UK face coverings discussion

[westv]

How on earth do you wear a face covering when getting your hair cut?!

 

[trebor79]

How on earth do you wear a face covering when getting your hair cut?!

Unloop it from each in in turn and hold the mask on with a hand whilst those bits are cut.
I know...
But this is the same barber that scans my temperature and declares the result of 32.5 to be "perfect".

 

[Bikeman78]

The fact that it was August and it was warm was the key factor.
Imagine if the timeline were different, and the pandemic had started 5 months later than it did.
If such a scheme were tried in, say, a wet / snowbound and windy January, would people have the appetite for dining al fresco, or with all the restaurant windows open (to assist ventilation) ?

It been out for a meal twice. Seats inside and windows shut. I agree that all those tables near Cardiff Castle will be deserted when the typical autumn weather arrives.

 

[island]

Has the law actually been brought in for mandatory face coverings in pubs and restaurants or is it one of those things where pubs were initially told to close by Friday night, but the law forcing pubs to close wasnt brought in until the following Thursday?

It has been brought in and commenced yesterday, see SI 2020/1026 and 1028.

 

[packermac]

Unloop it from each in in turn and hold the mask on with a hand whilst those bits are cut.
I know...
But this is the same barber that scans my temperature and declares the result of 32.5 to be "perfect".

Not the way I had my hair cut a few weeks ago. Hairdresser had a mask and a visor I was told to remove my mask.

 

[Bikeman78]

reminds me of NHS catch it, bin it, kill it.
So if you sneeze or cough with your mask on it's just going to cause more problems, unless you bin your mask and wash your hands.

When I sneeze, I take my mask off to sneeze into a tissue or handkerchief. I get mild hayfever so sneezing is not uncommon.

 

[NorthOxonian]

Unloop it from each in in turn and hold the mask on with a hand whilst those bits are cut.
I know...
But this is the same barber that scans my temperature and declares the result of 32.5 to be "perfect".

That was exactly the way it worked at mine - except my temperature wasn't taken.

 

[MattA7]

If I’m right in thinking that the exemption for supermarket staff was removed? Went to asda earlier and most of the staff either weren’t wearing masks or had them around their necks

they did have a woman at the door harassing customers and telling a woman her son must wear a mask which avoided me having to divulge my medical history as she was busy dealing with the mother and child

 

[STINT47]

If someone isn't wearing a mask and is not exempt could you make a citizens arrest and if necessary use force to detain them? The way this is going things could soon get interesting.

 

[221129]

If someone isn't wearing a mask and is not exempt could you make a citizens arrest and if necessary use force to detain them? The way this is going things could soon get interesting.

No. And anyone that tried it would be suitably defended against..

 

[bramling]

If someone isn't wearing a mask and is not exempt could you make a citizens arrest and if necessary use force to detain them? The way this is going things could soon get interesting.

That would likely be classed as assault.

This is all getting nasty now.

 

[WM Bus]

Just had an issue in a Post office, wouldn’t recognise an exemption card from the government website and refused service unless I hold my t shirt over my mouth...

Definitely should complain to them for refusing to accept exemptions exist.

Get in touch | Help and support | Post Office

If you need help with any Post Office product or service our comprehensive support section is here to help you find the answers you need quickly and easily

www.postoffice.co.uk

And tell them to refer to the Gov website/guidelines.
It clearly states:

"Please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances, noting that some people may be less able to wear face coverings, and that reasons for this may not be visible to others".

[Withdrawn] [Withdrawn] Face coverings: when to wear one, exemptions and what makes a good one

www.gov.uk

 

[island]

If someone isn't wearing a mask and is not exempt could you make a citizens arrest and if necessary use force to detain them? The way this is going things could soon get interesting.

An any person arrest can be made only for offences which can be tried in crown court. Failing to wear a face covering where required is a summary only offence and as such an any person arrest is not legal.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Sep 2020 ==

If I’m right in thinking that the exemption for supermarket staff was removed? Went to asda earlier and most of the staff either weren’t wearing masks or had them around their necks

they did have a woman at the door harassing customers and telling a woman her son must wear a mask which avoided me having to divulge my medical history as she was busy dealing with the mother and child

Yes, shop staff in England are no longer exempt from wearing face coverings merely by virtue of being staff. Individuals may of course have exemptions of other sorts.

 

[Skimpot flyer]

If I’m right in thinking that the exemption for supermarket staff was removed? Went to asda earlier and most of the staff either weren’t wearing masks or had them around their necks

Interesting.
In London, TfL make it quite clear that ‘face coverings must be worn over the nose and mouth’ (which should of course be obvious) on their tube and rail services.

Does the legislation covering shops actually state this requirement? What I’m getting at is, can you wear the mask improperly, under your chin - yet still be in compliance with the law?
I’d be very angry if an exempt person was bullied by a shopworker sporting a mask under his/her chin. Because the bully would be demonstrating that he/she is NOT exempt but also in breach of the law

 

[island]

Yes it does, see section 2 (1) of SI 2020/791.

 

[talldave]

Unloop it from each in in turn and hold the mask on with a hand whilst those bits are cut.
I know...
But this is the same barber that scans my temperature and declares the result of 32.5 to be "perfect".

Don't go. Remington clippers - one of the best lockdown purchases I made.

 

[trebor79]

Don't go. Remington clippers - one of the best lockdown purchases I made.

Did that. I'm growing it a bit now, my last chance to have the foppish look before I go grey (I've found three greys eek!)

 

[Red Onion]

Did that. I'm growing it a bit now, my last chance to have the foppish look before I go grey (I've found three greys eek!)

I wish I had the luxury. I haven’t found greys. I just seem to find hairs going on permanent vacation...

Maybe I should invest in the Remington clippers and be done with it

 

[brad465]

Looks like enforcement of face coverings on trains is rather low/poor:

Covid-19: Fewer than 0.1% fined for no masks on trains

Police said enforcement in the form of fixed penalty notices was only used as a "last resort".

www.bbc.co.uk

Fewer than 0.1% of people stopped by police for not wearing masks on trains received a fine, figures have revealed.

British Transport Police (BTP) said it stopped 14,726 people from 15 July to 15 August for failing to comply, resulting in 14 fixed penalty notices.

The rules, introduced in June, state anyone travelling on public transport must wear a face covering.

BTP said enforcement in the form of fixed penalty notices was only used as a "last resort".

It said, from 30 July to 8 September, officers recorded 50,729 "interventions" with passengers not wearing face coverings, with 3,545 - 7% - of those told to leave the train.

The figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information request, showed 37 fines had been issued between 15 June and 14 July. BTP said it did not hold complete data for how many people were stopped during that time.

The rules have led to rows on public transport, with some spilling over into violence.

 

[yorkie]

You can't really effectively "enforce" this. In not surprised incidents of violence were reported; see previous posts of arguements posted by members such as @LowLevel

Authoritarianism isn't an appropriate way forward

 

[RomeoCharlie71]

I forgot to mention this here - but it wasn't too long ago that a woman got on a bus that I was on with a bag, typically used for the collection of dog faeces, tied round her mouth. I hope it was unused.

On the other hand, someone in Tesco on Wednesday looked like they were en-route to a tree-cutting job sporting a mask, visor, gloves and safety goggles.

 

[MikeWM]

Looks like enforcement of face coverings on trains is rather low/poor:

Covid-19: Fewer than 0.1% fined for no masks on trains

Police said enforcement in the form of fixed penalty notices was only used as a "last resort".

www.bbc.co.uk

The reporting isn't great, either - not a single mention of valid exemptions in that article.

Given I'll be forking out nearly £160 for the annual licence fee next week, it would be nice to get some better reporting in return.

 

[43066]

Given I'll be forking out nearly £160 for the annual licence fee next week, it would be nice to get some better reporting in return.

Surely to goodness you don’t actually pay the license fee?!

I haven’t paid it for at least a decade...

 

[MikeWM]

Surely to goodness you don’t actually pay the license fee?!

I haven’t paid it for at least a decade...

I think based on what TV I watch, I'm still required to do so - though I'm hoping to change that so that this is the last time.

*Generally* I'm fairly happy to do what I'm 'supposed' to do in life, even if I don't particularly agree with it. I'm not conformist, but not much of a rebel either. The last few months however...

 

[DelayRepay]

Are those plastic visors that a lot of people seem to be wearing acceptable under the legislation? I thought the legislation specifically referred to 'cloth' face coverings. I suppose the visor wearers may have an exemption under law, but decide to wear a visor instead of going 'naked'.

I'm not sure what the point of visors is though (other than to have something on display). Whether you agree with face coverings or not, isn't the theory that the cloth acts like a filter, so when you exhale any virus particles in your breath are trapped in the cloth rather then being dispersed? Surely all the visor does is direct your breath down/to the sides but wouldn't actually 'trap' any covid or stop it spreading in the same way that cloth might (theoretically)?

 

[Bletchleyite]

You can't really effectively "enforce" this.

Because the Government were too stupid to put an exemption process in place.

Authoritarianism isn't an appropriate way forward

Given that people are not willing to think beyond themselves, I fail to see a viable alternative. It's like speed cameras - they are needed because - selfishly - most people will drive too fast without them.

I would rather we were like Sweden, but we are not. We are not collectivist enough to be like a Scandinavian country.

 

[JamesT]

How on earth do you wear a face covering when getting your hair cut?!

The two haircuts I’ve had since lockdown, the barber has pushed the string of the ear loops out of the way whilst they shaved around that area. It didn’t get in the way that much. Different masks with more substantial bits around the ear or tying behind the head would probably be more difficult.

 

[island]

Are those plastic visors that a lot of people seem to be wearing acceptable under the legislation? I thought the legislation specifically referred to 'cloth' face coverings. I suppose the visor wearers may have an exemption under law, but decide to wear a visor instead of going 'naked'.

I'm not sure what the point of visors is though (other than to have something on display). Whether you agree with face coverings or not, isn't the theory that the cloth acts like a filter, so when you exhale any virus particles in your breath are trapped in the cloth rather then being dispersed? Surely all the visor does is direct your breath down/to the sides but wouldn't actually 'trap' any covid or stop it spreading in the same way that cloth might (theoretically)?

No mention of cloth in the legislation. Face shields are explicitly excluded from the definition of “face covering” in Scottish legislation; in England and Wales they are fine.

I regularly use a shield of this sort and when it gets cold it fogs up quickly. That is a clear indication that it in fact is trapping droplets from my breath.

As a counterpoint, the chaps I saw on Thursday wearing face shields at about a 70° angle to their faces probably were not achieving anything useful...

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 26 Sep 2020 ==

Looks like enforcement of face coverings on trains is rather low/poor:

Covid-19: Fewer than 0.1% fined for no masks on trains

Police said enforcement in the form of fixed penalty notices was only used as a "last resort".

www.bbc.co.uk

I would expect most enforcement discussions consist of:
BTP: Why aren’t you wearing a face covering?
Passengers 1-9: Oh whoops sorry *pull mask out*
Passenger 10: I’m exempt

Only a small minority, predominantly those who fail the attitude test, will be told to leave the train or fined.

 

[gnolife]

You might find it easier to simply download the below from the gov.uk website, and save it to your phone.

View attachment 83934

I use one of those when travelling to England. The samount of people who tell me it isn't valid is ridiculous - I've heard variants on 'it's not a green lanyard, we don't accept it' more times than I can count. This includes a Avanti TM who ordered me off a train at the next stop (the fact that that was where I wanted anyway is beside the point).

 

[westv]

Surely to goodness you don’t actually pay the license fee?!

I haven’t paid it for at least a decade...

I don't pay for a tv license but I do pay for a tv licence.