I'm exempt from wearing a face covering
Chloe_Scope
Scope Posts: 10,672 Disability Gamechanger
Wearing a face covering in shops and supermarkets in England is to become mandatory from 24 July. Those who fail to comply with the new rules will face a fine of up to £100.
However, some people are exempt from wearing a mask.
Who is exempt from wearing a face covering?
There are also a series of factors which the Government describes as a “reasonable excuse”, which also means you don’t have to wear a mask:
- If you have a physical or mental illness or impairment, or a disability that means you cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering
- If putting on, wearing or removing a face covering would cause you severe distress
- If you are travelling with, or providing assistance to, someone who relies on lip reading to communicate
- If you are travelling to avoid injury or escape the risk of harm, and you do not have a face covering with you
- If you need to remove it during your journey to avoid harm or injury or the risk of harm or injury to yourself or others
- If you need to eat, drink, or take medication you can remove your face covering
- If you are asked to remove your face covering by a police officer or other official, for example to check your railcard
- According to the website Autism Eye, these rules around “reasonable excuses” also cover passengers with autism.
What is a face covering exemption card?
If you cannot wear a mask it's a good idea to get an exemption card. This will give you quick and easy way of showing others and stop you from being fined.
The card is available to download for free on the TfL website.
Those exempt will be required to carry the card on their person while using public transport.
TfL will also recognise similar cards that may have been issued by other transport operators.
The card can also be displayed on a smartphone.
If you do not have a printer or a smartphone, you can contact TfL and they will print and post a card to you.
Some TfL staff may also use this card.
You can also find personalised exemption cards from Keep Safe. They give a brief explanation about why you are unable to wear a face covering. The sunflower lanyard system can allow people with a hidden disability to easily get support, they also have face covering exemption cards.
If you have any other suggestions or questions then please let us know!
Scope
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Replies
Much appreciated
Xx
TK
P.s. keep the hat, wear the mask, rock the look!
Scope
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I'll figure a way round it.... I always do.
TK
TK
TK
I have been interacting as normal whilst maintaining social distancing. I returned the gym on Saturday. I have quad CP and use a a wheelchair. I was not shielding at any point.
Specialist Information Officer - Cerebral Palsy
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Mancmiss. To me, it seems everyone needs to make an individual decision, pretty much day to day, not least because covid risk varies in different areas, plus you know how sensible or otherwise your own friends are. Probably the relevant increased risk for each condition will be mentioned by web search?
If you were not at enough risk to be shielded, presumably your risk is roughly equal to your friends?? The only thing is, for all of you, you need to consider what would happen if one in the group becomes unwell.
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Let's have some facts...... The government gave guidance, not law, simple.
I took a train journey last week for the first time since lockdown, I have both visible and non-visible disabilities..... I am 'exempt' according to the government guidance.......
I was challenged by a policeman on the train asking where my mask was....
I explained i am exempt, he asked why?
I replied, this is private matter (because of the Equalities Act 2010)
He asked for documentation to prove exemption, I explained, not required, (due to the Act).
If I had been a more 'meek person, I would have been seriously intimidated by the police's conduct, - he backed off once I explained. He did ask why I was being awkward, I explained that I wasn't, I just knew the applicable law, not guidance. He went away with his tail between his legs !!!
The upshot is this...... You do not have to prove or explain ANYTHING TO ANYONE, if you are dxempt, you are exempt, tell the police or the shop, or the person on the street, exactly where to get off, politely of course!
Bon Courage!
Hope your all well.
Excellent responce well done. 😁
well done @oldblokeinavan
, I would have lost it completely in that situation. it is a good job they only harass me from marked vehicles or the police helicopter!
I am exempt under mental effects, but more physical as I used to do allot of spraying at work of paints and in my hobby therefore already had masks even though I can not do the hobby or work anymore with breathing issues.
first wore one of the painting masks out and really struggled to breath/couldn't see out of glasses.
next bought a poundland mask, so tight it was unreal, again struggling to breath.
then a few weeks ago ordered some of those face shields, couldn't see out of it.
now got a more surgical type of mask, will try it out shopping next week
but last week went to Wilkos first where a sign said please talk to staff, I did not want to staff so struggled with the poundland mask and almost ripped it off my face after using the self service till. poundland didn't bother putting it on and no one said anything and same at tescos.
most of the time I have not worn a mask, when they first ordered them to be used I remember in asda a female member of staff shook her head as she went past me as I was maskless, the irony of course that she did not have a mask on either.
it bothers me, this control, it is sinister and does not make sense; wear them in Tesco but staff don't have to and you don't if you eat in the café. I carry my own handgel sanitiser in my rucksack, as a victim of many colds and flu I know how easy they are transmitted, makes sense to do the hands.
then the 2 meter rule, what a mess, and each supermarket had its own version; Tesco one way, asda one way, Sainsburys nothing. I don't know abut you but when I am shopping the aim is to get all the items I need as efficiently and quickly as possible and then get the f out of there while trying to avoid any agro or abuses. the number of times I forgot about the one way or just needed something at the end of an isle, then one time in Tesco I was following the correct one way down the isle, I passed this man in one and he gave me a funny look, going in the wrong direction he was, then in the next isle he had a go at me! when I was right!
. then the number of rule breakers! they had their stories worked out on my street, half residential half retail etc. police messing about following me home from shopping as I walked and them in cars! cheeky gits!
it is the children who will suffer the most, they have no clue how much damage has been done to them over this.
I watch allot of live cameras in the Netherlands, so sad to see such a beautiful country and people affected by this but I was very happy when they lifted restrictions before us and they have been on beaches, markets, at cafes and in the stores, hardly a mask seen on them. they have it sorted.
this lot threw the elderly under the wheels, I think this is why we are still being treated like prisoners still by BoJo sooner or later the questions will be expected to be answered. hope to god it does not come back on to the disabled, haven't we suffered enough already with the benefit assessments etc.
Sorry, what happened, where am I? lol talking to myself again....
My daughter is excempt because she has Autism. She also has social anxiety and going out is a huge task for her. I got her an exemption card because no way am i prepared to cause her any more anxiety than she already has.
Also, I have Asperger's, a form of Autism, so I reckon I should be exempt on those grounds as well no?