Are you / would you wear a mask?

[OldTownRoadHome]

Just wondering, are you considering or do you already wear a mask when out and about due to the potential pandemic? I’ve seen only 2 people with them, a Chinese guy and an Uber driver, but we live very rurally.

I am travelling for work this week and seriously considering a mask for the crowded bits eg the tube as I have asthma, as does my sister and elderly parents. But my British need to not look a dick head is saying no!

Yes - you are/would/plan to wear a mask
No - are not/no plans/would never wear one

We have reuseable ones with filters. They are FFP3/N95 and so they filter 99% of particles. They last a month before the filters need replacing.

I haven't worn one yet but will do if necessary.

How about a crash helmet type mask, cheap paper face mask wont help and they should be safely disposed if not just chucked in a bin, what about protecting your eyes.

I'm flying next week and debating whether or not to wear one.

Completely pointless unless you have a special type of mask that has been tested to fit you. I used to have to do the fit testing fit my ward, it was the Bain of my life!

Yes it’s the reusable filter ones I was thinking of getting, as if heard the others are pointless.

50:50 so far on voting but comments suggest I’m over cautious and will stick out like a sore thumb!

Going to London at the weekend and won't be wearing one. Will be taking the anti-bac gel as will probably use the underground and ban the kids from nose-picking!

The others are not pointless, they just don't give as much protection as an FFP3 mask.

I think any barrier which will prevent / remind you not to touch your mouth/nose/eye area with "dirty" hands, may help prevent you becoming infected.

No - are you going to wear them at work and home too as you are just as likely to catch something from workmates and family.

There's no proof the masks do anything to prevent spread of viruses.

No - as the virus is airborne and the sides of the mask let in air for you to breathe, so unless they're completely sealed and have a filter, they won't have any benefit.

Saw a woman on the tube wearing one the other week - except she only had it covering her mouth, her nose was uncovered.

Now THAT was pointless!

No.

A gimp one? A Pinocchio one? Maybe.
I'm going into town tomorrow by tube to an exhibition and lunch. Hadn't occurred to me to buy or wear a mask. How would I get my first Cosmopolitan into my gob?

If they're not properly fitting respirators, and you don't wear goggles it's a waste of time anyway.

They're talking about starting clinical trials of the vaccine in April.

paintedfences Mon 24-Feb-20 22:52:47
For all those saying 'hand hygiene', it has been confirmed that the virus is airborne, not spread via droplet infection when you cough and sneeze.

That's why it's so infectious - hand hygiene is no protection if you are in an enclosed space with an infected person.

Paintedfaces, it doesn't mean that you cannot catch it from surfaces.

It's like flu so if you are within close proximity to someone coughing or sneezing then yes you can pick up from droplets and in that sense it is 'airborne' but as with flu, more cases are caught from contact with surfaces and then people rubbing their eyes/touching their faces/mouths. It is spread through mucus, droplet and faeces apparently.

So handwashing definitely can make a huge difference.

I didn't mean not to hand wash or that there's no point in it as you're quite right, it can be picked up from surfaces / I meant that hand hygiene in its own is no real protector.

To the pp saying still droplet infection, I've been following Dr John Campbell, really informative. Have a look here re: airborne vs droplet. m.youtube.com/watch?v=i0xEbNh8x8U&t=48s

No intention of wearing a mask at all. I think they are pointless for the most part. Stable doors and horses bolting springs to mind.

I have a bit of a different concern. I have three business trips in the next six weeks. None to a heavily impacted country (2 or 3 traceable cases max).

However - I have a cough. I’ve had it since November and when I went to the dr recently for something unrelated he was not concerned that it is anything serious or contagious. I also have a weird reaction to plane air which makes my eyes water and causes me to sneeze...

So my concern is that I will panic someone sitting near me (particularly if they have health anxiety). Would it be better to wear a mask? Dose up on cold medication and hope not to cough even though I don't have a cold? Apologize loudly and say that it allergies?

Cancelling isn’t really an option as I am not sick and not going to a heavily impacted country.

Neves7, definitely get a few masks, just the light surgical ones. Even though the actual protection is minimal, many of your fellow travelers (especially East Asians) will feel very worried if you're coughing without a mask on the plane.

Save yourself some cranky looks and give others the extra peace of mind.

No as I am more likely to touch my face with one on. I have worn one at work in the past and they have to be fitted properly or they are not that good. I have some old DIY masks that I could wear though if it became a condition of going outside but I wouldn't generally wear one.

No. I live and work in central London and I haven't seen more people wearing them than usual either.

Masks are pointless as previous posters have said.

Those who have ffp3 masks have you had them fit tested? If not they are also pointless. We have these in my NHS trust for any pandemics but you need to be fit tested (currently going through everyone at the moment).

With the new WHO announcements about the limited chance of avoiding pandemic status (paraphrasing there) and the adding of Italy to the list of countries where people must self quarantine if they have any potential symptoms I suspect we're about to start seeing more people wearing masks, particularly in cities.