On Christmas eve we went to tesco in St Helens for a few last minute things at about 4 p.m. Between leaving checkout and exiting the store we counted twenty-two people without masks.

It's not too much of an inconvenience for a few minutes surely? I wouldn't have served them personally.



Our eldest daughter and one pf her daughters tested positive on the Monday before Christmas, we always go the theirs for Christmas dinner so was a no no. Now rescheduled for this Thursday if all tests are clear again.

Shops just aren’t enforcing it.

Unfortunately thats the times we live in. I cant blame shops / shop staff for not enforcing it, as they dont need the likely barrage of abuse that they will get from some of the people they stopped. My daughter works in retail and they have asked all their staff to wear masks, have signs up, but are not challenging anyone who isnt wearing a mask, purely so that their staff dont get abused

Count yourself lucky you didn't go Trafford Centre pre Xmas

Day before Xmas Eve it was rammed and I'd say 30 to 40% weren't wearing masks and you could generalise about 80% of them

And how do you know they weren’t all exempt? Easy to be judgemental behind your keyboard Rogues. I’m asthmatic and exempt, I have tried to wear one but I struggle - a good reason I’d never be an half decent Dr/nurse. I have been challenged and the challenger has had the short sharp response of “it’s got absolutely nothing to do with you” which it hasn’t.



I don’t see why you should be wearing masks anyway. Utterly bizarre. Walk around Next at Gemini with one on but sit down in the Costa inside the Next and you don’t need one? Mask wearing should be personal choice, not mandated.

I’d never dream of challenging people without masks, as you’re bob on that they could be exempt but I’m not having it anywhere near the amount of people you see without them are exempt. I think there were about ten people in the pie shop I was in yesterday (Greenhalghs steak and kidney if anyone was wondering…beautiful) and me and one other women had one on. I was on the last bus back from Manchester one Friday evening about 2 weeks ago and it was hammered. I’d say at best 5 people had them on and that was out of approx 80-90 people.



I don’t blame people with the masks to be fair. Yes it’s no bother if you’re free of any issues that make it difficult to wear one but Boris is an idiot and did away with them previously, when people had got used to them, generally were complying and they certainly couldn’t do any harm in places like shops and on public transport.

I absolutely agree there. I’d imagine 10-15 of those Rogues saw were not exempt but would say they were if challenged. That’s why it should be personal choice, it’s unenforceable and isn’t enforced anyway. A pointless law, achieving nothing.



You could have left the last paragraph at “Boris is an idiot” to be honest

I feel sorry for shop workers, bus drivers etc. No way should they have to challenge people. It’s just frustrating that again the ‘I won’t comply with anything’ mob make it difficult for people like yourself, who have genuine reasons.



If only I had 50p for every time I’ve seen the line ‘Boris is an idiot’

Totally agree mate

There is no requirement within the law to wear a mask in a shop. Further, it seems illogical if you can go into a pub or restaurant without one.

There is no legal requirement to wear one so, I agree, it would be a pointless exercise to ask anyone to do so.

[urlhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own/face-coverings-when-to-wear-one-and-how-to-make-your-own[/url



Yes there is.

it was brought back in as law during December as part of Plan B? (or whatever phase it was

)



the retail consortium at the time said that they wouldnt be enforcing it as it would put undue pressure / abuse on their staff to police / enforce, and it should be the job of the police to enforce it. Given the governments record on 1. not wearing masks in house of commons (another it doesnt apply to us) and 2. partying last year after locking us all down, you can also see why there is so much reluctance to listen or follow the rules or guidance, as i genuinely dont think anyone trusts a word coming out of the government any more, whether that be from business or individuals



As it happens i would be exempt as i have Asthma, but have been able to tolerate wearing the mask without it impacting my breathing too much, so wear it when i need to, but it literally comes off as i am walking out the door into fresh air. I am currently isolating with my 2nd dose of covid and would say i have been pretty good in terms of following the guidance / laws etc that have been put into place. i have worn a mask in all shops / restaurants etc that i have been into, but just shows that you can follow guidance and still get it

It does make me laugh this type of rhetoric or reasoning (not necessarily aimed at you by the way - not sure if this is your opinion or you’re relaying what we all hear).

If you don’t believe they work, then don’t wear one and be honest about it. If your reasoning for not wearing one is that Wally who lives in London then you’re a bit of a prat.



“Boris is a d**k so I’ll go against what he’s saying and under-protect myself from this airborne virus”

“They all partied last Christmas so I’m not having that booster thing” is another classic I keep hearing.

Cutting your nose off to spite your face. It’s just downright thick from the “look at me going against the establishment, aren’t I cool’ brigade.

Add in those idiots who think it's "all about control" too.



Not that it is a conspiracy (because it definitely isn't), but if some group of mysterious global elite had the power and means to create a global pandemic, do you not think they'd have made a plan for those that didn't take the Vax as well?



Or have they been outsmarted by some moron from Plat Waz?

Thanks.

Ok I accept your interpretation as you are much closer to this issue than I am. I think the Government need to make it clearer and indeed if the police have the powers to enforce then they should be. Then again, I am not sure what the police do these days! What is the point of introducing laws if you are not going to make sure people comply?

i agree re the messages from government and that has been pretty consistent all through the pandemic (they have given mixed or confusing messages). in the last update, they said masks needed to be worn in certain places, but also said use your common sense etc



i think the police are in a no win situation (certainly at the minute if you look at the number of people not wearing masks) and i would rather they focussed on real crime, although some will argue that not wearing a mask is breaking the law (given my earlier explanation)

How? Have a cop patrolling Wigan Asda chasing Maureen and Brian up the frozen aisle to give them a fine? Come off it, that’ll cause uproar (rightly bloody so) and in any case no force in the land has the staff to be able to do that. Another reason to add to the “it’s unenforceable and that’s why it shouldn’t be mandated”.

Might as well they do sweet FA unless, that is, they are acting as the 'thought' police.

So what's your solution, just let it rip?

Simple solution - wear a mask or else get someone else to do your shopping.



Shop where my wife works has a sign that says something like "To protect all our customers and staff, face coverings are to be worn. If you dont have one, then do not enter". Its gone down very well with the locals and the staff who all feel a darn sight safer than they are wandering round supermarkets to see heavily tattooed overweight slobs shuffling around with a dozen kids in tow all without masks. Its a small shop so those with "exemptions" can quite easily don a mask for the five minutes it takes to go in, get what you want and get out.

What would your advice be to someone who is exempt due to a Learning Disability and/or autism? Particularly someone who doesn’t have a carer to help?



Should they just stay at home?



I doubt they would find the sign in the shop very helpful.



Sad to see so much ignorance towards people with a legitimate reason not to wear a mask and sad that so many are challenged about this when out and about.

I personally don't have a problem with people who don't wear a mask if they have a genuine reason for not wearing one for instance if you have asthma or some other medical condition but the ones who annoy me are these stupid anti-vaxers like that Piers Corbyn whose telling his minions to blow MP'S meeting places up

Unless they have superhuman powers, then they are just as likely to spread the virus as the rest us. Only problem is because they cant/wont mask up, they increase the risk to everyone else every time they enter somewhere unmasked.



Sad as it may be, it would be better for everyone if they stayed at home or at least stayed outside. I dont particularly want my wife catching covid because someone with autism wanted a trip out.