Forum Topic

Face Masks

When are Transport Police going to seriously start issuing £100 spot fines for ALL the selfish thick morons who refuse to wear masks on trains?If you've taken a train or tube recently you may have seen that it's only about 60% of people who wear masks and try to keep some space.These people are threatening the lives of fellow passengers. Isn't that serious enough? Transport police are nowhere in sight. When Boris announces his next limp & confusing instruction on face masks in shops are we going to have spot fines in shops? Or expect shops refuse entry to anyone not wearing a mask?

Richard Potts ● 2303d46 Comments

The worse offenders on the bus and train I take to work and home are members of the BAME community though only the younger ones and yet its all over the media that they are the worse affectedStaff at Clapham Junction have them hanging round their necks and do not enforce the wearing of masks at all though to be fair it may not be worth the hassle for them as I expect they are on a minimum wage and only on a short contract

Paul Fisher ● 2303d

You won't get any action for as long as you have a weak inarticulate Mayor of London. He is too frightened to upset the worst offenders of this crime.

Steve Taylor ● 2303d

I myself put a post up last week regarding wearing face coverings on transport, I have also written to the mayor, I have a serious,lung condition as do thousands of others, this is pure selfishness on others part, totally selfish, irresponsibly and darn right dangerous behaviour and the most gutting thing of all is the drivers themselves are not covering up so how do we expect them to enforce their passengers, man up Mr Khan and start doing the job your paid to do, both government and Mr Khan need a bullet up their a..e, they repeatedly put responsibilities on to general pubic, and this really is not good enough we have gutless idiots running this country

Julie Greenjam ● 2303d

Why blame The Mayor? He has pleaded with this useless, ineffective government to make masks mandatory for weeks and weeks. Talk about dithering, Bozza said one thing, Gove another (although him wearing a mask would be a blessing) - this is all about a*se covering because they haven't a clue.

Vanessa Smith ● 2303d

'this is all about a*se covering'In don't think covering that with a mask will be at all helpful.

Susan Kelly ● 2303d

For many in the government who can only talk out of theirs - I beg to differ.

Vanessa Smith ● 2303d

Is all this to do with Freedom of Choice as opposed to draconian rules of enforcement?  Are the Government relying on the supposed "Common sense and decency of the British people" to do the right thing?  It would appear that is pure wishful thinking - we have a totally different, far more self centered population now, more's the pity.  I too have severe lung problems and am being stopped from venturing out at all except in cases of emergency!  If only these selfish buggers would act for everyone's good I and many like me could be permmited more freedom.

Jennifer Selig ● 2303d

There were enforcement officers on my bus this afternoon only one of the two put a mask on and did not talk to anyone without.  It is silly

Lorraine New ● 2303d

They are mandatory on public transport, Vanessa, but it is not being enforced.  I was amazed when I had to go to Boots last week to collect a prescription to find barely anyone was wearing one in shops. It should be mandatory in shops etc.  Having said that, not sure what the point is in pubs, restaurants etc. You can't eat or drink with them on.  Which is why I shan't be going into either for a long time.

Claire Moran ● 2303d

The Government made the law. It’s up to the mayor to enforce it. He needs to up his game radically

Steve Taylor ● 2303d

The Mayor has been asking for masks to be made mandatory. The government hasn't bothered to do so.

Carl Wynne ● 2303d

The mayor controls TfL

Steve Taylor ● 2303d

Compulsory in shops from 24 July.  Good.  But why the delay?

Claire Moran ● 2303d

Terrible decision!

Andrew Fleet ● 2303d

Why?

Claire Moran ● 2303d

Exactly. If you are going to make them compulsory do it now, and get shops to provide (or even sell) masks to customers who don't have them and want to go in, and deduct the small price off any money spent within the shop.Ok, I've seen the flaw with that last idea (about selling masks), maybe give the smaller retailers a small amount of money out of the 'get £10 off your meal in August' pot towards providing masks.Delaying this to July 24th also undermines the message about people having to wear masks on public transport.

Andrew Jones ● 2303d

Took the Overground today. I reckon about 20% were not wearing masks, and some who were wore them incorrectly as chin warmers. More distressingly, some station staff were unmasked at Gospel Oak and Hampstead Heath stations. Don't think I'll be taking the train again until the virus is eradicated.

Ken Munn ● 2303d

Not sure what the logic is but employees of transport operators have an exemption from wearing the masks whilst on duty.

Philip Coe ● 2302d

Wear your mask like underwear1. Don’t touch or adjust especially in public2. Do not borrow or lend3. Make sure fit is tight but comfortable4. Make sure it is cleaned or replaced at least daily5. Wear the right side out6. If stained disposed of safely7. If damp replace it8. Do not go Commando!

Alina Danford ● 2302d

Face-masks are a means of maintaining some level of fear for idiots now that covid 'mentions' on death certificates are harder to find. They have also been introduced for vaccine conditioning purposes. Talking of vaccines:

Michael Brown ● 2302d

Fantastic news that face masks will be mandatory to wear in all shops. The second wave will be far worse than the first wave so get ready for another lockdown this winter.  There will be thousands more deaths from Covid.

Steve Taylor ● 2302d

If it's in the script, it will happen.

Michael Brown ● 2302d

I changed trains at Clapham Junction today and all staff I encountered, including the guard on the train, were wearing masks properly. I can't say that the guard challenged anybody who wasn't wearing a mask but then who can blame him?I did say (through my mask) to one young person who had not worn a mask for the journey and who was also getting off the train at Clapham that I thought that wearing masks was compulsory but was I perhaps mistaken. She gestured and said 'I don't know' to which I said 'Oh, I think you do'. On a section of the return journey a woman asked somebody why he wasn't wearing a mask to which she got an annoyed 'How do you know I'm not exempt?' There are some people one wouldn't dare question.I don't know how the mask wearing on public transport or in shops can be enforced.

Anne England ● 2302d

Do the shop workers also have to wear masks now.

Janice Evans ● 2302d

No.  Quote. It won't be compulsory for shop workers in England to wear a face covering because "it won't always be right for every setting in a retail environment", according to government minister George Eustice.However, Mr Eustice says that many workers already wear coverings or are protected by a screen.He argues that retailers "have been making the right judgements".The face-covering requirement for customers will help to protect shop workers, according to Heath Secretary Matt Hancock. Speaking in Parliament, he said that shop workers had suffered disproportionately and that "the death rate of sales and retail assistants is 75% higher amongst men and 60% higher amongst women than in the general population".

Alina Danford ● 2302d

I do have a question. Is a face shield classed a face covering?If so the. Surely asthmatics and people with other conditions that prevent them from wearing a mask could wear visors./shields

Alina Danford ● 2302d

"The second wave will be far worse than the first wave"Steve,Are you able to predict the future? You must be a wealthy man from your stock market investments.

Andy Riley ● 2301d

Does mucous and spittle dribble down the insides of face masks contaminating food and drinks being served by the wearer?  There must be a risk of this however small so we should ban face masks.

Andy Riley ● 2301d

Quite.I've been observing passenger behaviours at various stations and on trains, and your item 1 in particular is breached by most people.  The scientific studies I have read tend to say there may be small beneficial effects for community use if masks and coverings are worn properly.  Clearly they are not, so I question whether there is any benefit in real life - indeed there may be harms.You did not include in your list the requirement to wash or sanitise hands before applying the covering.  In the course of my observations (I estimate N=200 at stations) I saw no one do this.  So what is happening is that coverings wearers are transferring pathogens from the environment to their face where it is likely they will flourish in the warm, humid conditions of the mask.I have not seen any studies on the potential harms caused by face coverings, except in so far as some papers will briefly note possible down sides in their discussion section.  So we may have a selection bias in the scientific literature reflecting a preponderance of studies designed to look for positive effects.

Andy Riley ● 2301d

Please Andy, this is serious and your post is totally unnecessary wearing a face mask is a small price to pay to protect your own health and that if others.

Jayne Thorburn ● 2301d

I'm being serious. I was referring to visors.It seems to me that the risk I outlined is real and would be interested if anyone could point to research showing whether it is something to worry about or not.In the absence of evidence I will adopt the precautionary principle and avoid food shops where staff wear visors.

Andy Riley ● 2301d

Tesco, JD Sports and Lidl have already said they will not be enforcing the public to wear masks in their stores. The police are not interested either. At least we know where to get our shopping.

Michael Brown ● 2301d

Morrisons and W H Smith have also said they will not enforce the muzzling of the public in their stores.

Michael Brown ● 2301d

I admit I have no scientific or medical expertise whatsoever but having watched countless hours of news and coronavirus updates etc., since the start of this outbreak, I have yet to see or hear any scientist or medic specifically advise that the wearing of masks is advisable or particularly beneficial.  Almost from day one virologist (Chris something or other) was on tv regularly saying they were as much use as a chocolate teapot and you may as well have a beer instead.  Dr Sarah Jarvis (endlessly appearing on Jeremy Vine) agreed with him on an almost daily basis and many others whose names I don't remember or know said much the same thing.  In fact most expressed concern about the potential dangers of people wearing masks incorrectly and general handling putting them on and taking them off.  Yet now we all have to wear them.This is really nothing more than pandering to mass hysteria over the efficacy of masks.  It seems the general public think they will be saved from this virus if everyone wears a mask and the government have caved in to look as though they are doing something.  If there was any scientific evidence to back this theory up surely we would have been ordered to wear them immediately not in 2 weeks time.  What is all that about?How many people do you see with their masks under their chins, one on tv yesterday wearing a full face mask with the middle cut out! For heaven sake get a grip people wear one if you want but the only benefit I can see is to the coffers of the entrepreneurs knocking up these face masks for upwards of £5 a time.If it is true that Tesco, Lidle, Morrisons etc., are not going to enforce this rule, that is where I will be doing my shopping.

Bernadette Paul ● 2301d

The government doesn’t want the fear to end, as the agenda is ongoing. They now keep referring to corona ‘outbreaks’, where people have tested positive to a form of coronavirus, according to their phoney test kit; but most of these people don’t show any symptoms or feel unwell; that’s because there’s nothing wrong with them; but such reporting helps their agenda. The mask is a reminder of the ‘lethal’ virus, and the forced wearing of the mask symbolises acceptance that the wearer is the property of the government who, having destroyed the economy and people’s lives, is now setting about destroying people’s spirit so they will more easily succumb to the next stages.

Michael Brown ● 2301d

An outbreak of sense in Wales!https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/face-masks-not-being-made-18592505Some quotes from Wales' chief medical officer:"Very little has changed in the evidence. Whenever we have looked at this through the Sage group and our own technical advisory group and our own research, we have always found that the evidence is really quite weak."There is undoubtedly a small benefit to the wearing of face masks but most of that evidence is based on surgical face masks, the sort you see in hospitals, rather than the sort of simple face masks that are being advocated in the community."Dr Atherton added: "There are downsides to wearing a mask. Some people do feel a bit panicky and there is the risk if you are fiddling with the mask you can do more harm than good."The disposing of them is also a worry. I was out running and saw disposed masks in the streets, which is quite distressing."

Andy Riley ● 2301d

"Steve,Are you able to predict the future?"Nope - just guided by the science and what wee have learnt to date about this pandemic.

Steve Taylor ● 2301d

"At least we know where to get our shopping."At least we know which shops to boycott. Thanks for the info.

Steve Taylor ● 2301d

"If it is true that Tesco, Lidle, Morrisons etc., are not going to enforce this rule, that is where I will be doing my shopping."Death wish??

Steve Taylor ● 2301d

Some people in government are more interested in PR than anything else.

Philippa Bond ● 2301d

Personally I am reassured when confronted by a medical person wearing a proper mask.  However am very undecided when ordinary people have face coverings - most of them are not wearing their masks properly, many fiddle with them, half the people keep them pulled down under their  chins pulling them up when face to face with others.  I reckon hand washing and distance are the best bets.    However, as I am shielded and in total isolation, I only see medical people and everyone else keeps their distance, at least 6ft away.  I am getting a haircut at the end of the month so can only hope that I shall be safe and not pick up an infection.  After 4 months lockdown life must start up again - the country must get back to work.  I shall have to start taking a chance on somethings - I've had a good happy life which I really want to continue and do not want to be committing suicide but if it is soon to be terminated, then  so be it!  The future belongs to the young.

Jennifer Selig ● 2301d

Does anyone know if or when kissing someone new will be legalised, mask or no mask?

Michael Brown ● 2301d

As per the Facebook post doing the rounds, if you don't like the mask, you are really, really not going to like the ventilator.

Claire Moran ● 2301d

DCI... 💋

Georgina Flint ● 2301d

So Mickey why are you so concerned about kissing “someone new”. Have you just received your new blow up girlfriend.? Please do tell and what you going to call her.

James Smith-Jones ● 2301d

Disposing of face masks! Our goverment again does nothing. I saw on the television France has introduced a €180 fine for throwing down a face mask and it is enforced. During the lockdown they had 100000 police enforcing that. A friend of mine had a permit saying they were allowed to go to a pharmacy and it was checked several times. Its like the contributor here saying 60% of people only wearing a mask on the train and no transport police around.

Nicholas Beard ● 2301d