Pre mask shopping - will you?

We have worn masks since March. It’s just common sense to protect others and yourself. I’ve got used to it now and it doesn’t bother me. Happy to do it to help stop the virus.

DH and I have been wearing a mask in shops since mid March. They are a bit hot and uncomfortable especially if you wear glasses. We have tried different types and find the ones that hook around the ears are most comfortable. The N95 ones in our local shop are ok but for washable masks Superdrug are good. I did buy some washable ones from asda but DH says they look like a pair of ladies knickers!

Wearing a mask is not really a big deal if it provides protection.

I don’t believe fewer people will go shopping because they have to wear a mask Magmar. I for one will feel safer going shopping.

Will fewer people go to the doctor, dentist, opticians etc because they won’t wear a mask? The garage has just phoned to request that we wear a mask when taking the car for service tomorrow. Will we cancel the service? I don’t think so.

etheltbags1

I can't believe all the fuss. I've been wearing one for weeks in shops. It's a bit hot but I got used to it. Anyone who doesn't wear one is selfish. It's for others protection.

So rational and sensible Ethel.

Did we have all this fuss when seat belts became mandatory?

I can't believe all the fuss. I've been wearing one for weeks in shops. It's a bit hot but I got used to it. Anyone who doesn't wear one is selfish. It's for others protection.

How interesting that kittylester's niece's friends (who presumably are young) are obviously opposed to wearing a mask in shops and decided to hit the shops before they are "condemned to shopping in a mask".
I feel very strongly that anyone who feels vulnerable or is vulnerable due to health concerns should wear a mask/face covering when shopping or mixing in crowded areas. But the rest of us should be allowed to decide if and when we wish to cover our nose and mouth. This diktat will lead to fewer people shopping, having the opposite effect to the one the Government intended, ie to make people feel more comfortable shopping. I've just had a holiday by the seaside, where sadly some people were wearing masks in the lovely sea air - why? We have been brainwashed!

Today she tells me she will stop going shopping as she thinks wearing a mask is too hot, beggars belief that she can be so selfish.

Again, I don’t get it. Why is it selfish of your friend to decide that she won’t go out shopping, Mercedes55? Unless she’s expecting someone else to shop for her, instead of shopping online, what difference does it make to you or anyone else?

Visors don’t prevent you from spreading the virus if you have it. I couldn’t live with myself if I thought I had infected someone else so I wear a mask and have done so when out since March. It’s compulsory now in Scotland and having had to do a number of chores in town today, I can report that everyone I saw wore a mask.

We’d all find the ability to wear a mask if the threat was from poison gas, I suspect.

Since returning to the UK 4 wks ago and self isolating for 2 wks I have worn a mask whenever in any shop. For their benefit and mine. It's no hardship when you think of nurses doctors and carers having to wear them all the time!

Just insert longer elastic ( the thinner round kind is easy to thread) and make it long enough to go around the back of your head.

I suppose you could attach cords to mask to tie and not use elastic. My OH has the hearing aid problem and nearly dropped his down a drain when removing his mask.

Now he takes them out whilst shopping, which is great fun.....”Eh” “You what”.

I have mixed feelings about it .The ones I got are apparently dust masks so I don't know if they are suitable. I went out to the garden centre today and everyone was wearing them but the strange thing was they all went into the coffee shop. I was the only one looking for plants.

I'm just back from Sainsbury's and with less than 24 hours to go before face masks are mandatory, I'd say that less than 30% were wearing any kind of face covering. The staff who were on the shop floor, not the cashiers, were also not wearing face masks. I wonder if, by tomorrow morning, they'll all suddenly comply in order to avoid a fine?

Wouldn't wear my deaf aids with a mask. Have already lost a nice gold earring! Does anyone else have trouble like this? I suppose the answer is cotton washable masks with ties around the back of the head but I can't find them in the shops and I couldn't make one. Plenty of the diposable ones for sale with the roun d the ear elastic which just aren't suitable.

I have been shopping about five times a week since 23 March, for lots of vulnerable people - pharmacy, Tesco, Co-op you name it. Didnt feel I could use deliveries because there were others more in need. Now face coverings are going to be compulsory in shops I have given myself the luxury of signing up for Click and Collect and Amazon Prime, so no more shopping for me. I went around the market today buying fresh fruit and veg and apparently the market traders believe they are exempt from the mask rule because its all outside. That means I can still chose my fresh stuff personally as well. All entirely mask free! We have also been out for a meal and had a drink in the pub yesterday, you dont have to wear masks there either. I have done 17 weeks of volunteering and have found someone else to service those I was helping so we can go on holiday next week. Every cloud has a silver lining.

Thankfully most things can be bought on line. Have really only used one to see dentist and hairdresser. Just keep a supply in the car for as when needed. Don't visit shops much.

I haven't been in a shop since early March so can't really comment on how comfortable they are to wear.
I did buy half a dozen cotton ones from someone local who is making them, although they don't have the nose clip, so maybe wearing sunglasses over the top of it might keep it in place, least I hope so.
I have a friend who has gradually started going out more and more, what started with just one visit to town to take some clothes back has snowballed into her going all over the place. Today she tells me she will stop going shopping as she thinks wearing a mask is too hot, beggars belief that she can be so selfish.
I think we should have been wearing them ages ago. Only yesterday I read that if we had locked down a week earlier then 10,000 lives would have been saved, can't believe how slow we have been with everything!

Sorry B9exchange only just seen your post. Will pass the message on to my daughter. Thanks.

I have been wearing a mask when I go to my weekly Sainsbury shopping for several weeks now. Not sure of their efficacy, but put one on out of respect to other people and it helps them to feel safer. Obviously, would not dream of going anywhere in public if I had any sort of cold or cough.

For the past week have carried some with me, and always put one on when I enter any shop - for me to get used to doing this. I do have some disposable ones, but also those with a plastic see through area for my mouth so people can see my lips, etc.

As soon as I leave the shop I take off that mask. Main problem is that I have to be so careful as each time I take he loops from my ears, I am in danger of pulling off and losing my hearing aids.

I would be very unhappy if any rule came in for having to wear these out of doors.

I feel very sorry for small shops, bus drivers, etc. Can quite understand why Bluebelle has been told just to request people entering her charity shop to put a mask on, but NOT to challenge those who refuse, To do so could be putting themselves in serious danger (in other countries people challenging have been killed!).

It has been proven that masks do not interfere with breathing in any way, even for those who may have such problems.

Assuming this rule is still with us by November and December can expect to see lots of special Halloween and then Christmas masks on display>

Sorry, the above should have said washable filter, not disposable.

I wear a mask on my rare sorties to the shops. But it’s none of my business if others choose to stay at home because they don’t want to wear them. Why for instance is craftyone being criticised for saying that she’ll do that? How does it impact on anyone else?

One thing I do wish is that people would make or buy their masks. I’ve run up half a dozen in a couple of hours from a free online Burda pattern- two layers with a pouch for a disposable filter and thin wire across the nose to ensure a good fit, but there are many other patterns and many readymade on sale. I’ve heard of people who have to wear masks to and from work then at work itself using four or more single use ones a day, before putting each in a plastic bag to dispose of them. The implications for our environment are horrendous to think about.

I think most will be in complete sympathy with your situation

Not if some of the comments on this thread are anything to go by. I feel very sorry for anyone who genuinely isn’t able to wear a mask, as they must be very worried about the pillorying they’re going to get from people who simply can’t accept that not everyone can. It reminds me of those with hidden disabilities who have to justify themselves constantly to strangers if they park in a “disabled” spot.

I think it is very responsible of you to aim to wear a visor Dowsabella even although you have valid reasons for not wearing a mask, as obviously some people do have problems such as you describe.

I think most will be in complete sympathy with your situation, but may feel cross with those who simply do not want to wear a mask because they are exercising their “right” but not showing care for others.

A visor as far as I can see is acceptable as we have been told to wear face covering to cover nose and mouth, which it does. It doesn’t however appear to be as protective as masks, but better than nothing I would think.

No-one on here has yet mentioned wearing a visor.

I cannot wear a face-covering for various reasons, including all the breathing issues caused by the virus itself which I had mid-March, and from which I am still recovering. In addition, wearing a constricting covering over my nose and mouth causes claustrophobia and panic/anxiety attacks. Yes, I have tried, but the best I could do was 5 minutes. However, I can tolerate a visor for a bit longer, and mine will have sunflowers all over the headband . I will also be wearing a Sunflower badge and carrying an exemption card along with a card saying I might need extra assistance. I wish I had had one in Aldi the other week when I had a full-blown panic attack and the staff quite honestly didn't know what to do! My Goddaughter came to the rescue, and stayed with me until I felt recovered enough to make my way home safely. It took several hours to get back to normal.

I can only assume that Gransnetters who are being disparaging about those of us who have difficulties have never experienced mental and emotional issues which hamper lives. "Get on with it and comply" and "no surgeon has ever died from wearing a mask" messages are less than helpful for those of us who wish they could comply. In fact, such sentiments are extremely hurtful and akin to the "snap out of it" instructions given to people suffering from depression.

I have tried to respect the 2 metre rule as far as other people have allowed. I struggle with speaking to wearers of face coverings because of lip-reading, and being unable to read facial expressions - and in some cases not recognising the wearer. I will be doing the absolutely minimum of shopping in person and relying on Tesco delivery who have kindly put me on their priority list. The rest will have to be online.

I am now off to Aldi before the midnight deadline as I don't feel I can cope with any sort of confrontation tomorrow!

My apologies for such a long post.

The question is why the delay? The facts are out there and have been from day 1. Foolhardy to go out without one today.