So masks are to become optional, do you think this is a good idea?

Nannapat1 I think that although they were mandatory, not everyone was wearing them, or social distancing. I certainly saw loads in my neighbourhood who were going about their lives as normal and ignoring the rules.

Beanie654321, if there is a rise in cases while they are mandatory, how can you say that they are effective?

estg2967 very well said, totally agree with your points.
The scaremongering continues, with daily reporting of increased infection. Infection does not equal similar figures for hospitalisation or deaths. Daily figures of other diseases, not reported, will be equal or more to covid and also do not equal death or hospitalisation.
I shall keep a mask in a pocket for use in crowded indoor settings for the sake of protecting my husband who is awaiting surgery, but will not be wearing one as a matter of course as previously in unnecessary and ambiguous situations. As remarked elsewhere, there are many anomalies, such as having to wear one for a couple of feet in a cafe or coffee shop to reach your table, then taking them off while eating, drinking and talking with whoever you are with - the couple of feet of mask wearing makes no sense and I think these anomalies are what are causing the questioning the use of them.
I am in the group who do find wearing them a hardship for various physical and psychological reasons, though have been doing so as required, and find it offensive for others to state flippantly that there's no hardship in wearing them and can't see why others have a problem wearing them - I strongly disagree.
As I said, I will continue on a far more limited basis to use one as I see fit and have risk assessed for (I was previously a manager and H&S rep trained in risk assessment), but where I see no need, will certainly not.
I will not be condemning those who wish to continue using them, and would expect similar respect paid to those who choose not to, once 19 July has arrived.

Actually, I wonder if you realise how judgmental you're being about where I live! hmm

It was you who described it growstuff! You described your community as "more or less blacklisting a family who don't wear masks" to such an extent that the online comments on social media were bad enough for "an admin to close the thread down and remove some posts, but the damage had been done". You yourself admitted that "you wouldn't want to be in that child's shoes when he went back to school". That poor child.

Based entirely on the information that you've provided about that community; yes, I've judged.

Bossyrossi if I was you I would wear the special masks which protect you with the one way filter..it will be interesting to see what people will do, I had hoped we would be keeping masks for a while, I shall be carrying on wearing mine in busy shops, surely their must be some protection, we can only hope that people are sensible. We have no choice but to learn to live with covid and just hope it dies out.

Az59

Yay no masks at last can’t wait!

Why ? It’s been no hardship for goodness sake. Such a fuss.

Hasn’t it been proved that there is practically no risk of catching the virus from cash?
Why then are we hearing about so many traders insisting on cards only?
What happened to giving customers a choice about how they wish to pay for purchases?

It doesn’t affect me as I pay for virtually everything by credit or debit card but I still think it’s so wrong to insist on cards.

These days it seems as if too many businesses are run to make life as easy for them as possible and to hell with the hapless customer.

Another thing. Can we hope that all those allegedly ‘working’ from home might now go back to the office and deliver a proper service to their customers?

How many of us have spent countless hours on the phone to companies over the past year, only to hear a recorded message blaming the virus for their appalling service?

Chewbacca

^It's no more venomous than a local version of GN bitching about Meghan - but with more^ reason, as real people had actually been affected.

I think that's what Mumsnetters refers to as "whataboutery".

I think it's probably true.

It's no more venomous than a local version of GN bitching about Meghan - but with more reason, as real people had actually been affected.

I think that's what Mumsnetters refers to as "whataboutery".

Chewbacca

I'm so glad that my community social media Facebook isn't focused on gossip and "blacklisting" families for transgressions as yours is growstuff. As for they haven't been named but just about everybody knows who it is; I'm surprised that that hasn't been reported by the afflicted family as online bullying; it sounds like a most unpleasant place to live.
We stick to just the restaurant recommendations, swapping plants and when the book club meetings are on. Far less toxic and judgemental of our neighbours.

Oh! It does all the swapping plants, book club meetings and offering to do people's shopping stuff too.

Actually, I wonder if you realise how judgmental you're being about where I live!

However, there are members who would in non-Covid times be the school gate gossipers - I don't believe they don't exist in other areas. Unfortunately, nobody can control what they talk about - it happens. It's no more venomous than a local version of GN bitching about Meghan - but with more reason, as real people had actually been affected.

The admin did close the thread and remove some posts. I don't think any names were actually mentioned, but it was obvious that the people involved knew who it was and, from what I gather, the family is known for being vocal about not wearing masks. It's a fascinating insight into how peer pressure works.

MissChateline

I would have thought that refusing to serve a customer who wasn’t wearing a mask when it is not a legal requirement might well be discrimination.
I have a problem with a local shop who refuses to take cash. He says that this is to prevent contamination from the notes and coins. The fact that he has abysmal ventilation in the shop and he is happy to serve customers with their masks dangling all over the place is neither here nor there. I am aware that he is not obligated to accept cash but I have pointed out that he is losing certainly my custom and that if others. So a shop that didn’t allow me in without a mask would lose a lot of customers.

I would refuse to shop where cash is not accepted, if the shopkeeper is worried about contamination he can wear gloves and use sanatizer, I would use my own discretion concerning masks, always have one at the ready.

I'm so glad that my community social media Facebook isn't focused on gossip and "blacklisting" families for transgressions as yours is growstuff. As for they haven't been named but just about everybody knows who it is; I'm surprised that that hasn't been reported by the afflicted family as online bullying; it sounds like a most unpleasant place to live.
We stick to just the restaurant recommendations, swapping plants and when the book club meetings are on. Far less toxic and judgemental of our neighbours.

Yay no masks at last can’t wait!

Blondiescot I agree. My home made, three layered ones are very comfortable. Keeps your face warm too in cold weather. Seriously, they make me feel protected despite what some may say to the contrary.

I may well wear one when going into Tesco in 'poor?' area when busy. I am just so happy with the other restrictions being lifted as well!!

I genuinely don't understand the problem with wearing a mask. (apart from those who actually do have some medical condition which makes it very difficult). I'd quite happily go on wearing one all the time.

Most certainly agree they should be optional. 'Life' is risk. From the moment you put your feet to the floor. I actually feel a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after hearing Boris' news. I just hope it does not change.

lemongrove

esgt1967

I think screens in shops, where possible, is a good idea to protect shop workers but I'm not convinced of the benefits of face masks and/or other "precautions" we have been taking. If face mask, distancing and self isolation reduced the transmission, why are there still so many new positive tests every day?

I am very much in the "we have to learn to live with it" camp and personal responsibility needs to come into play much more - as someone said earlier, they will probably go shopping off-peak to avoid crowds, that is exactly what I am on about. We need to try to get back to a more normal life (I want a life now, not an existence!) and so if are still feeling vulnerable or do things differently to try to reduce your risk you are more than welcome to do that eg shopping off-peak, wearing a mask.

Every day we take risks - eating, drinking, smoking, driving a car, even walking in the street all have an element of risk of injury or possibly death - we can't avoid risk and we need to get the Covid risk into perspective now rather than trying to eradicate the risk entirely (which we will never do) and make our own decisions about what we do and don't do each day.

Excellent comments, in my view.??

Couldn’t have put it better myself, thank you ?

Yorki

Grow stuff. I feel sorry if that child who's going to be blacklisted. There must be some horrible people in that community. There's always someone ready to look down their nose at some unfortunate person / people. Disgusting!!!!

There are also some lovely people, who are cross that their children have been infected. I have no idea who the family is, but it appears the parents have been very vocal about not wearing masks. The child is 15, so quite capable of making his own decisions.

If you honestly don't think other communities are the same, try joining a local social media group and seeing what kind of gossip goes on. I'm a member because I like to know which restaurants serve good food, who's a good plumber or where there are roadworks, etc. Every so often people have a rant about something and this was one of those times. The admin did close the thread down and removed some posts, but the damage had been done.

This kind of gossip has been going on for years - but used to be confined to over the garden fence or the school gate. I expect people remember the stigma attached to having a child who brought nits into school.

My point is that peer pressure might very well result in the majority of people continuing to wear masks, if that's what most people in a community are doing.

My two year old grandson, when leaving the house used to say ‘mask’. All these people are saying children are being damaged by it but the kids have just taken to it and accept it as part of life.

3nanny6

Was it Beth Rigby who accused the PM of being reckless about saying masks and social distancing will no longer be mandatory from the 19th July.? The data proved that the cases are rising and will possibly continue to do so although because the vaccine has worked the hospitals have not been overwhelmed. They were asked twice about the expected death
rate but would not give an answer.
I suspect it all comes down to getting everything opened up
and money moving in the economy which after all that is what Boris has wanted for a long time, and also now having S.J he too has said the same.
I agree with Beth Rigby although I would say Boris is taking perilous risks with the overall health of the public and playing russian roulette by rushing out of the lockdown and leaving people open to any further damage from the virus.

She tried to follow up her question but they cut her off….

... and we have many children self-isolating in an area not yet afflicted with Delta.

A mask-wearing refuser (student) in our school stood out from all the others and created bad feeling. The individual was not blacklisted or anything like that, but the attitude came across as extremely arrogant not to mention concerning for fellow students and staff.
JaneJudge some teachers in school are insisting students continue to wear masks in their classes despite the recent 'relaxation'. Some students ask what the member of staff prefer, and will comply. Others are starting to remove masks. Some keeping them on, some not sure. Just about everyone got used to wearing masks most of the day very quickly. I wish they'd stick to it especially as we know about the increase amongst teens. I've noticed the return of coughs and colds since last half-term too unfortunately. ?

Yes growstuff I know all the rules about entering Jersey. We came here because it’s something we do every year. There are 572 active cases now but very few from tourists
Also you have the benefit here of not isolating just because you come into contact with a positive case which I am sure the uk will also do
The tourist trade has dropped dramatically because Jersey change their entry rules a lot And coming here now unvaccinated is impossible
All I was saying initially is how easy I found it to make the transformation from constantly wearing a mask to only wearing it on public transport

I live in a small rural village. We have a weekly postal van that goes around many rural villages. After Christmas, we had at least 9 cases of Covid some in ICU and luckily all survived.

Using the van a few weeks later all the elderly stood socially distanced masked up, I was told someone entered announcing they had forgotten their mask. They had been in contact with a case in ICU.
Can we really rely on people to use their better judgment?
If I had a shop I would keep up all the screens and precautions possible and seek legal advice about refusing entry.
I will continue to wear a mask when I think it is necessary .
In many Asian countries, people automatically wear masks when they even have a cold.