Masks seem to be back..

[RisingSunn]

Has anyone else noticed this? I've seen a marked increase in people wearing them - in the bank and on transport for example.

Have I missed something?

I didn’t have a date but knew it was going to be soon ish! Once I had a date then I stayed home as I had visions of me breaking my leg or something and missing the op

Don't be so condescending.

I'm seeing more people wear masks.
My very unscientific opinion is that if Boots is offering a bundle of Covid Tests on their £10 Tuesday offer then a nasty Covid strain is on the loose.

Living in Asia they were common place long before Covid and still are, it's just general courtesy if you have flu/cold, put on a mask.

The way the health care system works, or perhaps doesn't work as well as it ought to, people can wait months if not actual years before they get a much-needed operation.
I can't imagine anyone not taking care of themselves not doing whatever it takes to prevent becoming ill with a communicable disease, when they know they have either an appointment with a specialist that they've waited nearly a year for, or for the operation they are scheduled to have.
I read of a woman who was scheduled to have an operation after a year of waiting, but she and her husband wore masks and didn't go anywhere for 3 weeks before her operation.
Just prior to her going in, her surgeon became ill with covid, the surgery was cancelled and she had to wait for two more years: can you imagine.

Have we been transported back in time.

Completely agree - its to protect others if you are suffering from a old/flu/etc - mainly a Japanese/Asian phenomenon I believe

I’ve noticed this too and I’ve also noticed in some shops that I regularly go in the shop assistants wearing gloves and/or using hand sanitiser between customers when previously they didn’t.

I still wear them regularly, but I work with the public and I don’t have much sick leave. When people have colds and such, I’m grateful when they wear masks.
so I do think it has become more habitual for some- certainly It’s more normal than it was pre-pandemic

Don't be so sensitive. The environmental impacts of Covid have been huge and it's a valid issue. Every time I throw a mask out or test out, I'm well aware I'm contributing to it, but sometimes you do what you have to do.

Every time I venture into town I see people in masks, mostly the elderly to be fair

Also notice more people wear them on flights

I still sanitise the trolly when I go shopping , Im so glad our supermarkets have kept that going , and I would wear a mask to work if I had a cold

Only had covid once back in 2022, the whole family, and none of us were very poorly. But I know our habits have changed since lockdowns. We no longer go out anywhere if we have colds, where as before we would just carry on and probably passed the cold around to many , now we are much more considerate of others

Rarely see masks out and about. If I do I assume flu or covid and avoid!

Still wash hands more than I used to

This is wild.
Clear example of where they should’ve cancelled.
I understand people with illness masking up to do essential shops, but carrying on as usual and attending a wedding expecting a face mask to save the day is insane.

I caught whooping cough on a flight last year thanks to the absolute charm who was sat behind me. No mask then either. Not sure for how unwell she was that it would’ve done much though. People are so selfish.

The staff at our GP surgery have all started wearing them again. There's a hell of a lot of respiratory bugs going round at the moment - we've recently had one and whenever I go out there seem to be people coughing everywhere, which is unusual so near summer.

A few of my friends (who are in the medical industry) were talking about a new (scary sounding) fungal spores outbreak which affects the lungs, that is spreading outside its usual habitat due to an increase in temperatures worldwide. Most of them have started to wear masks more as a result whilst being around groups of people/public spaces. I’ve started keeping my mask in my bag now to use if needed, as I feel a bit wary. My friends aren’t generally of scaremongering nature but it’s a bit of an unknown quantity at the moment.

Most masks reduce your risk of spreading a disease. It requires a specially fitted mask to reduce your risk of catching anything.

DH was in hospital this week. A lot of staff were masked and on the last day we were asked to put them on too. There is a new strain of Covid about

I see the occasional person wearing them on public transport in London. Usually an older person. I assume it could either be they have an illness they don't want to pass on, or it could be they are immune compromised or have a family member who is or about to have an operation or about to go on holiday etc

I see someone wearing one on the tube every now and then but I just assume they have a cold so are protecting others.

I've seen a few people on the tube and buses wearing masks recently.

Why didn't you have someone else take your child?

I'd be very, very annoyed if I was the clinician you went to see or if I was sat next to you in the waiting room.

I saw someone with a mask on the bus a few days ago. Then I realised they were with a very poorly looking child, puking into a bag (apparently they on the way A&E as child had been puking for 24h - someone asked and this was the reply given)

I got off at the next stop.

I’ve never really understood the horror people seem to feel about other people wearing them. As others have said, it’s fairly commonplace in Asia.

I haven’t seen anyone wearing a mask for at least 6 months. And then it was only one person.

If Boots knew a nasty strain was about they’d be charging £10 per test, they’re a business not a public health service! I suspect they are trying to get rid of a load that are going out of date.

There is a young man who wears a mask to my gym but I haven’t seen anyone else.

A friend wears one as a family member is immune compromised. He avoids people and wears high level mask if he has to mix.