6 minutes ago, Wino said:

Just been reading some of the updates and now theres no isolation required if you have been double jabbed.....so who's going to police and prove you have been double jabbed in the first place .......

 

Gosh, you mean that people will have to be taken on trust, just like real adults? Making decisions on their own without a Police State? What on earth is the government thinking of LOL

1 minute ago, StephenFord said:

Gosh, you mean that people will have to be taken on trust, just like real adults? What on earth is the government thinking of LOL

Lol, yeah , exactly. Like any of us have any trust left in this Government 😂

1 minute ago, Wino said:

 Like any of us have any trust left in this Government 😂

You've missed the point, it's not "this" government, it's any government. The leader of the opposition wants lockdown to continue!

6 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

You've missed the point, it's not "this" government, it's any government. The leader of the opposition wants lockdown to continue!

I think we all know that if the boot was on the other foot they would be doing exactly the same.

6 minutes ago, Wino said:

I think we all know that if the boot was on the other foot they would be doing exactly the same.

Hence the old saying: "It doesn't matter who you vote for, the Government always gets in" 😀

I'll probably continue wearing a mask because a) I want to feel like I've got some value from my mask purchase and b) they're quite toasty in winter. 

Honestly, I can accept the complaints about masks being uncomfortable, hot, steam your glasses up etc.

But the argument about civil liberties and freedom I don't accept.  What freedoms exactly did I lose from wearing a mask?  The freedom to catch Covid?

As for trusting people, my comment above was tongue in cheek but I was serious.  I don't. 

That said, we accept thousands of flu deaths so we may have to accept thousands of covid deaths.

1 hour ago, Guy Heaton said:

That said, we accept thousands of flu deaths so we may have to accept thousands of covid deaths.

The most sinister thing is the governments control over the BBC. In NI, ad nauseum, we've been told that during the whole pandemic, 2155 have lost their lives (debatable as there is no distinction made of dying 'with' Covid, or dying 'of' Covid.)

That number is always quoted totally without context, and is generated as a scaremongering tactic. 

All they needed to do to give context is state that in the 12 months prior to Covid, just under 16,000 lost their lives here to cancer, heart disease, respiratory disease etc etc.

In the next 3 years, because the NHS shut down, deaths from these causes will dwarf anything the pandemic ever did...

2 hours ago, Guy Heaton said:

Honestly, I can accept the complaints about masks being uncomfortable, hot, steam your glasses up etc.

But the argument about civil liberties and freedom I don't accept.  What freedoms exactly did I lose from wearing a mask?  The freedom to catch Covid?

As for trusting people, my comment above was tongue in cheek but I was serious.  I don't. 

That said, we accept thousands of flu deaths so we may have to accept thousands of covid deaths.

The freedom of not looking like a prat,the freedom of facial expression, to actually smile at people.To act and look normal without scaring the kids: I can do that well enough without a mask but that’s another story😮

 

This 😷 business looks to be getting more confusing by the minute, even before we get to July 19.

Far from it being personal choice/responsibility, it's looking as if Government rules are being replaced by rules imposed by business. Jet 2, Ryanair and EasyJet have already said they will require masks, other transport operators are making similar noises as is Mayor Khan in respect of TfL.

So far, only Sainsbury's out of the big stores seem to have been clear that they will not require customers to wear them, M&S, John Lewis, Tesco and Co-op, to mention only a few, are still thinking about it, I understand.

Now, I'm quite prepared (if not particularly happy) to follow Government rules, and equally comfortable to exercise my own judgement, but I certainly don't want the likes of Michael O'Leary telling me what to do. But if I do want to exercise my choice and judgement then it just looks as if I'll have to continue driving instead of using public transport, and shopping online where possible, minimising personal visits.

 

13 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

 

So far, only Sainsbury's out of the big stores seem to have been clear that they will not require customers to wear them, M&S, John Lewis, Tesco and Co-op, to mention only a few, are still thinking about it, I understand.

 

 

I fear you may not understand the workings of a private business. I worked in retail for 40 odd years. You'll often see on the front door of a 'shop' a sign saying, "The management reserve the right to refuse admittance...". It's a private entity, and they are entitled to make up any rules they want as long as it doesn't break the law. For example, they could not refuse admittance to 'black' people, or, 'white' people, but requiring a mask is quite within their remit as it's not against the law to request such.

As a free citizen, you always have the option that if you disagree with their imposed mask policy, just walk on by to somewhere else, which is what I'll be doing if any dumb shops want me to wear one!

Bottom line is the law states that from the 19th July, you are not mandated to wear one ...

15 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

I fear you may not understand the workings of a private business.

Lol, fear ye not, Stephen, I understand the legal position perfectly well. I'm just annoyed that the Government seem to have in effect delegated responsibility to make these rules to business. As we keep seeing surveys that say 60 or 70% or whatever of the public want to keep masks anyway they'll no doubt set their "rules" in the best way to benefit the bottom line.

As I said above, I'll be noting their position and voting with my feet, just like yourself, though depending how it goes we may have to compromise a bit to avoid starvation!😀

 

11 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

As I said above, I'll be noting their position and voting with my feet, just like yourself, though depending how it goes we may have to compromise a bit to avoid starvation!😀

 

Well, as you may know, I haven't worn a mask since 21st June, I'm exempt - I'm an adult!

Sainsbury’s ………yeh😀

19 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Well, as you may know, I haven't worn a mask since 21st June, I'm exempt - I'm an adult!

Lol, yes, you may have mentioned it!😀

On 7/7/2021 at 6:30 PM, Eric Bloodaxe said:

So far, only Sainsbury's out of the big stores seem to have been clear that they will not require customers to wear them

Looks like they've now changed their minds on that. This morning I see "Sainsbury's is the biggest retailer so far to state they will require customers to wear masks". Waterstones have said the same. 

USDAW, the shop workers union, is up in arms that their members will be required to enforce rules which are not backed by law, similar story with the transport workers.  I have sympathy with that.

Generally a bit of a shambles. At least in Scotland the FM has provided some clarity backed by law, whether you agree with her or not.

38 minutes ago, Eric Bloodaxe said:

Looks like they've now changed their minds on that. This morning I see "Sainsbury's is the biggest retailer so far to state they will require customers to wear masks". Waterstones have said the same. 

Well I'll still carry on wearing my mask in supermarkets & shops, I've had me two jabs but will carry on wearing them.

37 minutes ago, Ian Lanc said:

Well I'll still carry on wearing my mask in supermarkets & shops, I've had me two jabs but will carry on wearing them.

Well I'll still NOT wearing my mask in supermarkets & shops, I've had me two jabs and will discontinue wearing them.

If it was mandatory to wear an FFP3 class mask which is 100% effective, I could at least understand, but to wear a germ ridden bit of cotton strapped to your face causes more harm than wearing nothing at all...

1 minute ago, StephenFord said:

Well I'll still NOT wearing my mask in supermarkets & shops, I've had me two jabs and will discontinue wearing them.

If it was mandatory to wear an FFP3 class mask which is 100% effective, I could at least understand, but to wear a germ ridden bit of cotton strapped to your face causes more harm than wearing nothing at all...

Can’t wait to bin mine on the 19th.Plenty of discarded mucus laden masks on the paths and countryside if some are running low on stock.😀

 

 

3 minutes ago, williamweb said:

Can’t wait to bin mine on the 19th...

Why are you waiting? LOL

I'm guessing the virus knows to wait till the 19th to go away, as it did know to wait till after 10pm on the curfew, or, not to attack whilst sitting down at a restaurant table, but could zap you if you stood up, or, to leave you alone in a bar if you ordered a substantial meal, but would attack you if you only ordered a drink 🤣

1 minute ago, StephenFord said:

Why are you waiting? LOL

I'm guessing the virus knows to wait till the 19th to go away, as it did know to wait till after 10pm on the curfew, or, not to attack whilst sitting down at a restaurant table, but could zap you if you stood up, or, to leave you alone in a bar if you ordered a substantial meal, but would attack you if you only ordered a drink 🤣

Because I’m law abiding😀

17 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Well I'll still NOT wearing my mask in supermarkets & shops, I've had me two jabs and will discontinue wearing them.

If it was mandatory to wear an FFP3 class mask which is 100% effective, I could at least understand, but to wear a germ ridden bit of cotton strapped to your face causes more harm than wearing nothing at all...

All upto themselves really, as for germ ridden masks, I use the disposable type, you know the type the NHS has been using for donkeys years and are thrown away after each use, usually as I leave the shop or in the street or in a park, normally though find a quiet place where there's birds and tempt them to try one on for size, best doing it when there's no witnesses about, gotta think about the human race and not the.... 🌎

25 minutes ago, Ian Lanc said:

All upto themselves really, as for germ ridden masks, I use the disposable type, you know the type the NHS has been using for donkeys years and are thrown away after each use, usually as I leave the shop or in the street or in a park, normally though find a quiet place where there's birds and tempt them to try one on for size, best doing it when there's no witnesses about, gotta think about the human race and not the.... 🌎

One definite fact about masks: they are an environmental disaster when billions finally end up in the sea😠

8 minutes ago, williamweb said:

One definite fact about masks.They are an environmental disaster when billions finally end up in the sea😠

Not wrong pal, it's become a serious problem now and to tackle this new form of waste, the Sun newspaper & has offered to take old masks and get them recycled properly, recycling bins are popping up in most supermarkets, even in Wilko stores, the bins are usually located at the main doors, there's about 100 billion fask masks discarded monthly, many thrown into the streets with no thought to the environment. 

7 minutes ago, Ian Lanc said:

...there's about 100 billion fask masks discarded monthly, many thrown into the streets with no thought to the environment. 

I believe plans are afoot to recycle them and make them into battery cars! 🤣🤣🤣