Wearing face coverings will be compulsory on public transport in England from 15 June, the transport secretary has said.
Grant Shapps said "every precaution" must be taken as passenger numbers are expected to increase when lockdown measures are further eased.
People will be have to wear coverings on buses, trains, aircraft and ferries.
Very young children, disabled people and those with breathing difficulties will be exempt, he said.
It comes as the UK recorded the deaths of another 176 people who tested positive for coronavirus, taking the total number of deaths in the UK to 39,904.
So I wonder, if or how will we get an exemption certificate? Or is has this not been thought through properly, yet again.
I can see a lot of arguments with bus drivers in the future over this if we do not get an official certificate. A bus driver will not be able to tell from a hospital letter, that lists respiratory problems, what health problems are respiratory ones and probably will not know or recall them at all. How many bus drivers will have heard of COPD even, which is quite common, let alone the more exotic respiratory illnesses.
Thanks for this article. Certain airlines have been saying for a few weeks that masks must be worn on their planes. Some airlines say if you have respiratory problems that make it difficult to wear a mask, it's not totally mandatory. What I wonder is, how do you do you prove you're not wearing a mask because it's too difficult to breathe (apart from actually not being able to breathe, as proof) and, if you can prove to cabin crew because you have your prescription for example, how do you prove to the other passengers you're not being awkward but have a genuine cause. The idea of being glared at or shouted at doesn't appeal to me ☹️
It’s going to be interesting for people like me.I live in England so should wear a mask, but if I catch the bus into town I cross the border into Wales I could take it off! I don’t plan a trip though. The border is a couple of hundred yards away! Likewise, I have had a shielding letter from both England and Wales, I wonder which will come first! They don’t think, any of them.
Hi 2greys, public transport is my only mode of transport, I also have to use ambulatory oxygen, so I don’t know how I will cope, I will be alright wearing a mask sitting on the bus, but I wouldn’t be able to wear one getting on and off the bus, I suppose I will have to struggle and try wearing a mask over my oxygen cannula.
I would think that with using ambulatory oxygen, wearing cannula, it will be glaringly obvious that you have trouble breathing and thus exempt from wearing one.
You would hope so 2greys, but common sense and this government don’t mix, earlier this week they banned people from people sleeping with their partner, unless they lived in the same house, but they can still use a sex worker!😂
2nd hope w do we get exemption status ?i don’t use the bus much(still shielding),but I don’t fancy my chances explaining Non Specific Interstitional Pneumonia to the bus drivers,let alone all the auto immune nestuff..we. would need a visible pass like door men have in night clubs.
I wonder f the Govt have actually thought this through properly.
On a more positive note,I emailed the PM and my MP about the blind Dominic matter.
The PM hasn’t replied yet.
My MP has written to me,a very sensible letter,I may say,agreeing that Mr Cummings position is untenable.
How about sending your MP an email regarding the use of face masks/coverings for our group. Perhaps we could all wear visors but which would allow us to breathe easily.
As you say he sent you a sensible reply to you last email he might send you another. Whilst you are at it sent one to the PM as well. After all this is/could become a global problem.
I do see the sense in the wearing of masks on/in public spaces but again from the posts I have been reading regarding this topic it does appear that we feel - as a large group - that we have yet AGAIN been forgotten/by-passed.
So how about it would visors be the answer - worn with an eye to caution - I think we've proved that after12 weeks - some have done longer - of isolation that we can and will STILL take precautions.
I would be interested to hear if your MP and/or PM respond to you (that is if you decide to contact them)
Further to my last post re face masks on public transport/public places :- As we have problems wearing face masks and they are not compulsory for our group it would follow that we could not get on a bus/go into shops etc etc. and as lot of us are still "shielding" we cannot/not allowed yet - go on or into these places at the moment.
It seems our isolation would be an ongoing feature of our lives until a vaccine is/can be found - could be a long time. If a vaccine/pill could be found would our group - considering we are most at risk than the rest of the population - again be forgotten about or last in line - probably either option methinks.
"Guess I need to become thick skinned to put up with abusive comments I get!"
It seems that you may be right, the same scenario as those with a Blue Badge parking permit issued to the disabled, visible or not. All the healthy take breathing for granted and never think about it.
Oh that's good then, I can wear my easy breathing vogmask with vents that protects me but not others. Bit daft really, infectious lung folk and young children can spread the bugs too. But really I won't be using any public transport for the foreseeable future if I can help it. Not that I ever did use it during bug season.
Face coverings are to become compulsory for people using public transport in England from Monday 15 June.
They are already recommended in some enclosed spaces - like public transport and shops - when social distancing (staying more than 2m apart) isn't possible.
What are the new rules?
The move to compulsory face coverings on buses, trains, ferries and planes will coincide with a further easing of lockdown restrictions.
From 15 June, ministers want more non-essential retailers to open and some secondary school pupils to return to classes. This could put more pressure on public transport, and make social distancing more difficult.
Announcing the new rules, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps stressed people should:
Continue working from home if they can do so
Avoid public transport if they can't work from home
Avoid the rush hour if they have to take public transport
Some passengers will be exempt from the new rules:
Young children
Disabled people
Those with breathing difficulties
Mr Shapps said passengers should wear "the kind of face covering you can easily make at home". Surgical masks should be kept for medical uses.
Maintaining social distancing and hand washing, he added, remain the "most critical things to do".
I'm not at home and have nothing here with which to make a mask, I'll have to try to buy a paper mask and hope I'll be allowed to not wear it. Unfortunately I'll have no choice other than taking a lot of public transport to get home 🚌✈️
The bbc item says you can use a scarf or bandana if you haven’t a mask. There’s a wide variety of masks available on Amazon, quite inexpensive. I have just bought a pack of 4 washable masks. make my husband look like a demented puffin but you can’t have everything!
Can you recommended the masks you bought. Also, how much were they and which company on Amazon supplied them? Masks have been my worry of the week because I keep looking and in the end feel I don't know what to buy for the best. Some of the bad reviews have put me off and also the expense of some of them. I didn't really want to have to make masks because there are three of us at home all with medical problems so much easier to buy something ready made if possible.
They are sold by Karizma. If you go on to amazon and enter face masks there are lots to choose from. The ones I got, a pack of 4, weren’t particularly cheap but I wanted to be sure to get it over my oxygen cannula as I am on 24 hour oxygen. The 4 pack gives us 2 each and are washable.
Thank you! I have written the name down and will have a look on Amazon. I wish you well with the oxygen and hope your condition has a chance of improving.
Thank you for your good wishes. Unfortunately I have a medical book full of conditions but have generally been well cared for. At 77 I am glad of every day I have. Mind you I could be the person who ends their life by falling over the oxygen tube. It even catches the spaniel who gets tangled in it from time to time!
I am about the same age as you and now have a list of things wrong with me too. I have welcomed lock down as it has given me freedom from hospital appointments - a lot less anxiety too. You made me laugh about your spaniel sometimes getting tangled with your tube. I love spaniels. My mother had a golden cocker spaniel and a blue roan. You were right about being "glad of very day ".
Husband and I have been wearing the Karimza masks since the beginning of March, all round Asia and on overnight flights home. First day or so, I thought I was suffocating, but quickly got used to them, and now actually find that, in some situations, I breathe better with the mask on. (think it may be because I got into the way of taking a calmer more controlled breath?)
I like the replaceable carbon filters, and the masks themselves wash and dry quickly. Have just ordered another set, as it doesn't look like this problem is going to vanish any time soon. Think I might try them in the garden, too, as very high pollen count just now, and chest is tight.
I'd recommend.
Best wishes to you both, and watch out for that traily tube, Carnival 567!
Have you tried your local Facebook page for masks? Lots of people/companies near me are now making masks to buy. I have ordered ballerinas for me and owls for my husband!
As a few have already said, this has not been thought through, yet again, it is about 8 days away, with 2 weekends as well, before this comes into force and there is no way that they can resolve this issue in time. There are a million of us diagnosed with COPD and countless others with less common chronic conditions. How can a poor bus driver be expected to understand medical jargon when hospital letters are waived in front of them. I bet that there is perhaps only one condition that they may recognise and that is lung cancer, the rest will be a real challenge for them.
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Bit daft really, infectious lung folk and young children can spread the bugs too. But really I won't be using any public transport for the foreseeable future if I can help it. Not that I ever did use it during bug season.
Without a mask on public transport!
Face Masks 
e-cigs to be a medicine ?
