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Face coverings compulsory on public transport in England from 15 June

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kylemore

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It's not made it into any laws yet, but basically any piece of fabric that wholly covers your mouth and nose will do in practice.
So without wishing to be flippant - a suitably modified pair of Y-fronts (clean and new of course) so that they cover nose and mouth will comply?
 
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Bletchleyite

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So without wishing to be flippant - a suitably modified pair of Y-fronts (clean and new of course) so that they cover nose and mouth will comply?

If you want to wear a pair of Y-fronts over your mouth and nose, yes, though the WHO has suggested that a 3-layer covering is most effective, so you may prefer to use a thinner fabric e.g. a teatowel in 3 layers.
 

MikeWM

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So without wishing to be flippant - a suitably modified pair of Y-fronts (clean and new of course) so that they cover nose and mouth will comply?

A suitably-sized pair of boxer shorts (put your head through one of the leg holes) does the job quite nicely - you can add a clip if the leg hole is too big. It's what I'm going to do, I've found I need more space around my mouth and chin than a medical-style mask gives, else my breathing starts to be affected in a fairly unpleasant way.
 
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Seen this going around on twitter a few times:

If you don't feel comfortable wearing a mask on public transport, simply don't wear it and if challenged say that under Part 1 Section 4 (a) of The Health Protection (CV, Wearing of Face Coverings on Public Transport) you are exempt as they cause you severe anxiety.

Would this be an acceptable loophole people could use?
 

Essexman

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I’m on train Paddington to Plymouth. Ten passengers from Paddington.
One not wearing a mask.

Chose front coach as no other passengers to share aircon with but then wondered if this is a bad choice if cab shares coach aircon and driver doesn’t have mask.
 

MikeWM

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Would this be an acceptable loophole people could use?

Assuming it is true, yes. If it isn't true, I suppose it depends how willing you are to stand your ground on a lie if authorities try to verify if it is the case (and how you think they may try to do so).
 

8J

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After the introduction today of a law requiring all passengers to wear a face covering onboard, I am seeing train company twitter accounts giving out incorrect information about what is legally required of passengers and staff onboard trains at stations.

TPE twitter handle ^JL has been coming out with some rubbish today, so has Northern's tweeters. Surely this needs to be stamped out to reflect the LAW and if they want to quote government rules, they should get it correct.

What are peoples thoughts? I don't want this to become a discussion about whether or not wearing a mask is correct but TOCs have a duty to get their facts straight.
 

alistairlees

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After the introduction today of a law requiring all passengers to wear a face covering onboard, I am seeing train company twitter accounts giving out incorrect information about what is legally required of passengers and staff onboard trains at stations.

TPE twitter handle ^JL has been coming out with some rubbish today, so has Northern's tweeters. Surely this needs to be stamped out to reflect the LAW and if they want to quote government rules, they should get it correct.

What are peoples thoughts? I don't want this to become a discussion about whether or not wearing a mask is correct but TOCs have a duty to get their facts straight.
What are you alleging is incorrect? You have not provided any facts at all.
 

Skymonster

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Seen this going around on twitter a few times:

If you don't feel comfortable wearing a mask on public transport, simply don't wear it and if challenged say that under Part 1 Section 4 (a) of The Health Protection (CV, Wearing of Face Coverings on Public Transport) you are exempt as they cause you severe anxiety.

Would this be an acceptable loophole people could use?

This is the regulation concerned:
For the purposes of regulation 3(1), the circumstances in which a person (“P”) has a reasonable excuse include those where—

(a)P cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering—

(i)because of any physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability (within the meaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010(15)), or

(ii)without severe distress;

I presume it is (ii) that is being referred to.
 

8J

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It is all over twitter today if you want to have a look. Too many examples of it to single out one but I will try and provide some screenshots.

Screenshot_20200615-132439~2.png
 

MikeWM

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Interestingly/alarmingly, it appears TfL have gone rather further than the government regulations and actually amended their byelaws:

https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/terms-and-conditions/byelaws#on-this-page-1

It has a tighter definition of face covering, and a broader definition of when they must be worn:

PUBLIC ACCESS TO THIS STATION IS RESTRICTED TO PERSONS WEARING A FACE-COVERING WHICH COVERS THEIR NOSE AND MOUTH AND ATTACHES BEHIND THEIR EARS, OR TIES BEHIND THEIR HEAD.•FACE COVERINGS MUST BE WORN BY PASSENGERS AT ALL TIMES IN THIS STATION, AND ON ITS PLATFORMS.

And has a maximum fine of £1000, as opposed to £100/£50 in the government regulations.

Yet more reasons to avoid London for the forseeable, I guess.
 

kylemore

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Fewer? How many do you normally get? I haven't had a cold this year.
Perhaps we should destroy the economy permanently through permanent lockdown so that in six months although millions are dying from famine and mass suicides they at least weren't inconvenienced by colds during their final agonies?
 

Skymonster

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Note also the regulation says:

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), a person is using a public transport service at any time when—

(a)they are boarding any vehicle by means of which a public transport service is provided, or

(b)they are (whether or not for the purposes of travel) on board any vehicle by means of which a public transport service is provided.

Which effectively means masks are not compulsory on station concourses and platforms.
 

Bletchleyite

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Would this be an acceptable loophole people could use?

If you want to kill people, use a loophole. Otherwise, have a bit of basic consideration for others and wear one unless you are genuinely precluded from doing so by a physical or mental health condition, and not because you just can't be bothered or don't like the idea.
 

Cantab26

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And has a maximum fine of £1000, as opposed to £100/£50 in the government regulations.

The new ‘England’ regulations prescribe an unlimited fine on summary conviction.

The £100/£50 figures relate to fixed penalty notices which are an administrative resolution.
 

neontrix

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Well you've still not provided any specific examples of what you're claiming is wrong. While the law may only apply in England, I assume TOCs are free to make their own policy regarding whether masks are required on the entirety of their network or not. For simplicity's sake I think they're doing the right approach - 'you need to wear a mask on our trains, wherever you are' is a lot easier to understand.
 

Bletchleyite

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Quite a claim! What evidence do you have that not wearing a mask will kill other people?

If spread occurs because you do not wear a face covering, it is likely that one or more deaths will result from that spread, even if a considerable way downstream.

You are doing this for other people. Please do not take the mick by finding loopholes. The exceptions are to accommodate "can'ts", not "won'ts". "Won'ts" should never be accommodated in any form ever, but certainly not in any form of public health regulation.

Just wear one as billed, or exercise your choice not to use public transport, unless you would encounter a medical issue (vague displeasure/discomfort is not a medical issue) from doing so, and if you would encounter a medical issue, be super-conscientious about distancing on board.
 

8J

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No they're not free to make their own policies that are legally enforceable. They have to be backed up with an appropriate by-law or law which is the case in England, but not in Scotland.
 

Skymonster

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If you want to kill people, use a loophole.
Don't be so melodramatic - its comments like this that fuels fear. If a person who was not wearing a mask was likely to kill someone else, NO ONE would be allowed to go without a mask.
 

Bow Fell

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It is all over twitter today if you want to have a look. Too many examples of it to single out one but I will try and provide some screenshots.

“All over Twitter” - Where?

“Too many examples” - provides one screenshot
 
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