Pre mask shopping - will you?

Carrying an exemption? Where on earth do you get that then as the gov't never mentioned that in any of the tv appearances? The masks make me very dry in the mouth as i already do with fibromyalgia & then i start to cough but i still struggle on and wear one regardless! I just take a bottle of water out with me in case it gets too bad. My son also has asthma as he was born early with chronic lung disease but even hes opting to wear one when college goes back (he's staying in till then!) As he said "if you've got a condition already you would want to wear one"!

I’ve scrolled up and down but has Craftyone come back at all ?

A mask is really no big deal. I am asthmatic and mananage a mask just whist in a shop. Surely anything is better than catching Covid 19.

If the elastic is tight enough your mask will not slip down over your nose unless you have been very sparing of the cloth when cutting it out. It should be 7" from top to bottom before you fold the pleats and after you have hemmed it.

If you buy a mask, it will fit, as they have a flexible piece of plastic at the top that you bend to fit your nose.

Unfortunately I have a couple of friends who have refused to wear masks so have downloaded a form saying they are exempt for medical reasons. Neither of them have a medical condition, they just don't like wearing them! The form looks very official but it is not from any authority and you just add your own details and wave it in the face of anyone who challenges you!

It's this "no one will tell me what to do" attitude that prevails amongst some folk. Many countries use masks even before Covid19, they know the value of their filtering ability eg traffic fumes or if they have a cold. Will be wearing a mask as and when required but not rushing to shops.

Teacheranne

Unfortunately I have a couple of friends who have refused to wear masks so have downloaded a form saying they are exempt for medical reasons. Neither of them have a medical condition, they just don't like wearing them! The form looks very official but it is not from any authority and you just add your own details and wave it in the face of anyone who challenges you!

I would not want such people as friends to be honest, not only being selfish but cheating too!

I went to my GP today.
I was surprised when I got into his surgery he pulled his mask down below his nose, whilst I was completely masked up. Naughty boy.........

Im with you jaylucy!
An ex nurse, i really could not understand why we didn't have to wear them from the get-go in March

I really don't understand the fuss people are been asked to wear a mask to go to the shops for an hour not a hazmat suit, and surely all the people downloading exemptions forms will be making it more difficult for people with genuine reasons not to wear a mask to be believed
Some of the reasons I've heard from people who are refusing to wear them are frankly insane

Lucca - craftycat came back at 12-11 today (previous page) and explained she’s claustrophobic.

Here in Ireland face coverings in shops (for customers and staff, unless behind screen) became compulsory last week and I’ve noticed most are complying. Some are wearing the visor type, which may be easier for those who find masks a problem.

Sorry - craftyone hasn’t come back, it was craftycat - easy to get names mixed up!

Farmor and Lucca

I think it was craftycat who posted at 12-11 today, not craftyone.

X post Farmor

This conversation is completely lost on me. If there’s even the remotest chance that only one person will be prevented from catching COVID then we should all be wearing them and the government should enforce it rigidly. If you do t want to wear one then stay at home.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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

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

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!

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.