News Worldwide impact of the novel coronavirus (covid-19)

[blackemerald1]

I never said put hands on a customer.

^Oh sorry I don't know how you otherwise 'kick them out'. Somebody has to front up and say, 'get out' & wear the risks associated with that.

Maybe that will clear up confusion. And if Costco can do it, others can do it. And its not the law anywhere in the US as far as I know. He said "its our policy".

^Not really. The bloke in Costco was abused and berrated by the customer. It could have escalated into something really serious.

I think they can refuse service.

^Yes but again there is a risk.

Not sure if they would have had me physically removed though

^What choices do they have if you didn't comply?

I am not sure what happens if folks don't cooperate.

^Hmm... not a lot of choices left.

I'm all for masks but if the law isn't clear on the wearing of masks then businesses can have policy's but that's not a law. It really does leave the employees and businesses open to lots of problems... Lots of people are really stressed atm so a dispute over masks easily escalates. It's really tricky.

 

[Freida]

One of the local liquor stores closed down because his employee was assaulted three times in ONE day for telling people they couldn't come into the shop without a mask. He said he would close rather than continue to let his staff be harmed. My sister was threatened by a customer who told her he would be back to "get her" when she got off work because she said he couldn't come into her shop without a mask. A clerk at the grocery store offered a man a mask and he threw it back and screamed at the clerk that "I"m not wearing a f*cking mask!"

It's a HUGE problem in the states. Police aren't going to enforce the mask laws because they simply don't have time and service staff can't enforce it because of the risk to their safety. And it's a big risk because those who refuse to wear them have it all tangled up into a constitutional rights bunch of garbage. You hear it every day --- they believe we are now a communist country because the mayor or governor said to wear a mask. They throw fits because it is "against my rights!" even when you point out that no one has an issue with the fact that you have to wear shoes and shirts in almost all public places. But a mask? Oh ya - that's a whole different thing

The biggest problem is there is no national standard or guidance so each state is just making it up as they go. So that leaves it all open to individual interpretation - which leads to assaults, shootings and stabbings of clerks and restaurant staff by people who are convinced they are the victims of some kind of conspiracy

The level of violence is astounding -- even for americans

 

[EmmaOwl]

Here they WILL arrest you for disturbing the peace if you don't wear a mask. Cops are hanging around supporting staff at doors to places like grocery stores. Some stores, only a few people are allowed at a time, and everyone else has to wait outside, standing on taped marks on the ground to make sure you are 6 feet apart in every spot in line. These lines will circle a small building. Thankfully this is unusual now. They let many more people in the stores at once - as long as you follow the rules in the store. At the supermarket, each aisle is one-way so you have to go up and down each aisle whether you want to or not.

Some stores have guards, some have regular employees at the doors but you know there is tight security, the whole thing is massively tense.

No one argues. No one goes without a mask. No one even looks at each other if they can help it. It is as though we all resent one another for existing. No one converses, because people are afraid of what might come through a mask if you're shouting. We come home depressed.

It's really interesting to see what is going on elsewhere. The people where I am are terrified enough to overcome all this "I'm an American you don't force me to do anything!" There's some mumbling and muttering maybe at the most. If you wear your mask under your nose? large groups of people (all spaced out 6 feet apart) will indicate, and the offender will sheepishly pull up their mask. It's like everyone's spirit is crushed.

 

[Changing4Best]

If the US president would wear one, especially to give a good example to school children, it would help some, I think.

 

[HannaD]

I can't wear a mask. I try to stay six feet (should be eight feet) away from people if I have to go out. I get reports that employees only put on masks if they see customers wearing them to avoid the hassle of being harrassed.
All the assumptions made about non-mask wearers isn't fair. I seen a video of a masked woman loudly yelling at a guy with no mask. If she didn't want to spread the virus then why do things that encourage the spread? I didn't take that incident to represent all mask wearers. If she had verbally assaulted me, I would have walked away. I wouldn't want her pathogens and wish to not disturb other customers.
I have patiently waited for my chance to access products many times. Opting to come back later if too crowded.
On the plus side, our local grocery stores offer shopping hours for the immune compromised and online shopping with pick-up (free or cheap). That service may come in handy.
I love the plexiglass put up around customer service employees.
I would never attack another person for requesting me to leave a business. I wouldn't raise my voice. I would speak softly as I thanked them and leave to shop elsewhere (or use another method like online and delivery).
There are people on both sides that are taking this to insults and shaming. Maybe it's not as simple as you think. There's alot of people out there. With all kinds of medical conditions. We take a few loud obnoxious people and use them as scapegoats to strawman others opinions we don't agree with, on both sides. It's sensationalism. Clickbait. Money for advertising. Just do your best and remain civil. I hope this isn't offensive to anyone. It just seems like there's so much focus on masks that we are forgetting other ways to cooperate.

 

[lostforgottensoul]

I seen a video of a masked woman loudly yelling at a guy with no mask.

I personally do not understand this. When I see someone without a mask, I simply go the other way and do my best to stay as far away from them as possible. ETA: And don't say anything to them.

can't wear a mask

I see people with face shields. Would that be possible for you? It protects your eyes too, which is possibly even better.

Just asking. I agree that everyone just needs to calm the f*ck down and be nice to each other!

 

[HannaD]

I see people with face shields. Would that be possible for you? It protects your eyes too, which is possibly even better.

Yes. I think can wear those because, I tried similar things before with no problem. Eye protection and once a welding mask. It was before all this though and I never thought of it. I'll look into them. Thanks!

 

[Friday]

I think the stores could enforce but too risky as jaccat stated. The large stores could put security at the door. There sure are many who are really protesting this and believe it's unconstitutional. I don't see the difference of when they made the world "no smoking" Back in the 80's you could smoke on a plane and in airport, grocery stores and malls, hospital lobby, just about everywhere. That all changed due to second hand smoke. This is just for second hand cooties that can be deadly. I understand the fear of government control but dont understand those that believe it is a hoax or why ppl just won't do it for as long as we need to-not forever.

I have just decided what to do every time I run into someone in a shop without a mask. :sneaky:

It should get interesting. People around here view smoking as worse than child abuse. And the manager at my local store smokes. I bet he’d find the whole thing completely hilarious // could probably get most of the staff lighting up when customers are refusing to wear masks.

20 years of 2nd hand smoke MIGHT give you lung cancer... but 20 seconds of you not wearing a mask could kill me. Suck it up buttercup. You want us to quit smoking on you, go put on a mask and we’ll put these out! :roflmao:

 

[mamachick]

@Friday, your response is priceless. I love it. Course I wouldn't really do it but it would get the point across for sure. People would run.

I just saw on news in Ohio that police are having to announce for people to now call law enforcement about those not following mask policies. Of course LE cant deal with this. I was just surprised at the number of calls they were receiving.

I know my local news is reporting daily on positive cases in our county. Each time they say some are coming back from vacations, some have been at social events, and some the contact is unknown which leads us to believe it is more contagious than once thought. I wonder about that unknown group, are they wearing masks to do their essentials, are they even telling the truth about social distancing because I can imagine some people may be embarrassed for not social distancing. Even though I see the numbers climbing in my county, I also see some (otherwise intelligent) people on my fb page having dinner together at restaurants.

While I am social distancing, I have a friend who also is that comes over about once a week but we are outside and stay distanced. My daughter and her family come about once a month and again we are outside. Both her and her husband work at home and so does my husband. Its really hard not seeing them especially my new grand baby.

We also have gambling parlors on every corner around here. They parking lots are packed every time I go past. I am amazed at the risk they are taking. Bars as well. People either still think its a hoax or just think they are invincible. Sure are many perspectives.

 

[DharmaGirl]

Where I live very, very few people wear masks. It's a political thing according to those I've heard talking about it. The sheriff says he won't enforce mask wearing, so since we are voting for a new one, he doesn't get my vote. Just because you have few cases now doesn't mean your area is immune. Or the virus doesn't exist. There is a sign on one of the streets in town that says, "The virus is a lie". I wonder how they thought the whole globe got together and made it up.

 

[blackemerald1]

Wearing of masks is mandatory when in public in one city, Melbourne, Australia & a local government area nearby. But the law has it's exceptions built in. Like when doing heavy exercise etc.

There have been some fools trying to dodge the laws and rules but overall people are compliant and peaceful about it. Social acceptance of masks will come along quite quickly I think because unlike smoking which was an activity people were urged, shamed etc to stop doing - this is asking people to start doing something. Maybe there's a subtle difference. We'll have to see. There are groups asking for the government to fund and provide masks. Overall I think that's a good idea and may reduce the improper use of one time use masks which might stop the viral spread.

The border restrictions between states are extremely frustrating for many people. My head is spinning keeping up with which borders are ok to cross and which are not. I've already been approached & asked if I'd mind smuggling somebody over a border in the boot of my car. :wtf: Yes I do mind! I'm way to old for that kind of sh*t and so are they. People are being held on remand for illegal crossings. Crazy, crazy idea.

The virus has been walked into a lot of aged care facilities and staff are being stood down by the dozen because of close contact risk.

It's the one area of all the vulnerabilities that the authorities needed to be much more proactive than they have been. They are like cruise ships on dry land and somebody should have twigged way, way sooner. Vulnerable people exposed to a ridiculously high level. Only now has there been much more careful restrictions and requirements implemented like mandatory use of ppe.

I think it might be too late for many of the residents. It must be terrifying to be inside one of those facilities and know that you'v been exposed to the virus. Many families are asking if they can remove their aged relatives but it's too late in most circumstances and unfortunately they don't have the capacity to care for them appropriately. What a mess.

 

[Sideways]

Social acceptance of masks will come along quite quickly I think

I agree. We all went through a hard lockdown, stay-at-home period when the virus first broke out. There were security guards at supermarkets, closed shops everywhere, people becoming unemployed overnight in the tens of thousands. We've all been through that.

So if the health directive from the government for the second wave is "wear masks, and we can avoid another hard lockdown", I think that's a no-brainer for most people.

There's always the noisy minority finding reasons to whinge: it's a hoax, it's 5G, it's some kind of conspiracy...whatever.

But the military are out helping the police man border checkpoints, they're knocking on doors to check people are isolating when required, and the big one in Victoria? They're giving you a handout if you have a test and need to isolate till you get the results, and another handout if you test positive.

If things can continue reasonably normal (only) on the basis that we all wear masks? No brainer.