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Health

No mask

(29 Posts)
langelei Sat 15-Aug-20 17:09:55

I am so cross. Have just come from my local Co-op store where a woman came in without wearing a mask. Politely mentioned it to a member of staff who said they could not enforce it. Having to shield my husband all these months I find this rather galling. I was under the assumption that people could be asked to wear a mask and if they refused could then be refused service. Am I totally wrong?confused

BlueBelle Sat 15-Aug-20 17:15:17

I m afraid you are wrong (well at least for the shop I work in) we had a letter from HQ saying all we could do was encourage people to enter with a mask and at least 95% do, but if anyone refuses we cannot challenge. We can ask nicely but we cannot refuse them entry. It is also even harder to do as staff don’t have to wear masks, it is entirely up to the individual

MaggieTulliver Sat 15-Aug-20 17:20:35

They don’t work anyway. Have you noticed how people wear them? Under their noses, pulling them up and down? We have to learn to live with Covid, it’s a very small risk. The economy is ruined anyway a and I for one think mark-wearing is a joke.

BlueSky Sat 15-Aug-20 17:27:52

I think we need all the help we can get. Hopefully most people will be wearing them and correctly. Abroad they can refuse you entry, you can be fined etc, in the UK it's much more relaxed. All we can do is wear ours religiously, they are bound to protect the wearer as well, even for whatever reason, they say they don't!

Liz46 Sat 15-Aug-20 17:29:35

My daughter bought a badge for me saying that I am exempt because I have asthma. I have tried to wear a mask but struggled too much.
I had my first trip to the supermarket for ages and wore my badge and a visor. I tried to put my reading glasses on to read dates and prices but just hit plastic! My husband could not wear his glasses because they steamed up with his mask. I may take a magnifying glass next time.

MawB Sat 15-Aug-20 17:29:51

MaggieTulliver

They don’t work anyway. Have you noticed how people wear them? Under their noses, pulling them up and down? We have to learn to live with Covid, it’s a very small risk. The economy is ruined anyway a and I for one think mark-wearing is a joke.

Nobody around here is laughing.

Esspee Sat 15-Aug-20 17:41:27

I can’t understand why staff don’t have to wear a mask. It surprised me to see this.
Perhaps the woman has a medical condition which allows her not to wear a mask langelie. Some people wear a sunflower lanyard to indicate this, but I agree the shops should challenge offenders. Many stores here have a sign saying “no mask, no service”.

tanith Sat 15-Aug-20 18:36:18

My daughter is a shop worker and as she is behind a screen masks aren’t necessary she is often one of only 2 on a large shop floor and has been told to encourage but not enforce people to wear them, people can get aggressive with staff what do you suggest they do other than politely ask?

BlueBelle Sat 15-Aug-20 18:55:23

We are often on the shop floor but have still been told we don’t need to wear a mask
The police won’t get involved, it’s not a law with fines etc (so far) so there is nothing that can be done if someone says they can’t or won’t wear a mask we cannot prove they should so it has to be left It is suggestion only

Katek Sat 15-Aug-20 19:21:38

It’s legally enforceable in Scotland with on the spot fines of £60 I believe.

Jaxjacky Sat 15-Aug-20 19:55:26

In France, no mask, no entry, in the majority of shops

SueDonim Sat 15-Aug-20 20:32:58

I don’t understand why having asthma means you can’t wear a mask. All four of my children have asthma, ds2 being severely affected, but they all wear masks. That includes an asthmatic daughter who wears a mask for 13 hours a day as a NQ doctor.

They all say they’ll cope with a mask because the thought of coping with Covid is a thousand times worse.

GrannyGravy13 Sat 15-Aug-20 21:05:28

Totally agree SueDonim I have been asthmatic all my life, often hospitalised, on numerous medications and claustrophobic but I manage to wear a face covering.

rosecarmel Sat 15-Aug-20 21:13:39

October is the beginning of flu season- It lasted until June this year- As soon as people begin to spend more time indoors the second Covid wave will begin to form and become intermingled with flu- We will see if the masks make any difference as these two join forces and people begin to spend more time indoors-

Susan56 Sat 15-Aug-20 21:34:30

I agree SueDonim.I have asthma and my daughter has chronic asthma.We both manage to wear masks.

It’s not the most comfortable but think of the medical staff who have to wear full PPE for their long shifts.Its not much to ask us to wear masks for the amount of time we are in a shop.

BlueBelle Sat 15-Aug-20 21:36:49

Well people must get out and about each day rosecarmel winter or not I m a firm believer that the fresh air is the best place to be

annep1 Sat 15-Aug-20 22:46:26

I think shops should be able to refuse entry.
In the little town where I live one shop has a sign on a stand at the door saying you must wear a mask. If you haven't got one it states they will sell you one.
I don't understand people refusing to wear one and saying it's against their human rights to be ordered to wear one. Anything that helps is good, surely.

MissAdventure Sat 15-Aug-20 22:58:22

I've worked, using public transport every day since the virus hit, and haven't once had a day where without spotting (usually several) people who are flouting the rules/guidelines; whatever they are.

MissAdventure Sat 15-Aug-20 22:59:13

Well, that made no sense, even to me. blush

B9exchange Sat 15-Aug-20 23:04:54

There was quite a nasty exchange between a security guard and a customer at our local supermarket. She tried to enter the shop with her masked partner, and the security guard snapped at her 'where is your mask?' She tried to explain she had epilepsy and couldn't wear one. I'm not exactly sure of the connection, but I don't think it was up to the guard to then insist that she wore one. I didn't want to stay and embarrass them, so left, but did note that she eventually went in without one.

MissAdventure Sat 15-Aug-20 23:07:41

I was telling someone about the buses allowing people on without masks, and she said that on Facebook there were lots of complaints about people not being let on!

maddyone Sat 15-Aug-20 23:13:15

I think this ‘I’ve got asthma’ is a feeble excuse. I’ve got asthma too, it doesn’t stop me from wearing a mask, or breathing normally. On the other hand, cigarette smoke, diesel fumes, traffic pollution, sheep, dust, hair spray and a fair few other things make me gasp and cough and sometimes bring on an asthma attack.

I saw a doctor, a surgeon, online and he was telling people and proving that wearing a mask does NOT deplete the oxygen levels in the body. He put on a mask and attached one of those oxygen reader things on to his finger. The level of oxygen in his blood stayed exactly the same as when he wasn’t wearing the mask.

Can anyone explain just how a mask prevents a person from getting enough oxygen? I think it’s all psychosomatic.

SueDonim Sat 15-Aug-20 23:31:25

Agreed, Maddyone! I wonder if all the depleted-oxygen mask deniers would refuse treatment from masked doctors and nurses if they caught Covid. After all, you wouldn’t want to be looked after by people who had oxygen depletion, would you? hmm

Oopsminty Sat 15-Aug-20 23:34:33

Another mask debate!

A rather amusing link here. Quite safe, from Jeremy Vine. Don't watch if you're easily shocked

twitter.com/theJeremyVine/status/1290296581309124609

MissAdventure Sat 15-Aug-20 23:41:10

We all gather to mask- debate together.