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Will you still be wearing a face mask from July 19th? (Poll)

Will you still be wearing a face mask beyond July 19th?

  • Yes - It's a small inconenience to proctect others

    Votes: 22 29.3%
  • No - I'll be burning my mask

    Votes: 12 16.0%
  • Depends - I will carry one and use depending how busy and compact places are

    Votes: 38 50.7%
  • Don't know - I'm sitting on the fence at the moment and yet to decide

    Votes: 2 2.7%
  • Medically Except -

    Votes: 1 1.3%

  • Total voters
    75
I will carry one and will wear it if asked to on private property but I will not be wearing one out of choice unless I am full of cold (I've always thought the Japanese had the right idea on that).
 
It does feel like there are more businesses who would prefer people did wear masks. Don't think anywhere will actively turn people away without one, but it seems a majority of shops are encouraging them.
Sainsbury's and Tesco to encourage mask-wearing from Monday - BBC News
Very interesting the way that trade unions are getting involved with it ie transport.

I’m not sure how the general population would take private companies enforcing masks where legislation contradicts.

What’s the Merlin stance atm? Would you accept still having to wear masks in enclosed spaces or rides?


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I’m not sure how the general population would take private companies enforcing masks where legislation contradicts.

What’s the Merlin stance atm? Would you accept still having to wear masks in enclosed spaces or rides?

I think the majority of the public would follow whatever rules are set by the place they are visiting, just like they do with all kinds of other rules. Just as the park decides you cannot ride Nemesis in stilettos, if the park decides you cannot ride without a mask then that is what most people will do.
 
I think the majority of the public would follow whatever rules are set by the place they are visiting, just like they do with all kinds of other rules. Just as the park decides you cannot ride Nemesis in stilettos, if the park decides you cannot ride without a mask then that is what most people will do.
Isn’t that the issue? We just follow the rules and don’t question. Even though the government has said you don’t have to wear them and a private company says you can’t come In unless you do. Your ok with that?

Why can’t you ride in stilettos?? Isn’t that discrimination? Especially for vertically challenged clients?


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Why can’t you ride in stilettos?? Isn’t that discrimination? Especially for vertically challenged clients?
If there is an evacuation from the lift hill stiletto shows aren’t suitable for walking on the grid flooring of the stairs.
Also if the only reason someone meets the 1.4m restriction is because they are in stilettos it’s not safe to ride either.
 
Isn’t that the issue? We just follow the rules and don’t question. Even though the government has said you don’t have to wear them and a private company says you can’t come In unless you do. Your ok with that?
That's how all businesses operate though. They can impose whatever conditions they want as long as it's not discriminatory.

I'm sure you've heard of people being turned away from nightclubs due to wearing trainers. Right of admission reserved.
 
That's how all businesses operate though. They can impose whatever conditions they want as long as it's not discriminatory.

I'm sure you've heard of people being turned away from nightclubs due to wearing trainers. Right of admission reserved.
Agreed and in this climate it can be very oppressive. Don’t come in my shop/establishment without a mask else you will be ejected.

Yes you can say don’t go in then but when it’s big supermarkets or public transport or schools then it seems unreasonable as there are limited other options.

The past 18 months has made many ppl afraid to even question but just conform.

I haven’t enjoyed going to Merlin parks with restrictions and I hope they won’t enforce it as part of their internal policy.

If they do they won’t get my money

Hey ho


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Supermarkets won’t refuse to let you in without a mask, they are encouraging customers to wear them but won’t enforce it if you read the small print, they like your money too much.
I expect most will continue to wear them for about a week or so then slowly people will stop and in two or three weeks nobody will be wearing them.

I certainly won’t feel uncomfortable not wearing a mask in a supermarket from Monday.
 
Isn't the poll missing an option?

"I'll carry on wearing a mask around my chin, because it makes a really cool fashion accessory".
 
Supermarkets won’t refuse to let you in without a mask, they are encouraging customers to wear them but won’t enforce it if you read the small print, they like your money too much.
I expect most will continue to wear them for about a week or so then slowly people will stop and in two or three weeks nobody will be wearing them.

I certainly won’t feel uncomfortable not wearing a mask in a supermarket from Monday.

Genuine question. If for example a supermarket is asking customers wear a mask to protect their staff and other customers, why would you choose not to? Yes it is no longer a legal obligation, but surely it is a common courtesy? I know you don't believe masks do any good (despite studies showing that they do) so I am guessing that is your primary reason.

I really do think it is mad that the government are scrapping the legal requirement to wear a mask in certain situations. Even if the continuation of the requirement to wear them prevented or reduced severity of disease in only relatively small numbers that would still be a good thing.
 
Supermarkets are not refusing entry based on liking money too much. They're strongly advising you do. Believe it or not, they have been in contact with eachother over this like they have been throughout the pandemic, the only time I've ever known them to work together despite being competitors in my 21 years working in the industry.

They've adopted the same approach that they are encouraging all customers to wear masks. They won't be enforcing it due to how many problems they would have doing so. 2 weeks ago there was a bill the unions and many of the supermarkets supported that got rejected by parliament for greater protection for shop workers through a change in the law. Age restricted sales have been a sticking point with them for years and enforcement of ARS is the biggest cause of assaults and abuse their workers receive. When enforcement of Covid restrictions came in, this added another problem.

They'll still be asking employees to wear them and will be asking all customers to. But they won't enforce because it's not practical. Masks and other Covid related stuff has become the new ARS recently with fights amongst customers and abuse and assaults of staff (including myself where I was assaulted and injured my arm last year at work). They simply can't do it.
 
On the Alton Towers website they have updated the Know Before You Go page to include what will be in place from 19th July:

https://www.altontowers.com/plan-your-visit/before-you-visit/know-before-you-go/

In short, the Resort will:
  • Ask those with symptoms not to attend
  • Make Contactless payments
  • Continue to open at a reduced capacity through the summer
  • Have additional hygiene rules - sanitisers still in place, suggested social distancing markers, enhanced cleaning, ventilation
  • Signage asking guests to wear a mask at entry points to indoor attractions and high footfall areas.

So it looks like masks on outdoor rides is going. I personally will wear a mask wherever the resort asks me to, so indoors largely by the looks of it, and don't think it's much of a hardship to respect what the ATR is asking. At the end of the day, case numbers are soaring and at a resort like Alton Towers there are thousands of people from all over the country mixing in close proximity so it could potentially be a hotbed of spreading without some simple guidance such as the above in place. While you personally may not care about wearing a mask or may think you have had 2 doses of the vaccine so are "safe", it is courteous to other guests who may not have been vaccinated yet, or may be anxious about mixing, to stick to the guidance laid out by the Resort.
 
Have they indicated whether social distancing on the remaining rides where it hasn’t been lifted (e.g. Spinball, Rapids, Skyride) is going, or is it staying for now?

Also, when they say that distancing markers are staying, does this mean that the park will continue to try and enforce distancing in queues, or will that stop?

I take it this means that WM’s pre-show still won’t be back post-19th July; I’m wondering whether it’ll ever return.

Furthermore, are masks required in indoor areas and areas of high footfall, or is this merely a “recommendation” from the park?
 
I would presume things like the Skyride will continue to be where its one group per car but not sure what it means for other rides. I'm going to Alton Towers next weekend with my family so will be hoping to use the Skyride to save our legs a little, do you find the current operations are making the queues longer than usual for it (annoyingly the App doesn't give any information on the Skyride)?

With regards to social distancing markers, I presume it just means they won't be scrubbing them off the floor so they will still be visible but doubt it will be enforced at all. It will more just be a reminder to people.
 
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