Rejected petition Make face masks optional, not mandatory!

Recently it was mandated that a mask be worn on public transport and very shortly inside shops also. Even though those who are most vulnerable with health conditions are exempt from wearing them. Yet healthy people are required to do so, I don't believe this makes sense.

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Taking into account that once again the WHO (world health organisation) has said that "From the data we have it still seems TO BE RARE that an asymptomatic person actually transmits onwards to a secondary individual"

A lot of masks sold or made at home will not stop virus particles. It even says on the packaging of some that this will not protect you from covid-19.

The government websites and guidance literature has often said that masks provide very little protection.

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.

You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.

You may wish to sign some of these petitions:

Don't make the wearing of face masks compulsory in public places in England: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/331174

Repeal the decision to implement compulsory face coverings in English shops: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/331430

Make the use of masks on public transport voluntary and not mandatory: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/325079

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:

www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

The Government has also created an online service to help you find out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support

You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips

You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/

You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Find out more: https://committees.parliament.uk/work/192/the-governments-response-to-coronavirus/

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 14 July 2020
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