Wear a Mask

[Keithcaley]

Or else!

[Chriswright03]

So funny but not at the same time really. So I nicked it for elsewhere Keith ta very much.

[sophie]

I met some locals yesterday who are getting very cross with their compatriots who adamantly refuse to cover their noses "because they can't breath properly". Another excuse to given them clout. The medical bods here really must start stressing again how important it is.

[PoshinDevon]

Question - Here in the U.K. there are rightly exemptions to wearing a mask for a small number of reasons. Just wondering if the same in the TRNC? It’s a long list as you can see below:-

When you do not need to wear a face covering
In settings where face coverings are required in England, there are some circumstances where people may not be able to wear a face covering. Please be mindful and respectful of such circumstances, noting that some people are less able to wear face coverings, and that the reasons for this may not be visible to others.

This includes (but is not limited to):

children under the age of 11 (Public Health England do not recommended face coverings for children under the age of 3 for health and safety reasons)
people who cannot put on, wear or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
employees of indoor settings (or people acting on their behalf, such as someone leading part of a prayer service) or transport workers - although employers may consider their use where appropriate and where other mitigations are not in place, in line with COVID-19 Secure guidelines
police officers and other emergency workers, given that this may interfere with their ability to serve the public
where putting on, wearing or removing a face covering will cause you severe distress
if you are speaking to or providing assistance to someone who relies on lip reading, clear sound or facial expressions to communicate
to avoid harm or injury, or the risk of harm or injury, to yourself or others - including if it would negatively impact on your ability to exercise or participate in a strenuous activity


For the majority there is no excuse for not wearing a mask but for a minority “don’t judge a book by its cover”

[Brinsley]

Should also include;
When cleaning your teeth!

[waddo]

Firstly, as you know from experience, there are very few laws in Cyprus that do not have some form/forms of exemption. Secondly, the mask is not there to protect you, it is there to limit the spread/distance that YOUR germs can travel.
Thirdly, the people who wear a mask care about other people’s health and safety.
Finally, the people who do not wear a mask do not care about others because they are in the group of “I’m all right Jacks” and should be avoided and ignored at all costs!

There is no way to answer your question as the laws and rules here, as in the UK, change on a moments notice. The only thing you can use is your own common sense. If you are wondering if, in any given situation, you should be wearing a mask then you should be! Either that or you have joined the “I’m all right Jack” group and you will happily go on your way killing people - it is up to you. The RoC have made mask wearing when in the public areas mandatory and fine those caught not complying, that action has netted their Government over 300,000 Euros in fines since the law was passed, there are no exemptions to the rule!

[sophie]

At last the RoC have been doing something I completely agree with, I do think some people here in TRNC are becoming more than a little "flakey" as to their likes and dislikes.

[Hedge-fund]

I think it's more a mental aid than medical in most instances whereby it makes some people FEEL safer.

[PoshinDevon]

Firstly, as you know from experience, there are very few laws in Cyprus that do not have some form/forms of exemption. Secondly, the mask is not there to protect you, it is there to limit the spread/distance that YOUR germs can travel.
Thirdly, the people who wear a mask care about other people’s health and safety.
Finally, the people who do not wear a mask do not care about others because they are in the group of “I’m all right Jacks” and should be avoided and ignored at all costs!

There is no way to answer your question as the laws and rules here, as in the UK, change on a moments notice. The only thing you can use is your own common sense. If you are wondering if, in any given situation, you should be wearing a mask then you should be! Either that or you have joined the “I’m all right Jack” group and you will happily go on your way killing people - it is up to you. The RoC have made mask wearing when in the public areas mandatory and fine those caught not complying, that action has netted their Government over 300,000 Euros in fines since the law was passed, there are no exemptions to the rule!

Just to make it clear, I have no issue wearing a mask. The question was asked to try and understand whether the TRNC did have an official list of those who were exempt from wearing a mask? The U.K. guidelines are like a lot of things to do with the virus either a little “grey” or open to interpretation.

Whilst I question the “greyness” of the U.K. exemptions and do feel some will take advantage, from what I have observed there are not many flouting the guidelines. However I cannot disagree that some people should be exempt mask wearing. So I suppose that means I don’t agree with the ROC ruling that everyone wears a mask with no exceptions.

[waddo]

Posh, as you would expect, even in a land where there are NO exceptions - there are Medical Exceptions! I know nothing about the UK and it’s systems anymore but I doubt that those who do not abide by the regulations due to ill health or physical problems that prevent mask wearing have to prove them. The South say everyone without exception but their Mask Police have the ability to exempt people that have medically prove problems and those with physical difficulty, such people have to provide verifiable proof on demand or pay the fine - it is a system that is working well so far.

I wear hearing aids and have always worn spectacles so adding a mask is difficult, the only saving grace I have is big ears but it is still difficult to have three sets of elastic/wire and steel around my ears - lol. So often I leave my hearing aids at home - even before Covid I found that easier because I tended to lip read but now that is not an option!

So I find myself agreeing with you in one way yet disagreeing in another. If I want to go out then I have to put up with wearing the mask and saying “pardon” a lot as I can’t hear well enough - that’s life. I suppose I could wear the aids and leave off the specs instead, interesting driving experience that would be.

At least the South are trying - very - and have made their system simple to understand for everyone. My friends in the South say that everyone grumbled to start with but have now accepted the situation and moved on with life.

[Keithcaley]

Waddo, just do what I do, when someone speaks to you, there are are two possible responses: -

1) Four O'Clock!

or

2) Mine's a Pint!

[waddo]

I heard that. Pardon?

[Kanonier]

I never thought in a million years that I would be going into a bank wearing a mask and asking for money.

[waddo]

Keith, just to stop you scratching - "I didn't know you cared", Uncle Staveley, mid 70's I think - one of the few times I was based in the UK!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84msYud8rCo

[Mowgli597]

Aye.....well.....mmm!

We still invoke Uncle Mort’s walking stick when it comes to an argument as to who’s got too much of the bed!

[Keithcaley]

Uncle Mort’s walking stick

Is that a euphemism?

[Groucho]

Epic fail - doctor not wearing mask... So I'd punch her back - only harder!