someone much of the time, because of my disabilities, and had some nosy fucker comment on it too.

And don't get me started on rude and impatient shop staff who have no time or patience for anyone with disabilities who struggles with the one way system and other measures put in place that can make life even harder for us.

Defenestratethecat You can throw your sympathy out of the window along with the cat because I don't think that it's genuine. Not when you express sympathy then immediately start making comments dismissing people's reasons for being unable to wear a mask. It's hardly surprising that threads about face covering attract those of us who have genuine issues that mean that we cannot wear them and therefore are concerned about what making them compulsory means for us.

There will be plenty of interfering bastards sticking their nose in and grilling people who aren’t wearing masks as to why not. There was one such busybody on the BBC news the day they became compulsory in England saying she saw a man without one and asked him why. Interfering old cow.

@healththrowawayx, the problem is that the virus is not going to be going anywhere anytime soon. We have to live with it. I wouldn't want that an unintended consequence is that now masks do become the norm. Today is Coronavirus, tomorrow the flu or a cold or sime feat of the next person. That is not going to be good for anyone, Coronavirus or not Coronavirus.

Desmond, there are in plenty of people on this thread who appear to have no reason to not wear a mask other than they don't want to, or they think it's the government trying to control the population. I wear specs and have to stuff around with positioning a mask to stop my specs steaming up. I have had annoying bouts of hayfever, so wearing a mask is uncomfortable when my nose and eyes are streaming. I don't count these as good enough reasons for not wearing a mask for the 20-30 minutes max I'm in a shop or on a train. I do understand the issues as detailed by previous posters of not being able to read lips, struggling with autism or PTSD. But some of these threads would suggest that these issues apply to almost everyone - and they don't. And the more people claiming that they have genuine reasons for being unable to wear a mask/face covering when they actually don't, detracts from those who have genuine and serious reasons.

Why does the UK appear to have more people who can't comply with a request to cover up for minimal time in select situations? I've never used the term 'snowflake' before, but tbh I'm despairing at people's attitude. We have family members with terminal illness, serious breathing problems etc, and all our family are doing our utmost to make sure this crappy virus doesn't take any more precious bloody lives than it already has.

So where is the evidence of transmission in supermarkets while we've all not been wearing masks? That's the point, if there was any then we wouldnt all be told it's compulsory from next week, it would be immediate or should have been brought in long ago. If it was removal of distancing but wearing masks instead then that makes more sense, but to introduce it when community transmission is negligible is bizarre and appears to be completely unnecessary.

It's trying to deflect from the actual issue of the coming spike in deaths caused by the failure to get screening and other nhs services up and running and all the other debacles.

@Defenestratethecat Thank you, some sense. I've never used the term 'Karen ' like that before. Hate it. Just got so angry. Anything that helps us all get back to normality is worth doing.

There is very little evidence that it spreads in supermarkets. I can see the argument for wearing a mask where you are getting "served" - like when I was in Pandora with DD the other day and the counter staff are spending time with each customer talking about the items and showing them things face to face. Because we all know that close, face to face contact is the way the virus spreads.

Walking past someone in supermarkets or other shops is practically zero risk. Especially given how few people are out and about with the virus.

It's clearly political posturing and showing up Nicola Sturgeon's control freakery.

[quote MumofHunter]@Defenestratethecat Thank you, some sense. I've never used the term 'Karen ' like that before. Hate it. Just got so angry. Anything that helps us all get back to normality is worth doing.[/quote]
But of a non apology there. We made you do it 🤦‍♀️

I think compulsory mask wearing in shops is a very sensible plan.

so we can head back to a mask-free world sooner?

No end date put on face coverings though. Not a "do this for 4 weeks then we'll review".

There was a really interesting article in an English version of a a Spanish newspaper investigating three outbreaks in detail..

english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2020-06-17/an-analysis-of-three-covid-19-outbreaks-how-they-happened-and-how-they-can-be-avoided.html?ssm=FB_CC&fbclid=IwAR22rMkh0qM8D2DSsMcbZ3HWkJeN_IzLlIuftDCtLeY2UAePS7EszFyRvU8

Shows that in an office, restaurant and bus the key factors were proximity over a long period and air conditioning. It shows that even though lots of people working on one floor in an office block caught it, others working on other floors were unaffected, even though sharing lifts and common spaces.

Masks in shops is pointless, over the top, about 4 months too late and yes, will just put people off shopping. And again - if you're employed on minimum wage in a shop, or a volunteer in a charity shop, are you really up for challenging some of the general public over mask-wearing?

[quote SnailHouse]@Arkadia
Three weeks ago we were in a stricter lockdown than we are now. Public transport was limited, shops were for essential supplies only. Now things are opening up, I guess there’s a greater risk of the virus spreading more readily. Again, I can only speak for myself, but in our family we are out and about and doing more, seeing more people, albeit at a distance.

As we can travel further, holidays are back on the cards. Visitors from England or further afield will be able to come to Scotland. If wearing a mask can help to protect people as the easing of the lockdown continues and as those shielding start to get out a bit more, then I think it’s a small price to pay by those of us who have no genuine reason not to wear one.

It’s maybe partly selfish reasons on my part too as i want my DC to get back to school/uni in August or September with as much normality as possible. And I reckon that the more that those of us who can wear masks with no issues can do to keep the virus suppressed now, the higher the chances of returning to anything even vaguely resembling normal.[/quote]
seriously?? three weeks ago ice cream shops were queuing uncontrollably in my town, the council was forced to open a car park in the middle of nowhere because the hill walkers travelling for miles were blocking a trunk road and folk were toileting in people's gardens rather than stick to the rules. and yet... infections continue to drop.

i'm another one who doesn't understand the logic behind the announcement, and i think it decreases the chances of schools going back as normal (which i want to see too) because if i were a teaching union i'd be outraged at the idea that someone spending 5 mins in a shop is higher risk than 7 hours in the same building as hundreds of other folk. really not clear what is magically going to change in the next 6 weeks!

No it doesn’t stop people glaring at you - that’s the whole problem with having an invisible disability, people not holding back from shooting looks. I’ve seen cards you can get for autistic dc but again they may be uncomfortable wearing those too.

As an aside - does anyone know an easy place to get kids size masks?

People were SO willing to snitch on neighbours, report people for "flouting" the rules, curtain twitching and constant commenting on "covidiots" who were "flocking" to places whether they were allowed to go or not.

Obviously that significant minority of self-appointed Covid Prefects are going to take it upon themselves to tell people off for not wearing a mask. And why should ANYONE with a disability, or other reason for not wanting to wear a mask, have to explain themselves to a randomer with a sense of superiority?

@anon444877I bought a couple of kids masks off etsy. One was good (I seller soosew - and I asked for ties rather than elastic) but the second one I bought (bestinslot) was a disaster as it didn't fit well at all, and I didn't like the material - too thick.

I also think the SG should be providing masks now they have made them mandatory as they are expensive for what they are. And I have tried to make one myself and it was a disaster.

Won't a scarf or similar do? I was under the impression that anything that covers mouth and nose is fine, but I might be mistaken.

.

@totallyyesno

In Italy (and elsewhere) we have had this rule for ages and I have never heard as much complaining about it as there is on MN!

It was not mandatory originally, now it has been introduced. Ordinary people would have found it difficult purchasing the face masks . Medical personnel were finding it difficult to obtain them . Why make it mandatory now ? People are right to ask questions.

One wag on FB said it's like giving out condoms at a baby shower. The time for compelling mask wearing was in March. The virus is almost gone in Scotland now.

I think wearing masks on public transport is a good idea and should be mandatory, with masks available upon entry, and drivers wearing them too.

But masks in shops now is a farce. My local supermarkets all operated as normal throughout, not one member of staff has ever worn a face covering.

It's a way of releasing measures without looking relaxed.

The problem with restrictions is they're very easy to impose, and very difficult to get back out of. Will we be wearing masks forever? 'make no mistake, this virus hasn't gone away!'.