Masks, exemptions and the issues!

[EmmaF91]

Hi all

Just wanted to share this for those who get issues for not wearing a mask. If you can please do, if you can’t please don’t feel bullied into making your health worse!

Hope this helps but that there is no need to utilise the info on here!

[Jessieg167]

I’m in Customer service and I have to wear one for 8 hrs. I just can’t do it, so I wear a lanyard saying exempt but I always try and wear it to serve the customers to protect them and me.

I don’t wear it out of work always try a d just wear my mask if I can x

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Jessieg167]

For me it really depends on where my lungs are at. On good days I can get by for short amount of times, bad days I really struggle for any length of time, esp if I’m moving or if there is a big change in temp (like air con on hot days or high heating on the cold ones). I wear when I can but a lot of the time I can’t (not without constant coughing and SoB which I think people get more worried about than a silent non-mask wearer 😅. Only posted this as some people have been having bug issues and so knowing where they can report stuff may help them!

[1974lovejoy in reply to EmmaF91]

I have finally found a mask I can wear .. although it’s not very thick, I can wear it for longer than my previous ones ...it at least makes me feel Less obvious and it stops the stares if I don’t wear one !!!!

[bookdaft]

There is a charity shop in town which has a sign on the door saying: "By wearing a face covering your medical condition will not be adversely affected by your short visit. Saying you are exempt or carrying a card is not an excuse." It goes on to say that their shop is not an essential visit and they are refusing entry to anyone not wearing a mask. I'm not sure how legal this is. I mean yeah, it's not an essential visit but it's discrimination. But then again the NHS does the same thing in hospitals etc and that is essential.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to bookdaft]

equalityhumanrights.com/en/...

This might help. Their main advice is to call the EASS (equality advisory and support service). (Contact details are in the further info). I know I’ve rung them before and they were very helpful and should know what to do and how to do it.

[bookdaft in reply to EmmaF91]

I've not been in the shop and I don't intend to be but I do worry about my young family member who has to 'police' the door.

[Logo132 in reply to bookdaft]

I agree with the charity shop on this one. They are just trying to keep people safe. As an asthmatic I appreciate and respect that and if I saw that sign on a charity shop, or any other non-essential shop I wouldn’t not be offended.

[bookdaft in reply to Logo132]

I think it sets a precedent. Where would we be if all the shops decided to do the same thing? Because apart from groceries, it could be argued that none of them are really 'essential' I am lucky enough to be able to wear a mask for short spells if I need to but others aren't so lucky. I also worry about the position it puts people like my niece who have to 'police' the door.

[EmmaF91 Community Ambassador in reply to Logo132]

It’s not about offence. It’s about discrimination. This is direct discrimination which it technically illegal. If non disabled people are allowed in and do non-essential shopping than its illegal to say a group of people with a protected characteristic arent allowed.

I really do understand they are trying to keep people safe, but forcing people to wear masks or not come in is discrimination if there is no reasonable adjustment being made. I know it doesn’t seem like it, and it’s understandable, but this is fact. It’s the same for people wheelchair bound. They should have access to any shop they’d like, or there be an alternative option. If the signs said ‘everyone has legs, if you can’t walk don’t come in’ there would be a massive uproar...

[Singinglouder in reply to bookdaft]

When I booked a test at the hospital recently I was specifically told I didn’t need to wear a mask if I had a respiratory or other condition that made me exempt (I can’t wear a mask because of another condition, but I do usually manage to cover my face with a scarf - tho after a long appointment in July I ended up with prickly heat on my neck 😂 - can’t win!).

[Kitty2823]

Wearing facemasks makes me tired and for 2 or 3 hours shortness of breath starts