People with asthma in England fear being harassed and denied services for not being able to wear a mask

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

My husband said to me, “they can’t enforce masks-it’s unconstitutional”.....WOW!!....my response “you have to cover your (fill in the blank) and your (fill in the blank), or you get arrested. Why can’t they make you wear a mask during a pandemic? What, can we all go out without clothes now because of some weird interpretation of the constitution?”.....crickets.

[canoehead, BSN, RN]

Asthmatics are wearing masks all the time in our ER, even when they are sick enough to need oxygen. They seem to prefer the masking to getting COVID.

[toomuchbaloney]

Yeah. I don't want to hear another person complain about breastfeeding women needing to cover up...ever.

And talking about unnecessary and uncomfortable expectations for things Americans will wear...I expect women to toss out all stilettos and underwire bras.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

4 hours ago, canoehead said:

Asthmatics are wearing masks all the time in our ER, even when they are sick enough to need oxygen. They seem to prefer the masking to getting COVID.

That would be my thoughts too, and I have moderate asthma-it takes me a few minutes to adjust tho the N95, but I doesn’t come off. Slightly uncomfortable vs possibly drowning in my own mucus and dead....not a hard decision.

[GrumpyRN, NP]

On 7/14/2020 at 5:26 PM, A Hit With The Ladies said:

Apparently the English government disagrees because they got "sympathy" (or a valid medical reason) to be exempt from wearing a mask.

It's really simple, although I expect you to have difficulty following this so I will use simple words.

In the UK we have strict anti-discrimination laws (not rules or suggestions but actual laws) which means disability is a "protected characteristic." If someone with asthma or COPD wants to class themselves as disabled that is unfortunately their right.

https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights

There is absolutely NO medical reason for someone to refuse to wear a mask (as a supposed nurse you should know this). Some people may say that it makes them FEEL unable to breathe - this is psychological not medical but is covered by the above legislation.

I would have thought that it is really simple to understand. Wearing a mask helps reduce spread of the virus therefore wear a **** mask and try to get back to normal.

[juniperdewd]

12 hours ago, NurseSpeedy said:

My husband said to me, “they can’t enforce masks-it’s unconstitutional”.....WOW!....my response “you have to cover your (fill in the blank) and your (fill in the blank), or you get arrested. Why can’t they make you wear a mask during a pandemic? What, can we all go out without clothes now because of some weird interpretation of the constitution?”.....crickets.

probably because it was deliberately turned into a culture war and political loyalty test to His Neediness back at the time it could have made all the difference. So tragic.

[Rnis, BSN, DNP, APRN, NP]

On 7/14/2020 at 11:26 AM, A Hit With The Ladies said:

Apparently the English government disagrees because they got "sympathy" (or a valid medical reason) to be exempt from wearing a mask.

That is not an exemption where I work.... more of a reason to wear it.

[NurseSpeedy, ADN, LPN, RN]

On 7/20/2020 at 11:04 PM, Rnis said:

That is not an exemption where I work.... more of a reason to wear it.

Right? “I have lung problems-masks are uncomfortable”. Okay. I’ll play along, “You have lung problems. You don’t want COVID-it is a hell of a lot more uncomfortable than wearing this stupid mask. I have lung problems too. I get the upgraded, really can’t feel good breathing with it mask when I come to work the whole shift. Trust me-you can tolerate this basic mask better than you will tolerate a COVID19 infection”. Sometimes it’s met with resistance but we have a masks required policy. They put on the mask.

[MarkMyWords]

The laws in some states like Illinois are vague on making exceptions for medical reasons and some cities permit legit exceptions with a doctor's written permission I have asthma and it is not easy breathing for long with large thick masks. I use a light one. People are insensitive and uncaring about illness they do not understand and stupid. They will even laugh at others who suffer. I have seen it. Asthma is no fun!!

[Neo Soldier, BSN, RN]

On 7/14/2020 at 9:06 PM, A Hit With The Ladies said:

rather than try to impose an Iran-style diktat for everyone else to wear masks. This is a free country

You sound like a spoiled child and there are words I wish I could call you but can't.

You're comparing a public health measure to something totally unrelated.

[toomuchbaloney]

58 minutes ago, Neo Soldier said:

You sound like a spoiled child and there are words I wish I could call you but can't.

You're comparing a public health measure to something totally unrelated.

Most of us have muted the member you quoted because of the inflammatory language and misinformation.

[Guest219794]

6 hours ago, Neo Soldier said:

You sound like a spoiled child and there are words I wish I could call you but can't.

You're comparing a public health measure to something totally unrelated.

Don't respond