The sunflower lanyard – uses and abuses

About a year ago this green lanyard with sunflowers on it was introduced to signify a hidden disability such as asthma, hearing impairment, mental health difficulties, and such like. Staff at transport hubs such as airports and stations should spot it and quietly come along to offer help. I have used mine occasionally as it is handy to hold my bus pass in the pocket with a sign on the reverse asking people to remove their face mask so that I can understand them.

However it can be abused. I was shocked to see someone in the supermarket earnestly trying to persuade the shoppers that it is not necessary to wear a face covering at all. (No doubt this was a conspiracy theorist who believes Covid-19 is all an elaborate hoax so that our basic human freedoms can be taken away. I respect their right to their views, but I wish they would not try to be so evangelistic.) What was more shocking was this person was telling shoppers to go to the information desk and ask for a Sunflower Lanyard which will allow them to go about unmasked without hindrance. That is not what it is meant for.