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Businesses in England that will still restrict entry (via face masks) after July 19th

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Bikeman78

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Not many in Sainsburys today wearing masks only the silver foxes like myself no staff masked up.Don't know about our local beavers but the nursery next door asks parents to wear a mask when waiting outside to drop off/pick up children and the local primary school doesn't
I did the school run yesterday afternoon. Around five of the 50 parents i saw had a mask. All one way systems gone and when the gate was unlocked everyone piled through and stood in a group waiting for their kids to emerge. Clearly most people are far more relaxed than they were two months ago.
 
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Merseysider

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Uber, at least round my ways in Birmingham, is still insisting on passengers wearing a face mask for all journeys. Additionally, I got an email stating (as if this was something to be proud of) that all their drivers need to send in a photo of themselves wearing a mask before starting each shift, and their AI would detect any non-compliant drivers.

Needless to say, I’ve ridden with them only once in the last month, and that was this morning as I felt I deserved a lie-in on my birthday before work :D
 

43066

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Uber, at least round my ways in Birmingham, is still insisting on passengers wearing a face mask for all journeys. Additionally, I got an email stating (as if this was something to be proud of) that all their drivers need to send in a photo of themselves wearing a mask before starting each shift, and their AI would detect any non-compliant drivers.

Needless to say, I’ve ridden with them only once in the last month, and that was this morning as I felt I deserved a lie-in on my birthday before work :D

The way Uber treat their drivers is despicable. In my experience the face coverings requirement is down to the individual driver in practice and, even when they were mandatory, I was never turned away for not wearing one. In fact the drivers were glad to not have to wear theirs for a least one trip!
 

johnnychips

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Uber, at least round my ways in Birmingham, is still insisting on passengers wearing a face mask for all journeys. Additionally, I got an email stating (as if this was something to be proud of) that all their drivers need to send in a photo of themselves wearing a mask before starting each shift, and their AI would detect any non-compliant drivers.

Needless to say, I’ve ridden with them only once in the last month, and that was this morning as I felt I deserved a lie-in on my birthday before work :D
Happy birthday. Of course, Uber will not know about you withdrawing your custom (unless loads of people do the same) unless you actively write to them, but all it needs is one Karen ‘…disgusting…driver had no mask…felt unsafe…no stars…’ all over Twitter and Facebook. :D
 

J-2739

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Uber, at least round my ways in Birmingham, is still insisting on passengers wearing a face mask for all journeys. Additionally, I got an email stating (as if this was something to be proud of) that all their drivers need to send in a photo of themselves wearing a mask before starting each shift, and their AI would detect any non-compliant drivers.

Needless to say, I’ve ridden with them only once in the last month, and that was this morning as I felt I deserved a lie-in on my birthday before work :D
I remember that advert of theirs that cropped up last year; I'm not surprised they are still persisting with face coverings.
 

trebor79

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Looked into flying to Glasgow with Easyjet. Load of stuff about how their planes are really safe with air filtration, air changed every few minutes etc. Then the reveal that you have to be masked. Not only that but it has to meet their requirements - FFP2 or above (FFP2 is little better than cloth) or you'll be denied boarding. If you don't want to wear one you either need to present some medeical letter stating exemption, or email them beforehand and they will "review you application for an exemption and let the crew know if appropriate".
That and the mask requirement at the airport means decision made. Train even though it's more expensive and takes longer (but I can get some work done on the train). I have dropped them an email to say there's no way I'll fly with them until they drop all this nonsense. I doubt it'll make an impact.

Media are perpetuating a lot of this. Masterchef still with people standing away from each other when talking, and the waiting staff masked (why?? nobody else is). Question Time last night billed as being the first with an audience. The panel sat in perspex booths and the camera pans round to a "socially distanced" audience with perhaps 25% of the seats occupied. At least there were no masks. But why is the BBC persisting with this rubbish when all of that legislation has been rescinded?
 

ExRes

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I was about to go into a newsagents yesterday, they have 'no more than two customers at any time' and 'you must wear a mask' policies, I went to another newsagent, if they want to wear masks and turn away my custom I couldn't care less, I look forward to seeing the shop closed down due to bankruptcy
 

AlterEgo

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I was about to go into a newsagents yesterday, they have 'no more than two customers at any time' and 'you must wear a mask' policies, I went to another newsagent, if they want to wear masks and turn away my custom I couldn't care less, I look forward to seeing the shop closed down due to bankruptcy
Come on. Mask demands like that are silly, but wishing bankruptcy on a small business is too far.
 

adc82140

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We have many hairdressers in town. In fact so many it's a bit of a local joke. All but one of them are back to business as usual. The one outlier has a sign on the outside. "masks must be worn at all times, you are instructed to wait outside until summoned in". Nobody ever seems to be in there. I'm sure it'll be everyone else's fault when they have to call it a day with their business.
 

RPI

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I've noticed that it seems to be the small independents that all have the aggressive mask signage, several lately I've gone to go in and there have been aggressive signs so I just didn't bother and ended up using Amazon, shame really.
 

trebor79

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We have many hairdressers in town. In fact so many it's a bit of a local joke. All but one of them are back to business as usual. The one outlier has a sign on the outside. "masks must be worn at all times, you are instructed to wait outside until summoned in". Nobody ever seems to be in there. I'm sure it'll be everyone else's fault when they have to call it a day with their business.
Same here. My barber is the only one in town persisting with wait outside and wear a mask. I did say to the lady that did my hair I found it all a bit ridiculous and she agreed "it's a bit silly, but when it's a condition of me working here I don't have a lot of choice" within earshot of the owner. I have told the owner I will have to go elsewhere in future if they carry on with it.
I've noticed that it seems to be the small independents that all have the aggressive mask signage, several lately I've gone to go in and there have been aggressive signs so I just didn't bother and ended up using Amazon, shame really.
That's OK - but I would take one minute to drop an email or whatever to the independent telling them why you have taken your business to Amazon. That's what I do and some have responded positively. I'd hate to live in a world where we buy everything online for huge tax-dodging corporations.
 

adc82140

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That's OK - but I would take one minute to drop an email or whatever to the independent telling them why you have taken your business to Amazon. That's what I do and some have responded positively. I'd hate to live in a world where we buy everything online for huge tax-dodging corporations.
I've done that with a local hardware store that displayed "no mask, no entry, no exceptions" and required exempt people to ring a leper's bell outside to be served on the pavement. I pointed out I would take my custom online or to B&Q and they did, to their credit, respond positively. The sign now reads "we would appreciate you continuing to wear a mask if you feel able to".
 

102 fan

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Looked into flying to Glasgow with Easyjet. Load of stuff about how their planes are really safe with air filtration, air changed every few minutes etc. Then the reveal that you have to be masked. Not only that but it has to meet their requirements - FFP2 or above (FFP2 is little better than cloth) or you'll be denied boarding. If you don't want to wear one you either need to present some medeical letter stating exemption, or email them beforehand and they will "review you application for an exemption and let the crew know if appropriate".
That and the mask requirement at the airport means decision made. Train even though it's more expensive and takes longer (but I can get some work done on the train). I have dropped them an email to say there's no way I'll fly with them until they drop all this nonsense. I doubt it'll make an impact.

Media are perpetuating a lot of this. Masterchef still with people standing away from each other when talking, and the waiting staff masked (why?? nobody else is). Question Time last night billed as being the first with an audience. The panel sat in perspex booths and the camera pans round to a "socially distanced" audience with perhaps 25% of the seats occupied. At least there were no masks. But why is the BBC persisting with this rubbish when all of that legislation has been rescinded?


The BBC is a government propaganda machine, BBC News long ago stopped being an impartial reporter. As to Easyjet, its a complete nonsense for all the orders only for them to be waived upon purchasing food or drink.
 

Bantamzen

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I think a lot of these small companies still mandating masks, queuing outside, bells for exempt people etc do so because they are still afraid of the council official with lanyard, hi-viz and clipboard to come around and tell them they are not #covidsafe. And for good reason, most councils don't have the clot to take on big chains, but John Smith the local butcher, well they can take out their frustrations out on his type all day long.

In terms of airlines, you have to remember that most carriers serve multiple countries, all of which will have different rules. And so they are simply going down the path of least resistance, so that they can tell the authorities of whichever nations they fly to that they are #covidsafe. But once in the air, if food and drink is available blind eyes are turned, especially with the carriers whose business models have a heavy dependence on in-flight sales.
 

trebor79

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In terms of airlines, you have to remember that most carriers serve multiple countries, all of which will have different rules. And so they are simply going down the path of least resistance, so that they can tell the authorities of whichever nations they fly to that they are #covidsafe. But once in the air, if food and drink is available blind eyes are turned, especially with the carriers whose business models have a heavy dependence on in-flight sales.
I'd rather take the train anyway, I hate wasting hours milling around airports, and actually don't like commercial flying and get quite nervous sometimes (even though I have a PPL, go figure!).
Plus, I've never actually done the ECML north of Newcastle in daylight, and it's one I'd like to do one day.

Last time I went to Glasgow a few months ago I just so happened to have a return itinerary that took in the Settle-Carlisle line, one I've wanted to do since I was a kid. It was pretty spectacular, I can see what all the fuss is about!
Don't get views like that from an aeroplane.
 

Bantamzen

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I'd rather take the train anyway, I hate wasting hours milling around airports, and actually don't like commercial flying and get quite nervous sometimes (even though I have a PPL, go figure!).
Plus, I've never actually done the ECML north of Newcastle in daylight, and it's one I'd like to do one day.

Last time I went to Glasgow a few months ago I just so happened to have a return itinerary that took in the Settle-Carlisle line, one I've wanted to do since I was a kid. It was pretty spectacular, I can see what all the fuss is about!
Don't get views like that from an aeroplane.
It's much more preferable to take short haul journeys by train. Traveling to a Greek island however is a different prospect.
 

island

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Media are perpetuating a lot of this. Masterchef still with people standing away from each other when talking, and the waiting staff masked (why?? nobody else is). Question Time last night billed as being the first with an audience. The panel sat in perspex booths and the camera pans round to a "socially distanced" audience with perhaps 25% of the seats occupied. At least there were no masks. But why is the BBC persisting with this rubbish when all of that legislation has been rescinded?
Virtue signalling.
 

greyman42

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Same here. My barber is the only one in town persisting with wait outside and wear a mask. I did say to the lady that did my hair I found it all a bit ridiculous and she agreed "it's a bit silly, but when it's a condition of me working here I don't have a lot of choice" within earshot of the owner. I have told the owner I will have to go elsewhere in future if they carry on with it.
Did the owner give you a reply?

I think a lot of these small companies still mandating masks, queuing outside, bells for exempt people etc do so because they are still afraid of the council official with lanyard, hi-viz and clipboard to come around and tell them they are not #covidsafe. And for good reason, most councils don't have the clot to take on big chains, but John Smith the local butcher, well they can take out their frustrations out on his type all day long.
Surely anyone running a business, be it large or small, would have enough intelligence to know that the council have no grounds to take any action?
 

Merseysider

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Looked into flying to Glasgow with Easyjet. Load of stuff about how their planes are really safe with air filtration, air changed every few minutes etc. Then the reveal that you have to be masked. Not only that but it has to meet their requirements - FFP2 or above (FFP2 is little better than cloth) or you'll be denied boarding. If you don't want to wear one you either need to present some medeical letter stating exemption, or email them beforehand and they will "review you application for an exemption and let the crew know if appropriate".
That and the mask requirement at the airport means decision made. Train even though it's more expensive and takes longer
Completely agree.

I’m looking at making a trip from Birmingham to Paris for a long weekend.

Even though Eurostar’s website currently states “Passengers and staff must wear face masks at our stations and on board”, I can pretty much guarantee their staff will have no interest in the ‘papers please’ approach some airlines are currently adopting, and I’m fairly confident I’ll have no hassle exercising my exemption (without needing to display a lanyard, card or badge etc).

Plus, the nosh on Eurostar SP is actually decent :D
 

bramling

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Surely anyone running a business, be it large or small, would have enough intelligence to know that the council have no grounds to take any action?

I'm not sure it so much councils they might be bothered about. Round here there has been plenty of social media shaming, along the lines of "it's terrible, I went into XXX this afternoon, it was full of Covidiots without a mask on, there were elderly people in there, I asked the shop staff why they weren't doing anything about it and they weren't interested, so unsafe".

Even worse when the shop staff themselves aren't in masks.
 

island

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Completely agree.

I’m looking at making a trip from Birmingham to Paris for a long weekend.

Even though Eurostar’s website currently states “Passengers and staff must wear face masks at our stations and on board”, I can pretty much guarantee their staff will have no interest in the ‘papers please’ approach some airlines are currently adopting, and I’m fairly confident I’ll have no hassle exercising my exemption (without needing to display a lanyard, card or badge etc).
France does not recognise self-declared mask exemptions, so you can expect difficulty with that approach, at the latest upon arrival at Gare du Nord.
Plus, the nosh on Eurostar SP is actually decent :D
In quality, perhaps, but not quantity :|

Surely anyone running a business, be it large or small, would have enough intelligence to know that the council have no grounds to take any action?
Doubtful. A lot of businesses respect “authority” and do what they’re told.
 

greyman42

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Doubtful. A lot of businesses respect “authority” and do what they’re told.
The law tells them that masks are not compulsory in shops. Is that not the "authority" that they need to follow?
 

trebor79

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Doubtful. A lot of businesses respect “authority” and do what they’re told.

The law tells them that masks are not compulsory in shops. Is that not the "authority" that they need to follow?
I think as someone else said it's a combination of thinking guidance is law, and fear of/agreement with the social media mob.
Personally I'm leaving Google reviews and taking stars off for covid nonsense (and saying so) and saying things like "and no petty covid rules to spoil the experience" for places which are back to normal.
 

greyman42

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I think as someone else said it's a combination of thinking guidance is law, and fear of/agreement with the social media mob.
Personally I'm leaving Google reviews and taking stars off for covid nonsense (and saying so) and saying things like "and no petty covid rules to spoil the experience" for places which are back to normal.
If you are running a business it really is a basic to know the difference between guidance and law.
 

island

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The law tells them that masks are not compulsory in shops. Is that not the "authority" that they need to follow?
small businesses don’t have time to read laws. They follow what they see elsewhere, or at best go on the government website which says “face coverings are expected and recommended in indoor crowded spaces”.
 

Darandio

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small businesses don’t have time to read laws. They follow what they see elsewhere, or at best go on the government website which says “face coverings are expected and recommended in indoor crowded spaces”.

Well out of all the excuses i've seen this is the best so far.

Understanding various elements of law is one of the most fundamental things to starting and running a small business. Employment, competition, health and safety, data etc etc.

To suggest they don't have time to read them and that they just go along with whatever everyone else is doing is laughable.
 

Merseysider

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small businesses don’t have time to read laws. They follow what they see elsewhere, or at best go on the government website which says “face coverings are expected and recommended in indoor crowded spaces”.
I would respectfully disagree:

It was widely publicised on TV, radio and the internet, plus in the newspapers, on bus/train/street adverts, and pretty much every other imaginable medium, that so-called “Freedom Day” would remove the legal requirement to wear a mask, plus (almost all) other restrictions.

Those living under a rock have nobody but themselves to blame if they still think wearing a mask or whatever is the law, and lose business as a result.
 

kingston_toon

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Looked into flying to Glasgow with Easyjet. Load of stuff about how their planes are really safe with air filtration, air changed every few minutes etc. Then the reveal that you have to be masked. Not only that but it has to meet their requirements - FFP2 or above (FFP2 is little better than cloth) or you'll be denied boarding. If you don't want to wear one you either need to present some medeical letter stating exemption, or email them beforehand and they will "review you application for an exemption and let the crew know if appropriate".
That and the mask requirement at the airport means decision made. Train even though it's more expensive and takes longer (but I can get some work done on the train). I have dropped them an email to say there's no way I'll fly with them until they drop all this nonsense. I doubt it'll make an impact.

Media are perpetuating a lot of this. Masterchef still with people standing away from each other when talking, and the waiting staff masked (why?? nobody else is). Question Time last night billed as being the first with an audience. The panel sat in perspex booths and the camera pans round to a "socially distanced" audience with perhaps 25% of the seats occupied. At least there were no masks. But why is the BBC persisting with this rubbish when all of that legislation has been rescinded?

I am as anti-mask as they come but I think you may have the wrong end of the stick here. Where were you flying from? If this was a UK domestic, the worst you have to wear with easyJet is the usual dirty and damp loose-fitting cloth mask we all wear where we have to. Same for most intra-Europe stuff (i.e. Spain to the UK). I've done this loads this summer. You only have to wear an FFP2 mask (or above) if flying to / from a country that mandates those i.e. certain parts of Germany.

However, looking at the easyJet website, I can see why people might be confused. They say "Only FFP2 (or equivalent) certified, surgical or cloth accepted. Some countries have stricter mask regulations. Please see above." Basically, as long as there's not a specific requirement at either end of your trip, you can wear the usual crappy useless ones.
 
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trebor79

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I am as anti-mask as they come but I think you may have the wrong end of the stick here. Where were you flying from? If this was a UK domestic, the worst you have to wear with easyJet is the usual dirty and damp loose-fitting cloth mask we all wear where we have to. Same for most intra-Europe stuff (i.e. Spain to the UK). I've done this loads this summer. You only have to wear an FFP2 mask (or above) if flying to / from a country that mandates those i.e. certain parts of Germany.

However, looking at the easyJet website, I can see why people might be confused. They say "Only FFP2 (or equivalent) certified, surgical or cloth accepted. Some countries have stricter mask regulations. Please see above." Basically, as long as there's not a specific requirement at either end of your trip, you can wear the usual crappy useless ones.
Well their website certainly doesn't make that clear. Not that it really matters as a shall not be travelling with them until they stop forcing people to wear masks.
 
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