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

Personally, I won't wear a mask unless govt advice is to do so
I haven't bought any.

I won't use hand sanitiser or gloves until then either,
but I've always washed hands after loo, blowing nose or before preparing food or eating.

atm, I'm continuing life just as normal, except that I've boosted my usual food stocks from a few days to 1 month

None of them involve the generic paper masks.

No one is talking about paper masks. Photos clearly show medical and emergency staff wearing P2/3 masks. Ordinary people are wearing surgical masks to protect others, as is the custom in parts of Asia.

And doctors in China are catching and dying from coronavirus.

Not the majority of them, which would be the case with the zero PPE suggested - full HAZMAT and O2 tank seemingly the only alternative offered here.

Woman from WHO on r4 said yesterday hand washing is yje most effective way of preventing spread. I'll listen to her.

I would at work if it was a requirement and out and about if it becomes official advice. However I am not convinced on the efficacy of the thin paper masks, especially if not worn with eye protection.

There is also the issue of safe removal and disposal of the masks, you would need to remove it carefully, dispose of it and then wash your hands/wrists like a demon and presumably the bits of your body not covered by the mask as well as clothing and hair ? How many times do people randomly touch the hair on their heads without then washing their hands immediately afterwards ?
Or touch their phones ?, how many do you see on tables when people are eating ? ( people quite often take them into the toilet cubicle with them ) are they hand washing after every scroll ? Is everyone going to revert to talking via speaker ?
How robust is Covid-19 outside the body, how long does it survive on hard surfaces, minutes, hours or days, weeks ?

"Woman from WHO on r4 said yesterday hand washing is the most effective way of preventing spread. I'll listen to her."

Yep, me too

Using phone in the loo
I've never done that, maybe a generational thing

People have them in their pockets or pop them on the cistern when they go to the toilet , it could well be a generational thing though as DD and her friends have all dropped one phone down the toilet at some point in their lives

Live in London and seen 2 people wearing them and they are Chinese. Not seen anyone else in any.

Oh , should add, that's in my neighbourhood .
No idea about Central London.

I wouldn't say never - if we get a pandemic and I have to nurse members of my family in the home I would. But not now, to go to Tesco or catch a bus.

Masks are not pointless for Health professional s. Who have proper training and equipment.
If you are nursing someone at home who has it, there are lots to of precautions and steps to take of which a mask is but one. I assume that anyone whose child gets it would be unlikely to avoid it themselves.
But you would be staying at home not going out.

Have masks but not specifically for this .

Using the phone on the loo is one of life’s pleasures for us introverts.

No as PP have said masks are pointless

Not unless we were advised to do so.

Saw the oddest thing going through Heathrow a couple of weeks ago, a Chinese woman wearing one, but with her daughter, holding her hand, say about six, who wasn’t wearing one.

Maybe the kid refuses, I don’t know, but just seemed odd the mum would feel the need to protect herself but not her kid.🤷‍♀️

No, they don't work. Like others have said everyone needs to up their hand hygiene.

Maybe the kid refuses, I don’t know, but just seemed odd the mum would feel the need to protect herself but not her kid.

But the Chinese wear masks to protect others from their cold, not to protect themselves. Or did you just think Chinese parents don’t love their children in the same way as white people?

Maybe the kid refuses, I don’t know...

This has really irritated me. You sound like Trump and his dog-whistle racism.

They're not a placebo. That advice is being given because the authorities 1. Want to avoid panic... and 2. They are concerned that a run on masks will exhaust the supply for those who need to remain alive

This. It makes no sense to say that masks don't work, so the general public shouldn't wear them, but they are crucial for anyone in a carers role, both medical staff and caring for someone in your household. Why would they be crucial if they "don't work"? So they don't work to even protect you, eg, being on the same train carriage as an infected person, but they do work to protect you if you are, eg, bathing a sick person?

The only possible reason to say this imo is to conserve the supply of masks.

No. I couldn't get one anyway as they are all sold out or ridiculously expensive. I have read that gloves are better protection on public transport as viruses tend to spread from touching surfaces and then touching your face.

I use the trains and tubes in London and I'd say about 40% of people have masks on at the moment

I would if I could get hold of any... Especially if I was travelling on public transport.

if you look on the wickes website you can check which stores have them in stock

Despite having asthma I wouldn't, unless very strongly advised to do so.

Some masks - dust masks fe- are useless and can even increase the risk of infection.

Other can be useful under certain circumstances and if used /disposed of in the right way.