there should be a government campaign to make your own masks...

[jobhunter7]

Surely this would help if as many people as possible were wearing masks... and understandably perhaps the government want to make sure medics have them first...

[lancashirelady]

Why do we need the Government to tell us this? If people want to make their own face mask what is stopping them?

[jobhunter7]

Nothing... but surely if it is posted on billboards and on tv ads etc... it'd help get the message across...

[BolloxtoGender]

What's stopping you OP?

[daisypond]

The government doesn’t actually want people to wear masks, though, so there will never be a campaign.

[PurpleDaisies]

No thanks.

[jobhunter7]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52143873

they do things differently in some countries

[BubblesBuddy]

There have been many experts on virus transmission saying not to do this. Virtually no fabric you can buy will work and they get hot and sweaty. You then touch them and transmit the virus via your face. Most people cannot make them to fit properly and they don’t stay in place. They therefore believe they won’t stop the virus being transmitted from you and they certainly won’t stop you getting it because it can enter via your eyes. Washing your hands is better and not touching your face.

In other countries, in particular Asian ones, masks are worn due to high pollution. They are used to them. We are not. They have described as being virtually useless and even counter productive.

So, don’t bother. Don’t buy them either. The only ones that are effective are needed by people who are working with possible carriers of the virus.

[middleager]

I disagree. If the (mainly older men) selfish pricks who were spluttering, without shielding their coughs, had masks then this would be better for others.

[jobhunter7]

From The Guardian:

Wearing a face mask is certainly not an iron-clad guarantee that you won’t get sick – viruses can also transmit through the eyes and tiny viral particles, known as aerosols, can penetrate masks. However, masks are effective at capturing droplets, which is a main transmission route of coronavirus, and some studies have estimated a roughly fivefold protection versus no barrier alone (although others have found lower levels of effectiveness).

If you are likely to be in close contact with someone infected, a mask cuts the chance of the disease being passed on. If you’re showing symptoms of coronavirus, or have been diagnosed, wearing a mask can also protect others. So masks are crucial for health and social care workers looking after patients and are also recommended for family members who need to care for someone who is ill – ideally both the patient and carer should have a mask.

[Naturalbornkiller]

Masks don't help.

You may as well put a scarf over your face if your gonna make one out of a t-shirt or old sheet or whatever.

Not everyone can sew or has the equipment to sew. Do you expect people to go out and buy sewing machines. Or you want them to hand stich masks? So they need to learn to hand stich and buy needles, and cotton, and needle threaders, and fabric markers, and measuring tape and pins. That's still a cost to someone with limited resources even from poundland.

If you wanna make masks go ahead. Hey you could even make lots and donate them to people that want them.

But saying everyone needs to start making masks to be mandatorily worn is going way, way too far.

Fwiw I have the facilities and knowlage to make masks, but I'm not going to make them or wear them as I feel they are unnecessary.

[jobhunter7]

Wearing a scarf over your face is probably better than nothing.

[PestymcPestFace]

Because some individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (US) recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html . Please leave N95 respirators for health providers who are in need of PPE. Wash your hands and practice safe social distancing when possible.

The CDC changed their recommendation based on newer findings about the high prevalence of asymptomatic carriers. The idea is that by wearing a cloth face mask, you may prevent transmission to others if you are an asymptomatic carrier of coronavirus. In other words a mask may help prevent 'outward' transmission of disease.
www.instructables.com/id/Face-Mask-Duckbill-With-Filter

Masks are often worn is Asia because it is considered inconsiderate to pass your germs on to other people. The have a far less selfish outlook to the UK.

As a carer I wear a mask, I am much more risk to my clients than they are to me. I wear a mask because I could be an asymptomatic carrier. I get through a fair few masks a day, they get washed.

[jobhunter7]

But saying everyone needs to start making masks to be mandatorily worn is going way, way too far.

Why we don't we (as a country) ask people to please make a mask or wear a scarf or a bandana... particularly when social distancing is more difficult, in shops or on buses etc...

[Destroyer]

But surely homemade masks won’t meet minimum standards.

[PestymcPestFace]

The minimum standards for what Destroyer , working on a Covid ward?

A home-made mask is to slow outward transmission, any of us could be asymptomatic carriers. Or are you only worried about yourself?

[Naturalbornkiller]

Like I said if peopke want to then they can crack on. But it's up to the individual to decide.

Plus most people won't use the masks properly. Especially if they're being forced to use them. They won't clean them enough, they'll shove them in their pocket then back on their face. As soon as the mask gets damp it stops working. And it encourages you to touch your face. Plus it gives you a false sence of security.

I think it's better people stay home when they have symptoms rather than go out with a mask on.

[jobhunter7]

And it encourages you to touch your face.

I have a mask and it didn't encourage me to touch my face. I should think it may with some people and have the opposite effect with others.

[SerendipitySunshine]

Everyone who can make them should be doing.

[jobhunter7]

Plus it gives you a false sence of security.

I am not sure why you think that.

I think it's better people stay home when they have symptoms rather than go out with a mask on.

I agree they should still stay home when they have symptoms.

[Xenia]

No , as masks can cause more harm than good and WHO does not recommend them and many of us do not want them.

There should be a gov campaign about not wearing masks and that it is important not to wear them.

[smeerf]

I made a mask for my antenatal appointments, when I have to visit the hospital and interact with midwives etc. It stops me touching my face. I wash it after every appointment. I feel a bit self conscious in it but I have noticed people keep their distance from me more when I'm wearing it, which is a bonus.

[Naturalbornkiller]

Lots of experts have said they give people a false sense of security. I've seen for myself people get closer to you when they're wearing one. People are also more likey to go out with symptoms when they have one.

I for one know I would touch my face more. I have sensative skins and allergies making my nose constantly itchy . If somthing was on my face I wouldn't be able to leave it alone.

[ChardonnaysPetDragon]

I'm looking at the masks I bought, the ubiquitous light blue ones, and I think that some of the fabric masks I see on Instagram actually much better, with a tight fabric and adjustable ties.

[jobhunter7]

Lots of experts have said they give people a false sense of security.

Difficult to prove.

I've seen for myself people get closer to you when they're wearing one.

I haven't seen that, but then when I go out at the moment, I make a personal effort to keep my distance when I go shopping.

People are also more likey to go out with symptoms when they have one.

Perhaps we should be more swedish about things and encourage people to use their brains.

I for one know I would touch my face more. I have sensative skins and allergies making my nose constantly itchy . If somthing was on my face I wouldn't be able to leave it alone.

I think that may be true for some people and other people the reverse.

[PestymcPestFace]

There should be a gov campaign about not wearing masks and that it is important not to wear them.
This would be a unique twist. Many governments around the world have campaigns to get people to wear masks. Many governments around the world give their citizens masks.

#actlike youhaveit , they are softening us up for masks.