So off I go to our local Sainsbury’s in the middle of the day to refresh our stock of bread and wine (not for communion). When I enter I say that I am exempt from the wearing of a mask. Instead of the nice lady there is a rather hostile man who tells me  I have to wear a mask or wear a lanyard. I say that I don’t. It is enough to tell him I am exempt.  He follows me in and repeats the request. I repeat my answer.

In the store an assistant tells me I have no mask.  I repeat the above. A third one does the same and says that they will not serve me if I  do not wear one.

At the check out there are three staff members waiting for me including the same man who accosted me at the entrance. I insisted on my rights. He waves me away angrily and assists with the self service check out (the wine).

I said that if this happens again I will contact the manager. He said you are welcome to do so. He claimed to know the law. I said he did not.

I arrived home and after finding I could not speak to the local manager wrote a letter of complaint to Sainsbury’s head office as follows:

If you have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing a face covering:

• you do not routinely need to show any written evidence of this
  
• you do not need show an exemption card
  

This means that you do not need to seek advice or request a letter from a medical professional about your reason for not wearing a face covering.

However, some people may feel more comfortable showing something that says they do not have to wear a face covering. This could be in the form of an exemption card, badge or even a home-made sign.