I went to the hairdresser today. Whilst all the staff wore visors, none wore a mask. I was surprised.
I went to mine on Tuesday, and had the same experience. I had a thorough cut, it took a little time, and we spoke about how I wanted it done.
I was seated, the stylist standing, and any moist air expelled as she breathed out or spoke descended onto my head & shoulders.
I was disconcerted.
Fortunately I live only three minutes walk from the salon and it was a mild day, so I had dressed in light clothing in order that, if I felt it necessary, I could strip, have a shower and put my discarded clothes and mask in the washing machine as soon as I got home.
I wonder what the reaction would be if you brought a disposable mask and offered it to your shielded-unmasked hairdresser with a smile and just said that it might be nothing but that you would feel more comfortable about possible germs escaping from under the shield.
Almost every zoom call I’ve been in involves waving, often because someone comes in whilst you are talking and everyone waves to acknowledge them during the conversation. Admittedly my zoom calls are usually informal church affairs but when teaching and meeeting using Adobe Connect a wave from the presenter is also welcome. But we are an informal bunch.
I wonder what the reaction would be if you brought a disposable mask and offered it to your shielded-unmasked hairdresser ...
My sister and I are both getting haircuts next week (on different days but at the same salon); she had a message from them saying they'll provide masks if we don't have them, so I'm assuming they'll be taking it fairly seriously. We've got a box of disposable elastic-behind-the-ear masks so we'll bring our own. (The reusable ones we had made by a friend are the top-and-neck-elastic sort, which wouldn't be any use for while you're having your hair cut).
Re: the Peace - what's wrong with the priest saying "The Lord be with you" and the congregation responding "and with thy spirit"? No need for handshakes or hugs. But that's for another time, and another board ...
I wonder what the reaction would be if you brought a disposable mask and offered it to your shielded-unmasked hairdresser with a smile and just said that it might be nothing but that you would feel more comfortable about possible germs escaping from under the shield.
That would be rather odd, as I don't have any disposable masks, and would have to buy one (£1) from the box on the salon's reception desk (for the use of clients who don't bring one with them). However, I might well do that - but would first ask about it when making the appointment.
Good suggestion.
All this just goes to show how hard it is to Know What Is The Right Thing To Do in these difficult times. So often, in England at least, 'official' guidance on one day is at odds with 'official' guidance the next.
One of our congregation was telling us (post-Mass chat!) that she'd just had her hair cut for the first time since March. I didn't think to ask her what precautions her hairdresser had taken (not that it would have been polite of me to do so, anyway, but Enquiring Minds need to know).
I just brush my hand over my solar panel bald/shaven head, and grin faintly...
Today I take on the role of childminder for my grandsons, 4-and-a-half and almost 1. I'm going to look after them two days a week, with the help of Grandpa, while their parents are still working from home, until the elder starts school full-time at the end of September. Then the little one will go to nursery.
Up till now they've been taking it in turns to share work and childminding but even the most generous employer won't sustain that for ever. Prayers that I don't Let The Side Down would be appreciated!
Luckily, I've had my hair cut, and the sun is shining
Prayers and moral support (and slight envy for intrepid grandson and apprentice intrepid grandson enjoying status) from the other side of the world. Hope the weather stays fine!☀️😇
Well, everyone will find (and probably keep to) what suits them best.
I rather incline to the slight bow (see what I did there?), but for a tallish gentleman, such as myself *ahem*, it feels natural.
Meanwhile, I've just finished my last 1:1 Pilates session via Zoom! The Centre is re-opening for Pilates classes (lower numbers, I think) and RL 1:1 sessions next week.
My torturer instructor has been quite inventive in adapting exercises which would normally be done on the Reformer machine to a more domestic setting, and we have pressed into service tins of soup, books, and a small towel...
...but it will be good to get back to the 'proper' setting and equipment!
I hope we don't have to go into a second lockdown, but, if we do, at least we'll have some idea of how to manage...
I was out walking the dog this morning and I often see one or two other regular walkers, we keep our distance and wave. I had always had a mask around my neck but not on. This morning I left without a mask, should not be a problem have never needed it since March, so I did not return to put it on. Today a women came rushing toward me asking, "Oh may I pet your dog?" I held up my hand and said, "NO, we are not wearing masks." She backed off and said,"Right, I forgot." Lesson learned, do not leave home without a mask.
Prayers and moral support (and slight envy for intrepid grandson and apprentice intrepid grandson enjoying status) from the other side of the world. Hope the weather stays fine!☀️😇
Thank you WiG - all went well, except that TIG is struggling a bit emotionally after so long without companionship of his own age (a bit more tearful than warranted and not as co-operative as usual). Anyway I'm going back on Thursday so I can't have been that bad
I went out to Aldi this evening On My Own, which was bliss as most of my recent trips out have been with the Dragonlets. It was nice and quiet, and even the supermarket counts as a change of scene. (Plus I could choose nice chocolate at my leisure.)
Only on 2 buses yesterday (as opposed to 5 the day before), but one journey was about half an hour. More people travelling - mostly masked, but some very casually. Then some tedious shopping, so home after several masked hours feeling tired and stressed and thirsty.
I haven't braved a bus yet but a friend of mine has. Apparently some seats are blocked off so I worry about when I start using them again and getting a seat. I'm dependent on public transport for travelling to a part time course I'm doing which is planned to resume face to face in September, but at present the whole idea of being on a bus scares me.
I can't help thinking that the Reformer machine sounds like an instrument of torture, possibly employed by the Spanish Inquisition ...
Bet you weren't expecting that!
Maybe something more likely to be used by the followers of John Knox, brought out if you leave your laundry out to dry on the Sabbath. The Scottish Inquisition.
I meant to say I'm also envious of @The Intrepid Mrs S 's grandparently duties and am looking forward to very regular updates and anecdotes, for my vicarious enjoyment.
I've been thinking a fair bit about hug workarounds and how I/we feel about them. I have a couple of friends I now see in real life who comment as we part "It seems so strange not to give you a hug." I generally regard it as... something of a relief... did I say that out loud...?
I haven't braved a bus yet but a friend of mine has. Apparently some seats are blocked off so I worry about when I start using them again and getting a seat. I'm dependent on public transport for travelling to a part time course I'm doing which is planned to resume face to face in September, but at present the whole idea of being on a bus scares me.
I think you will find that when the available seats are taken the bus will put up a "full" sign and not stop for you. I certainly have seen signs at bus stops saying that this will be the case in these parts - though since almost no one is using them (and they were pretty empty before lockdown as well) it will be a while till I see a bus marked full!
Yes, much the same here, with not many people actually using the buses AFAICS (I can't speak for 'rush hour').
I do wonder how our local operators (Arriva, and 2-3 much smaller firms) can continue to run what appear to be their usual schedules with so few passengers. The economic downturn must be horrifying for them, especially the small companies.
I can't help thinking that the Reformer machine sounds like an instrument of torture, possibly employed by the Spanish Inquisition ...
Bet you weren't expecting that!
Maybe something more likely to be used by the followers of John Knox, brought out if you leave your laundry out to dry on the Sabbath. The Scottish Inquisition.
On my way home on the bus today I ended up having someone sit next to me unmasked, drinking a beer out of a bottle in a paper bag, and playing music on his phone (all no-nos on NYC buses). I was afraid to say something about the masklessness because of the beer, I didn't know if he was sober or not or if he'd get nasty. The music was just the icing on the cake.
Yes, much the same here, with not many people actually using the buses AFAICS (I can't speak for 'rush hour').
I do wonder how our local operators (Arriva, and 2-3 much smaller firms) can continue to run what appear to be their usual schedules with so few passengers. The economic downturn must be horrifying for them, especially the small companies.
I considered suspending (the option for having a month or so off without cancelling and starting again!) my Monthly Direct Debit or switching to the Pay as You Go option until I was back using the buses for daily commuting again, but as we never got the information about whether or not I'd be back at the workplace early enough to make it work. In the finish, I had the sum total of 2.5 hours in the workplace for the summer term. We have a very high staff/student ratio, and a very low number of students returned to college in the summer term.
I gulped, then realised in More Usual Times, if I looked at it over the whole year, it's probably still worked out the best option to continue with the monthly ticket as I did carry on using the buses even during the strictest lockdown and the dire warnings about avoiding public transport. I don't have a car, and used the buses once a week to get the once a week shopping home.
This also added to my workplace deeming my possible return a Medium Risk, not because I have a condition in the clinically vulnerable category (not the extremely clinically vulnerable and therefore in the shielding category) but because I couldn't guarantee to avoid using public transport. Which I have to do if my blood sugars misbehave whilst walking the hour to or from work, and therefore carrying on walking could've caused a medical emergency! On a bus, I can sit and treat the low blood sugar and usually be fine to walk the distance from the bus stop to home/work... I deemed this Essential Travel.
It was nice and quiet, and even the supermarket counts as a change of scene.
Mr S's diary for next Wednesday runneth over, actually - the fortnightly food delivery, followed by (gasp!) A Trip To The Dump, and A Visit To The Dental Hygienist! None of these would have rated a second thought back in those far-off pre-lockdown days.
I went to an outdoor, socially distanced tea party yesterday afternoon - a friend at church celebrates her birthday by having a tea party and inviting donations to a selected charity, but this year she has had to deliver the teas to participants. there were only three of us, but what a treat to sit in someone else's garden and have tea and chat...
I went shopping today in Aldi (we are back home) every shopper had a mask on and kept to the 2 metre markings.
It was good to see and shows what legislation can do. If everyone does it nobody feels embarrassed.
It felt a lot more like it did in Germany. Except that our town is on the ‘watch’ list so I’m even more careful about hand hygiene and wiping everything down.
I’m going for a picnic in my friend’s garden tomorrow. 🙂
We are thinking of visiting our son and girl friend next week. First we have seen any family since March. We have our little mini camper and they have 5 acres. We will take our own food and keep correct social distance and remain outside. They are both working from home so have that shield as well. Our only concern is the heat. If it is below 90F we are good to go.
First time out on the high street since lockdown proper!
Face mask didn’t fall off, I had been practicing.
Total overload but great fun : a local refillery grocery store.... two charity shops..... the newsagents .... then the bank.
I am returning to the bank next Wednesday to sort online banking properly.
“ Leave a good Hour for this.....”said the member of staff with a twinkle in their eye.
Had lunch at the coast then fell asleep in the car, too much excitement!
Went to the Big Supermarket today - found some ice cream (ie it was not on The List) and the frozen salmon. (It's outside LP's choosing capabilities and cooking repertoire)
I also managed to explain to him that Most People are cooking and eating more simply these Pandemic days. Apart from the bored and the bingers. So he accepted why it'd been dropped from the household menu.
Masked, gloved and long-sleeved, I managed without the slightest panic
I did a couple of extra hours volunteering in my local charity bookshop today. All the customers wore masks and used our hand sanitiser. I used my mask while trying to avoid said customers and stack shelves (it is a very small shop). Yesterday in Asda only about 60% of customers had masks on. The shops I popped into today everyone seemed to be wearing them. I wonder why they couldn't have insisted on mask wearing a little earlier.
Being someone who likes to be colour co-ordinated I've invested in some masks from one of my favourite clothing chains.
To the corner shop (2-checkout Co-Op) this morning, for Essentials (bread rolls to go with CHEESE, pickle ditto, and BEER ditto).
All customers wearing masks, lassie on the till wearing mask*, and manager chap to-ing and fro-ing (the delivery van was outside) wearing a plastic visor thingy.
The shop is quite small, the aisles are narrow, and physical distancing is difficult, even with only 3 customers in at a time (!), so the mask-wearing made the place feel rather more comfortable, IYSWIM.
One customer out, next customer in. (I usually pop my head round the door to ask the lassie on the till if it's All Clear, just to make sure).
All working well ISTM, but if queuing outside is still required at the end of the year, they might have to put up some sort of shelter from the torrential rain which appears to be the norm in winter in these Sad Southlands, o'erwhelmed with Shade.
(*not AIUI mandatory for staff, but I guess she was being sensible. Wearing a mask for more than half-an-hour or so at a time is, IME, just a bit too much...)
Poor Mr F has been hirpling about on an infected toe for weeks. Today he could finally go to the chiropodist. Antibiotcs will be delivered from the Health Centre this afternoon.
While he was having his foot fixed, I nipped into our local butcher, which has taken the opportunity to close for a couple of weeks and refurbish. Gone is the little glass booth where the lady took receipt of payment back in the day. Now it's chill cabinets and shelves of fancy mustard.
The gibberish coming out of Richmond is general interpreted here in the Valley as meaning 'wear masks indoors,' and people are doing it. Unfortunately, the Wally is being obnoxious about it, probably because they get that section of the population for whom non-compliance overrides the need for sensible precautions. The words 'please' and 'thank you' seem to be wholly absent from all signage, which adds to the general feeling of being ordered about by rude people who don't know what they are doing. This adds to the already high stress level of shopping in the Wally, so I think I will be putting up with dodging 'old-folks-in-a-fog' at Kroger instead for the time being as being the less stressful option.
I am beginning to get some pressure to resume travelling for work, which is OK when we can drive (SWMBO usually comes with me) but I have yet to develop any desire to go into an airport, or get on an airplane. Most of my flying is done on commuter jets and confinement in a smallish aluminium tube with a 40 to 70 strangers who may or may not be infectious whilst wearing a mask is likely to tip me over into a full-on panic attack. No thanks on that for the time being.
One interesting thing that has happened since the mask obsession took hold is that social distancing has begun to breakdown. On some level, about 40% of the population thinks the mask will protect them from the virus (which it won't - it is really there to reduce droplet dispersion) even if they don't do the 6' thing. The words 'how stupid can you get?' have been muttered under my breath a few times when folks have gotten into my space repeatedly. This seems to emphasize that most folks also do not seem to understand the mechanics of infection.
Yes, social (or physical) distancing seems to be increasingly ignored here, although in all fairness there are many places (e.g. my local Co-Op grocery store) where 2 metres is difficult to achieve.
Got it in one. Also known as Wally-World or Mall-Wart in our house. I am not found of the place at the best of times, but it is within walking distance, as is Kroger.
The instructions on the salon's FB page were to arrive with clean hair, which I interpreted to mean freshly-washed hair, so I washed mine as I do every morning.
When I arrived at the salon, I had to wait outside while a staff member checked my temperature before I was allowed to enter. Inside, my bag and brolly were put into a plastic bag and I was covered with another plastic bag (instead of a hairdresser's gown). My hair was then washed...
My stylist wore a visor but not a mask. I was all masked up and not allow to remove my mask - I had to hold it onto my face at the sides of the mask while I was being shampooed.
I had 1 ½ inches chopped off and feel so much the better for it.
I have started to wear a pedometer to keep track of how much I am moving now that because of the virus I am staying at home more. I just discovered that by walking to the kitchen and getting ice cream I gain steps toward my daily total.
O dear. Just think how many more steps you could add if you 'forgot' the spoon...and the hundreds-and-thousands...and the wafer...and the chocolate sauce...
I was quite surprised when my new hairdresser (who was wearing a shield but not a mask) told me I didn't need to wear a mask, as we were both facing the same way.
The words 'please' and 'thank you' seem to be wholly absent from all signage, which adds to the general feeling of being ordered about by rude people who don't know what they are doing.
A lot of people seem to interpret "please" on a sign as turning it from an order into a request, and so choose to ignore it.
One interesting thing that has happened since the mask obsession took hold is that social distancing has begun to breakdown. On some level, about 40% of the population thinks the mask will protect them from the virus (which it won't - it is really there to reduce droplet dispersion) even if they don't do the 6' thing. The words 'how stupid can you get?' have been muttered under my breath a few times when folks have gotten into my space repeatedly. This seems to emphasize that most folks also do not seem to understand the mechanics of infection.
To be fair to that 40%, the "official" guidance on masks has not helped.
To start with, most people's experience of masks are as PPE - they wear masks to protect themselves from dust when they're sanding / spraying paint / whatever. The idea, in general, that a mask protects you is not unreasonable.
We know that the cloth covers for Covid aren't for that, but that wasn't communicated clearly, and there was lots of conflicting nonsense ("you can choose to wear a mask or not" makes sense if it's PPE, and no sense at all if it's protecting other people).
Yes, I absolutely blame the President for part of this, with all his choosing to not wear a mask, and claiming that mask-wearing was a political statement against him etc.
AFAICT, *government* 'guidance' says that masks need not be worn by people visiting opticians. However, my local optometrist's establishment (part of a large chain, so presumably the same applies to all their stores) 'invites' customers to wear a face-covering.
The proper thing to do (ISTM) is to wear a mask when/where it is mandatory to do so, and to wear one elsewhere, if it is practicable to do so, or if physical distancing of 2 metres is not possible.
One can always remove the mask if "invited" (and if it's deemed safe) to do so. Sort of like taking off your coat when invited to come in and set a spell.
I have started to wear a pedometer to keep track of how much I am moving now that because of the virus I am staying at home more. I just discovered that by walking to the kitchen and getting ice cream I gain steps toward my daily total.
I normally do what most people consider an immoderate amount of steps in the course of my working day, as well as enjoying walking generally, and have had to resort to a lot of marching on the spot in the house/garden to try to do even half my pre-lockdown usual amount!
I also, on some of the more frustrating days, put the laundry away one item at a time - from the drying racks in one room to their home in my bedroom.
Comments
I wonder what the reaction would be if you brought a disposable mask and offered it to your shielded-unmasked hairdresser with a smile and just said that it might be nothing but that you would feel more comfortable about possible germs escaping from under the shield.
Re: the Peace - what's wrong with the priest saying "The Lord be with you" and the congregation responding "and with thy spirit"? No need for handshakes or hugs. But that's for another time, and another board ...
Good suggestion.
One of our congregation was telling us (post-Mass chat!) that she'd just had her hair cut for the first time since March. I didn't think to ask her what precautions her hairdresser had taken (not that it would have been polite of me to do so, anyway, but Enquiring Minds need to know).
I just brush my hand over my solar panel bald/shaven head, and grin faintly...
Up till now they've been taking it in turns to share work and childminding but even the most generous employer won't sustain that for ever. Prayers that I don't Let The Side Down would be appreciated!
Luckily, I've had my hair cut, and the sun is shining
For me physical touch in important and a bow doesn’t cut the muster.
I rather incline to the slight bow (see what I did there?), but for a tallish gentleman, such as myself *ahem*, it feels natural.
Meanwhile, I've just finished my last 1:1 Pilates session via Zoom! The Centre is re-opening for Pilates classes (lower numbers, I think) and RL 1:1 sessions next week.
My torturer instructor has been quite inventive in adapting exercises which would normally be done on the Reformer machine to a more domestic setting, and we have pressed into service tins of soup, books, and a small towel...
...but it will be good to get back to the 'proper' setting and equipment!
I hope we don't have to go into a second lockdown, but, if we do, at least we'll have some idea of how to manage...
Bet you weren't expecting that!
I'd prefer the Comfy Chair, but...
Thank you WiG - all went well, except that TIG is struggling a bit emotionally after so long without companionship of his own age (a bit more tearful than warranted and not as co-operative as usual). Anyway I'm going back on Thursday so I can't have been that bad
I've been thinking a fair bit about hug workarounds and how I/we feel about them. I have a couple of friends I now see in real life who comment as we part "It seems so strange not to give you a hug." I generally regard it as... something of a relief... did I say that out loud...?
I think you will find that when the available seats are taken the bus will put up a "full" sign and not stop for you. I certainly have seen signs at bus stops saying that this will be the case in these parts - though since almost no one is using them (and they were pretty empty before lockdown as well) it will be a while till I see a bus marked full!
I do wonder how our local operators (Arriva, and 2-3 much smaller firms) can continue to run what appear to be their usual schedules with so few passengers. The economic downturn must be horrifying for them, especially the small companies.
Quotes file!
I considered suspending (the option for having a month or so off without cancelling and starting again!) my Monthly Direct Debit or switching to the Pay as You Go option until I was back using the buses for daily commuting again, but as we never got the information about whether or not I'd be back at the workplace early enough to make it work. In the finish, I had the sum total of 2.5 hours in the workplace for the summer term. We have a very high staff/student ratio, and a very low number of students returned to college in the summer term.
I gulped, then realised in More Usual Times, if I looked at it over the whole year, it's probably still worked out the best option to continue with the monthly ticket as I did carry on using the buses even during the strictest lockdown and the dire warnings about avoiding public transport. I don't have a car, and used the buses once a week to get the once a week shopping home.
This also added to my workplace deeming my possible return a Medium Risk, not because I have a condition in the clinically vulnerable category (not the extremely clinically vulnerable and therefore in the shielding category) but because I couldn't guarantee to avoid using public transport. Which I have to do if my blood sugars misbehave whilst walking the hour to or from work, and therefore carrying on walking could've caused a medical emergency! On a bus, I can sit and treat the low blood sugar and usually be fine to walk the distance from the bus stop to home/work... I deemed this Essential Travel.
Mr S's diary for next Wednesday runneth over, actually - the fortnightly food delivery, followed by (gasp!) A Trip To The Dump, and A Visit To The Dental Hygienist! None of these would have rated a second thought back in those far-off pre-lockdown days.
I went to an outdoor, socially distanced tea party yesterday afternoon - a friend at church celebrates her birthday by having a tea party and inviting donations to a selected charity, but this year she has had to deliver the teas to participants. there were only three of us, but what a treat to sit in someone else's garden and have tea and chat...
It was good to see and shows what legislation can do. If everyone does it nobody feels embarrassed.
It felt a lot more like it did in Germany. Except that our town is on the ‘watch’ list so I’m even more careful about hand hygiene and wiping everything down.
I’m going for a picnic in my friend’s garden tomorrow. 🙂
I know it sounds daft, but I'm really rather looking forward to it.
Face mask didn’t fall off, I had been practicing.
Total overload but great fun : a local refillery grocery store.... two charity shops..... the newsagents .... then the bank.
I am returning to the bank next Wednesday to sort online banking properly.
“ Leave a good Hour for this.....”said the member of staff with a twinkle in their eye.
Had lunch at the coast then fell asleep in the car, too much excitement!
I also managed to explain to him that Most People are cooking and eating more simply these Pandemic days. Apart from the bored and the bingers. So he accepted why it'd been dropped from the household menu.
Masked, gloved and long-sleeved, I managed without the slightest panic
Being someone who likes to be colour co-ordinated I've invested in some masks from one of my favourite clothing chains.
All customers wearing masks, lassie on the till wearing mask*, and manager chap to-ing and fro-ing (the delivery van was outside) wearing a plastic visor thingy.
The shop is quite small, the aisles are narrow, and physical distancing is difficult, even with only 3 customers in at a time (!), so the mask-wearing made the place feel rather more comfortable, IYSWIM.
One customer out, next customer in. (I usually pop my head round the door to ask the lassie on the till if it's All Clear, just to make sure).
All working well ISTM, but if queuing outside is still required at the end of the year, they might have to put up some sort of shelter from the torrential rain which appears to be the norm in winter in these Sad Southlands, o'erwhelmed with Shade.
(*not AIUI mandatory for staff, but I guess she was being sensible. Wearing a mask for more than half-an-hour or so at a time is, IME, just a bit too much...)
While he was having his foot fixed, I nipped into our local butcher, which has taken the opportunity to close for a couple of weeks and refurbish. Gone is the little glass booth where the lady took receipt of payment back in the day. Now it's chill cabinets and shelves of fancy mustard.
I am beginning to get some pressure to resume travelling for work, which is OK when we can drive (SWMBO usually comes with me) but I have yet to develop any desire to go into an airport, or get on an airplane. Most of my flying is done on commuter jets and confinement in a smallish aluminium tube with a 40 to 70 strangers who may or may not be infectious whilst wearing a mask is likely to tip me over into a full-on panic attack. No thanks on that for the time being.
One interesting thing that has happened since the mask obsession took hold is that social distancing has begun to breakdown. On some level, about 40% of the population thinks the mask will protect them from the virus (which it won't - it is really there to reduce droplet dispersion) even if they don't do the 6' thing. The words 'how stupid can you get?' have been muttered under my breath a few times when folks have gotten into my space repeatedly. This seems to emphasize that most folks also do not seem to understand the mechanics of infection.
One has to do the best one can, I think.
(BTW, what is the 'Wally'?)
Got it in one. Also known as Wally-World or Mall-Wart in our house. I am not found of the place at the best of times, but it is within walking distance, as is Kroger.
The instructions on the salon's FB page were to arrive with clean hair, which I interpreted to mean freshly-washed hair, so I washed mine as I do every morning.
When I arrived at the salon, I had to wait outside while a staff member checked my temperature before I was allowed to enter. Inside, my bag and brolly were put into a plastic bag and I was covered with another plastic bag (instead of a hairdresser's gown). My hair was then washed...
My stylist wore a visor but not a mask. I was all masked up and not allow to remove my mask - I had to hold it onto my face at the sides of the mask while I was being shampooed.
I had 1 ½ inches chopped off and feel so much the better for it.
A lot of people seem to interpret "please" on a sign as turning it from an order into a request, and so choose to ignore it.
To be fair to that 40%, the "official" guidance on masks has not helped.
To start with, most people's experience of masks are as PPE - they wear masks to protect themselves from dust when they're sanding / spraying paint / whatever. The idea, in general, that a mask protects you is not unreasonable.
We know that the cloth covers for Covid aren't for that, but that wasn't communicated clearly, and there was lots of conflicting nonsense ("you can choose to wear a mask or not" makes sense if it's PPE, and no sense at all if it's protecting other people).
Yes, I absolutely blame the President for part of this, with all his choosing to not wear a mask, and claiming that mask-wearing was a political statement against him etc.
The proper thing to do (ISTM) is to wear a mask when/where it is mandatory to do so, and to wear one elsewhere, if it is practicable to do so, or if physical distancing of 2 metres is not possible.
IYSWIM.
I normally do what most people consider an immoderate amount of steps in the course of my working day, as well as enjoying walking generally, and have had to resort to a lot of marching on the spot in the house/garden to try to do even half my pre-lockdown usual amount!
I also, on some of the more frustrating days, put the laundry away one item at a time - from the drying racks in one room to their home in my bedroom.