Mask wearing for visitors

[Alan Medic]

In the last week I've had 3 tradespeople visit our home. Two to do a job and one to give me advice on another. On meeting them at the door and whenever we had to be in the same room, I wore a mask.

None of the three wore a mask, asked if I wanted them to wear masks or commented on why I was wearing a mask. Am I behind the times in thinking this is a bit rude? Ironically one of them has had Covid, and still has little sense of smell or taste.

[TheCat]

I think you're totally justified feeling it's a bit rude. It's your home, and to see that you're wearing one and then not even offer is def rude (or at a very minimum, acknowledge the issue and apologise if they don't have one with them).

Forget covid, it's not even about the covid rules, it's about the rule of common sense when in someone else's home....it's not dissimilar to if someone saw you take your shoes off to go into certain rooms in your own house, and the visitor didn't offer to do the same.

[Nigello]

Given it?s not a legal requirement and that most adults are double jabbed I can see why people don?t automatically think they need to wear one if they?re a tradesperson. If you?re concerned ask that they do so, ideally a day before they arrive. As for the shoes, most people I know and have ever known don?t take their own shoes off or ask me to do so. It?s your house so just ask visitors to do what you?d like them to do and don?t rely on people picking up on messages they?re unlikely to intuit.

[Sephiroth]

In countries with better vaccination rates than us (eg Spain, Ireland) mask wearing is much higher - those countries take the virus seriously still - but then they won't have 1000 people a week dying

It's all down to message from the top and "freedom day"

[diable rouge]

What Seph said, despite the vaccine our R rate is still around 1.

Common sense should tell a tradesperson that at some point they will encounter someone who would prefer them to wear a mask, so keeping one to hand for such an eventuality would be the sensible thing to do...

[TheCat]

Well played EDF....only 4 moves until Boris Johnson and the Tories get blamed....

[Sephiroth]

I know it's odd that in other countries, the electorate hold their governments responsible for their actions - but not those in England

If there is a different reason than English people not wearing masks as a consequence of Johnson and the Govt saying - "you don't need to", whilst other countries tred a different path, please do spell it out. It's not even a controversial statement is it? Johnson wears it with pride

Nobody needs to be quite so defensive of bad govt decisions - if it was labour in power, people would have been blaming them much more explicitly for everything from fuel and food shortages to covid deaths

[KidKruger]

AM - Your house, your rules.

Masks, shoes, whatever.

I?m Perhaps make it clear before tradespeople/visitors turn-up, so there?s no confusion and they know what time it is.

[malumbu]

I detest this government but please stop making simplistic comments. They have shed loads of evidence on the attitude of society and are informed both by the hard and soft science. They've made a pigs ear out of much of the response, particularly in the early days, but have come up with a policy, like it or not that we are now out of lockdown and therefore do not need to socially distance or wear masks.

Oh and your house, your rules.

[Sephiroth]

"I detest this government but please stop making simplistic comments. "

I have a feeling you are about to type a bunch of simplistic comments.. (without being explicit about what was simplistic about mine)

and you did

" like it or not that we are now out of lockdown and therefore do not need to socially distance or wear masks. "

well given 1000 people a week are still dying here, I'll go with "not like it"

This isn't normal behaviour - to have 1000 people a week dying, and everyone just shrug. It's not happening any comparable country at that per capita level

[Sephiroth]

as for the "your house your rules thing" - I think I agree with pretty much everyone on this

Only...

On a practical level, getting workmen is harder than ever these days (don't know if you've heard. There are "reasons" but people don't like talking about that either)

My experience is when coming around for a quote there is a semi-effort made by trades to "you want me to wear a mask?" - but anything thereafter, has multiple guys show up without masks and effectively crack on. Alternative is to live with these peoples for weeks/months resenting you in your own home for making them wear a mask. Or telling them to do one and get someone else - not an easy thing to do

[oimissus]

Dying of what? We know the numbers of people are dying within a month of testing positive for a Covid but that doesn?t mean they are dying of Covid. The media were forced into making this distinction a while ago, would be good if forum users could do the same.

AM - just be politely assertive and ask, in advance if possible, for masks to be worn and shoes to be removed. Perhaps have a stock of disposable masks and overshoes to hand.

[Sephiroth]

Wouldn?t that distinction be pertinent in other countries too missus?

[Alan Medic]

The 2 guys that came, were here to complete a job that was half done a couple of months ago. I made it clear to the company before the first visit (2 different guys),that we were cautious about Covid and wanted whoever was coming to respect that. They did. Not so this time. Perhaps I should have advised the company that we were still 'cautious', though I shouldn't have needed to.

The other guy I've known for a number of years as he has done several jobs for us. I was a bit surprised by him and didn't say anything. Maybe I will next time, as he is due to visit again.

[KidKruger]

Didn?t the ?Government? say comparisons with other countries were meaningless 🤔

(But they didn?t mention that?s because those comparisons expose the true state we?re in)

Sephiroth Wrote:

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> Wouldn?t that distinction be pertinent in other

> countries too missus?

[Sephiroth]

Vallance today - masks not explicitly mentioned but seems pretty clear they are part of what he is referring to

"

The UK government?s chief scientific adviser has said acting sooner and harder is the best way to deal with the spread of a future variant of Covid.

Sir Patrick Vallance said his job is ?not to sugarcoat? the reality or tell ministers what they want to hear, but instead to ensure they understand what the science currently is.

He said his ?mantra? throughout the pandemic has been that action needs to be taken sooner than it appears to be needed, PA Media reported.

In a wide-ranging interview on BBC Radio 4, Sir Patrick said:

My mantra for a long time during this [pandemic] has been... ?You?ve got to go sooner than you want to in terms of taking interventions. You?ve got to go harder than you want to, and you?ve got to go more geographically broad than you want to?.

And that is the Sage advice. And that?s what I?ve been saying. And I will say it going forward and the Prime Minister knows that?s what I think. And he knows that?s what I would do in that situation."

[diable rouge]

With comments like that you can see why the Gov won't have an independent inquiry.

I see when it suits, i.e. when someone else would be in the firing line e.g. the Sarah Everard case, they have no qualms about triggering an inquiry pronto...

[Sephiroth]

Govt doesn?t need an inquiry when it has voters all too ready to make excuses for them

[KidKruger]

One does wonder what it will actually take for the Govt to fall out of favour with those who voted them in.

There?s surely a massive case of collective denial underway.

[Sephiroth]

Not even people who voted them in KK

Country is awash with people who voted against them, don?t like them, voted remain even, but ?tugs forelock? they don?t like to see so much (sniffs nose) criticism.

Just isn?t done old boy

[diable rouge]

You only have to look across the Atlantic to see a 'massive case of collective denial' i.e. Trump, so it's very likely already happening here with Johnson. I guess it's a product of the social media age we live in, the populists are gaming it better than the rest...

[KidKruger]

I?m falling out of love with the UK.

Question is, where to go.

[Sephiroth]

And this government report today isn't helping any govt case

[Nigello]

As for wearing masks indoors by workpeople....? Because there is no official rule, people are using their own rules. I think that is fair enough, at this stage in the pandemic. If you want someone you have in your home whose vaccine status you don't know, just ask them to wear one or go away! Simple

[TheCat]

KidKruger Wrote:

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> I?m falling out of love with the UK.

> Question is, where to go.

I'll agree with the person that's called me a 'near' racist and a bastard....

Even a bastard can agree that this country is getting tough going.....time to move I think....