I’m currently sat on a bus, wearing a mask. I’m in the Isle of Man. We have no mask mandate, and haven’t since April 2021. We’ve had three lockdowns – March – June 2020, January 2021 and February 2021. We opened our borders to the Common Travel Area (UK, Channel Islands & Ireland) on 28th June.
I travelled to UK on Friday 9th July. My niece is 14 months old and I’d never met her. I was “double jabbed” in March (due to work), so I knew I could return easily. Our travel restrictions state that we are following the 2+2 format for those vaccinated CTA with Pfizer, AstraZeneca or Moderna only do not have to isolate upon return. Everyone else must isolate and test on day 1 and 6, and beyond if positive tests. We have already had travellers test negative, then test positive
I have not isolated. I have not tested. But I am mask wearing. And I will continue to mask wear when I feel it is necessary or I am feeling ill. Forever. I read a throwback tweet from someone who said they’d questioned why their Japanese friend wore a mask on the subway (pre-pandemic) and their reply was that they had a cold and did not want to spread germs. And there was I thinking masks were worn because of the smog, not because of respect for humanity. Maybe that’s why it is portrayed as due to smog, so we cannot see how disrespectful to our fellow (hu)man we are!
When leaving the island, I put my mask on when at the boarding gate at Ronaldsway, as per signage in airport; removing to prove my identity when showing passport only. We could remove for drinks only while on board. I did not see anyone disobey the rules, or hear anyone complain. That’s not to say they didn’t, I was just not aware of it. When we landed, there was no one making sure masks remained on. No one asking for documentation of vaccinations. It all seemed very blasé and as if they didn’t really care. I removed mask once outside and in the open air, while waiting to be picked up by parents.
On return journey, I put my mask on before got into airport, in accordance with signage that says “masks must be worn at all times within building” (with exceptions to under 12s and those medically exempt & in receipt of medical evidence – I’m looking at you, Laurence Fox!!). As I put mine on, I walked past a couple where the wife was handing the husband his mask as he grumbled “this is ridiculous”. Enter building and head for check-in. At least 5 EasyJet staff without masks, 1 male passenger without a mask (he could have been exempt, but didn’t look like he proved it from length of time at desk), and numerous had their nose sticking over the top of their masks – mostly males. In security, no one socially distanced (I tried, but really only worked with the passenger in front of me) and a few were taking half their mask down to talk. The divestment (where you put items into trays) staff member wore his mask under his chin and kept piling passengers into a crowd – even when the trays could go no further. The staff at metal detector/body search wore gloves but no masks; the staff member on X-ray wore no mask, but the staff member doing bag searches did. Going through to departures, the staff in Duty Free wore masks but didn’t tell passengers in the store to wear masks correctly. Numerous retail staff members wore masks, others did not. Every member of flight crew or in yellow hi-viz that I saw wore masks. No one, not one out of any of them, asked passengers to wear masks – as stated upon entering building. Head for boarding, was scanned through by a staff member who was still not wearing a mask since check-in duty. I was also not asked to see ID or to remove mask to prove ID was mine. Stand on metal stairwell, which was so dusty and mucky I was glad I was wearing a mask!, and waited to board the plane. Most were wearing masks, but one that I could see in stairwell above me, was not. After 5 minutes of standing around, his mask went on. It was off again as he found his seat! You have to wear mask throughout flight; no drinks or food offered, but water was available. As landed, the crew did not remind passengers of Isle of Man regulations or to have landing cards ready. I heard someone grumble about their landing card when they saw mine in my hand.
To come into/return to the island you must apply via the COVID-19 website. You will be issued with a code if you are allowed entry, after proving you are double vaccinated + 2 weeks. Within 48 hours of landing/docking, you must complete a Landing Card (most will be electronically, unless system crashes & you have to print it out). You can enter if not double vaccinated, but again you have to go through the website and give reasons as to why you should be allowed; and follow isolation regulations upon landing. You will go to prison if you breach these regulations.
As I’m sat on the bus, I notice others still mask wearing. I don’t know their reasons, but I applaud them. I hope this continues. Also while on the bus, I hear two younger lads (early 20s, maybe) talk about if they were offered the vaccine would they take it. One says he isn’t sure he’d bother, because what difference would it make to him? They other agrees. The first then says it just needs to get out there so we can all get on with our lives. My first thought was that they clearly have no one close to them that it would kill. It’s heartbreaking the selfishness that people have, partly because they claim a vaccine that has been made from research since 2003 (SARS CoV-01) is experimental or because they just don’t care. I don’t know. All I know is, for a relatively healthy person, the vaccine will mean you are much less likely to be hospitalised or have severe symptoms. For a vaccinated ill person (e.g. someone with Stage 4 COPD, aka my mother-in-law), they are still going to get ill, and very likely hospitalised, but less likely to die. Problem is, there are a few fully vaccinated elderly/medically vulnerable who now act like they are immune. Take my mother-in-law for example. She’s had the Pneumonia vaccine every year, but still gets pneumonia. And every time she catches it, she continues to live – so the vaccine is working well! But she refuses to be careful around potential C-19 carriers. And this woman was a nurse!
Anyway, I guess all this was to say… be damn respectful. Wear a mask and don’t spread germs if ill.
Mama Needs a Drink! 