Covid-19: Shops could offer face masks to customers – but there’s a catch
This Site owes thanks to the readers who have suggested ways shops can encourage customers to wear face masks, even though the Tory government wimped out of making it compulsory in England.
Consensus seems to be that shops could buy their own supply, for customers to take at the door and either buy (to use elsewhere as well) or leave 9to be cleaned and reused, perhaps):
reception desk.
— Samuel Miller (@Hephaestus7) July 12, 2020
@BandQ had them available for any shoppers that wanted one in my local Durham store. 👍
— Katrina R.💙 NHS (@Katrina484568) July 12, 2020
It makes sense.
But, as the headline states, there’s a catch – epitomised in this tweet:
Apparently, @Charlotte3003G & @NeilClark66 @VoxPolitical s socialist writer, @MidWalesMike thinks we are pigheaded for refusing to wear a symbol of servile submission to power that reinforces government propaganda. Mike needs to know that the IFR is 0.06% & 80% have no symptoms. https://t.co/tai7jjQBOB
— Daniel Margrain (@hairymarx1) July 12, 2020
Daniel appears to be trying to recruit support for a false argument: I never stated that anybody was “pigheaded” in their attitude to face masks, and the comments about them being a “servile submission to power that reinforces government propaganda” are entirely his own.
His comment about the infection rate is misleading, as in parts of the country it is much higher (at the time of writing), and apparently he has never heard of asymptomatic transmission of the virus (even though it’s quite a big thing with leading health organisations).
But his attitude is popular among a certain segment of the population and leads to the sort of behaviour described in this tweet:
When you get called a freak, are verbally abused repeatedly, then get followed & physically threatened….just for wearing a face mask and asking someone to step back as they weren’t social distancing. What a country we live in 😢
— Ellie (@elliergillett) July 12, 2020
And that’s the problem.
You can lead a horse’s arse to a bidet but you can’t make it wash.
A segment of the UK public is determined to see the call to wear face masks as an insult, rather than protection, and may become belligerent at even being offered them.
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Carrying or crafting a face covering (not medical mask) to use if asked by the shop staff is probably the best compromise but after experiencing how easy it is to contract TB, I am understandebly more cautious.
I also absolutely agree with the oppression symbol point of view as Bojob and his buddies do seem to be a bit too smug about the successes of their Social Experimental Department (Nudge Unit).
Just remember that a shop assistant is human too and is likely on minimum wage. taking orders from their boss, so please be civil and make this a personal choice.
To clarify on my previous comment, this Government has successfully divided us on lots of issues deliberately, please don’t give them the satisfaction of turning this into another “us and them” thing.
WHAT BOTHERS ME IS, IF YOU HAVE ASTHMA AND /OR COPD.. YOU ARE EXEMPT. BUT WITH THE NASTINESS AROUND ARE WE ,WHO HAVE THOSE CONDITIONS LINING UP TO BE ATTACKED BY IGNORANT PEOPLE WHO KNOW NO BETTER? (sorry .didn’t mean to shout. waiting for district nurses to arrive so was rushing the comment.)
They’re selling them in Poundshops, those disposable ones like in the photo, at a quid each, but if you work and use the bus that’s a mask/quid per day, extra fiver a week on your travel costs never mind shopping as well. I bought some though as I don’t use buses but need masks for shopping.
so where does that leave anyone who prefers to wear one.. or needs to wear one cos of age/ underlying conditions etc? my daughter cant wear one. she cant breath in one. which means that on top of the 3 month she couldn’t come to see me (she is supposed to be my carer but had to self isolate herself due to having 4 conditions which are auto-immune ones. we landed up following govt advice and found someone to step in to do those jobs that were important to my own health that my daughter usually did.) but now, because of having to use face masks on buses and use contactless cards (which not everyone has or wants) she cannot use buses. so i am still not getting the care i need.only the limited care from dog walkers/
People who prefer to wear one, or need to, may do so because that is a matter of personal choice.
As for those who can’t – you’re right that their freedoms are limited by the restrictions the government has created. Have any measures been announced to mitigate the problems those restrictions create?
apart from us being exempt from wearing masks (with no provision as far as i know so we can prove we have these conditions…badges not a good idea. visible proof other than gasping/wheezing/ etc can give rise to being attacked by those zealots who think they know it all on the covid-19 rules and get militant about it)… all rules are open to interpretation and misinterpretation. by anyone. as for the more far reaching consequences of the lock-down.. apart from an easily missed part which says if you have a self isolating carer you can appoint someone to temporarily take over your carers duties but only to do the minimum and wear proper PPE if being near to each other in order to do a job cant be helped (or words to that effect)… did this govt EVER think things through anyway?