To wonder whether buying face masks is sensible or not

[movingdilemma1234]

So I've just bought a couple of packets of masks from ebay.
I'm aware of the advise that hand washing is the most useful precaution against viruses and, of course, I'll contuse to do this as per usual
However this virus appears to be gathering speed at an alarming rates.
But will I look like I'm neurotic if I start wearing a face mask in Sainsburys?
Will face masks be the new stock piling for Brexit?

Did they come from china OP?

Fo what you want but it is unlikely to be worth it. Sounds trite but something that could actually help is learning how to wash hands effectively, it should be done in 6 stages and often. Alcohol based hand gel as a supplement to this but not instead of and practice habits such as not touching your face and remaining well rested, hydrated and nutritional will be as much good as a mask- most of them are useless anyway. The prevalence of them in other countries proves nothing, different cultures have different rationales to things and a lot of it is societal politeness.

Face masks are used to prevent the wear spreading their germs not the other way round. They won’t make any difference. Good hand hygiene is what you need to think about.

Surgical mask (3 ply) can prevent fluid, but not airborne virus. If someone infected were to stand within a meter in front of you, the face mask could help to avoid direct contact from their fluid (but you will also need to wear glasses or other means of eye protection). But again, personal hygiene is essential, touching your face and NOT handling the mask properly will ruin the whole point of wearing the mask.

I have a moisturising one from Garnier.
And some mud ones.

Has anyone brought a face mask?? I'm staying at home now for as much as possible but worried about nipping to the shops. Is it worth wearing a mask or gloves??

I have one, FPP3 one - apparently absolutely useless once worn once . Will keep it for ‘just in case’ scenario . Trying very, very hard to not go into any shops right now .

I know that’s not really possibly for everyone though , to avoid shops I mean

Absolutely useless, I'm a nurse and seeing people running about with these "masks" on does not make it ok for you to go out! They do NO GOOD at all, please please think about this seriously, we are struggling to have basic ppe equipment, your "masks" from eBay DO NOT WORK, sorry if I'm ranting, I'm just so tired and so bloody worried, can you not see it's affecting us all? We are now at the same rate as Italy and I have senior consultants who are absolutely terrified as they know the NHS can't cope!

The only reason I'm going out is for basic supplies for my parents and prescription, so I'm not going out to socialise. I'm terrified if I'm honest but if it stops my 70 year parents g going out then I have to take that risk but am trying to reduce it.

I like how people think face masks are only worn in China
The mask protects others, their mask protects you. Not these whatever paper ones though. You need either one with respirator or more layer one where you can change middle layer as needed. They do not last too long.
That's the guidance in number of other countries

I don't know how to tag everyone but can I just say thank you so much, I have been in tears since I came home but I posted this just to get it all out and I've been in tears knowing how many of you are actually supporting me and the rest of the NHS workers, thank you so so much x

Wrong post sorry x

You have to get the right ones but its totally incorrect advice to say they are useless. It depends which ones. The research is out there and readily available.

One thing I’ve heard is that if you’re wearing them you’re more conscious all the time of why you’re wearing them, so you stop automatically touching your face etc.

It's academic now though isn't it. There aren't enough respirator masks in the UK to give to our frontline workers, let alone having enough for general population to wear them.

If everyone wore a good quality respirator mask, ideally without the valve, then of course it would make a difference. But it really needs to be everyone.

When I flew into China last week, they gave everyone a good quality N95 mask when we boarded the internal flight. People here find it quite distressing to see Europe walking around unmasked at the moment.

@P1nkHeartLovesCake funny that, my Chinese and Japanese friends are all shocked people in the UK don't wear them and are convinced that helped contain the spread. To be fair, it was more likely to discipline than the masks, but hey.
Id wear them op, I have a few and wear them when I'm out, better than nothing and even if they don't work, they make me feel better. A lot of people in my area wear them too so you may not look weird at all.

@MonaLisaDoesntSmile se of my European friends and family are as surprised as your Chinese and Japanese friends!

Problem is that if 1 out of 100 wears mask, it doesn't do much. But if 100 out of 100 wear a mask...

I'm a face toucher so I've been wearing one to go to the supermarket. I'm well aware it isn't much more likely to stop me breathing droplets in or out but it does stop me touching my face when I'm out. This is a factor in lowering my risk of picking up the virus and, more importantly (as I'm not in a vulnerable group myself) passing it on if I'm already infectious and asymptomatic. I was commuting to/ working in central London until the end of last week so I could already have it.

@Dancinghorses36 plenty of evidence to suggest they do work, actually

If masks don't work.to reduce the risk of people passing on an illness ,.why are covid 19 patients all made to wear surgical masks while in hospital?

I appreciate they won't cut your risk of passing on anything to zero but surely of everyone wears them, the risk of passing on things is a bit lower overall. Since all social distancing is about lowring risk overall for the greatest number of people I just don't understand the prejudicde against them in this country

Surgical masks are also useful at home if.uou are looking after someone.who is.ill, for.them .to wear

Public mass buying masks now makes fewer available to health care & social care workers at a reasonable cost (right now). Even if you have an easy case of covid19 you could break an arm or have a child come up with tonsillitis. We all need a well-functioning health service. Don't compete with NHS & social care for personal protection equipment.