are you using face masks against coronavirus ?

[iheartislesofwight]

sorry if it's already been asked but i'm curious, i'm out and about alot and haven't seen one person wearing one, was on the isle of wight recently for 2 weeks and didn't see any there either.
anyone using them and how many do you use a day ? also do you feel more confident wearing them that it might help ?
yabu i'm using them, it's the sensible thing to do
yanbu not using for my own reasons

2 things:

1. The only face mask that is going to be effective is an N95 duck bill mask. You have to know how to put it on properly, check the fit and ensure there are no leaks. More importantly you have to know how to take it off and dispose of it. If people don’t remove and dispose, of it properly, they are undoing any benefit of wearing the mask!
2. You’d have to have a large supply of N95 masks. Reusing the same one on a daily basis doesn’t fit into point 1.

You only need to wear one if you are protecting others from anything you might have.

If you aren't ill you don't need to wear one.

No, because the majority of them don't work, and I am not that worried about it.

Nope because as others say they aren’t effective, plus you breathing on them makes it a hot and sweaty environment and a germ breeding ground. So unless like medical professionals you can discard after one use (one trip to the shops) then it’s likely worse for you

No.

Haven’t seen a single person wearing one, but I don’t go to big cities or on public transport. Anecdotally I heard that a handful of children at a nearby school were wearing them but were told to stop.

No - they don’t work, at least not the ones I’ve seen people wearing in London.

I’m just using lots of hand sanitiser - it’s all you can do, really.

No, I haven't seen anyone wearing one either.

Everyone should be practicing good hygiene, washing hands with soap and water properly.

No for all the reasons already stated.
It would be good if the panic-buying supply-hoggers could perhaps have researched how masks work before inflicting national shortages upon people who may actually need them...

No, I’m in inner London and nor is anyone else. Even those disposable ones are impossible to get and way expensive plus they don’t work. I’m hoping if one of us gets sick we’ll be issued with some.

No. I'm a general prepper so I actually already have a couple of n95 masks in my stash. I usually keep them on me for rare visits to London and use of the tube- NOT for use on the tube casually but in case I'm caught up in a serious incident on the tube. Anyway, never had to use them so they are there but unlikely to be used.

I don't think that masks would be of any use in this situation out in public. False sense of security, improper use of them.

My dh bought some independent of me (he's not a prepper) and I am holding them back as an option in case I need to make a sickroom in the house. Doubt I will even do so if one of us gets poorly. We have a small house and there's only us 3. One gets it, we all would.

In what I hope is the unlikely event my area goes into lockdown, I might need them to go out. Although I'd rather not go out.

But I am already getting filter material together to put in a homemade pocket in them . I'd plan to keep them on my face with medical tape and Heath Robinson filters that I'd cobble together - cooker hood filter fabric that I happen to have spare. Again, I would stress, staying indoors is probably better in a scenario where I might theoretically need such things.

In short, there are better ways to protect yourself than using a mask. N95 masks probably don't filter out the virus anyway and need to be used properly. No point spending lots of money on useless things and not having enough food in the house or tissues.

No, for all the reasons stated above.

I work in a university with lots of Asian students. I think it's more of a cultural thing in some Asian countries so you do see the odd one around, and more at the minute. One I saw was black leather, looked like fetish gear.

If lots of people are unknowingly infected though might it not be good if they are wearing masks to contain their own coughs and sneezes? I know regular masks will still let some particles through but I understood it does have the effect of reducing spray.

DH reported a significant rise of masks on the tube although still only around 15% of passengers.

No.

Just wash hands regularly.

In case anyone wants to know why I've set out something about masks when I wouldn't intend to use them, it's a general prepper thing. You build in redundancies, as it were. Plan A is don't use them when I go out because they are pretty useless. Hand hygiene etc instead.
Plan B is don't go out.
Plan C is if I'm forced to use them when I go out because of some sort of social or legal edict, put half arsed extra filters in what I have.

I've seen a few worn in Victoria station as I passed through. I am not wearing one, can't see the point.

No.

I've seen a few out and about in London

They are some use - if you re infected but haven't realised, it'll reduce how far you spread what you are shedding)

No I would be embarrassed tbh and think people would think I have it.

I’ve seen several people wearing them in London.

MNHQ has now set up a separate Coronvirus section which may be helpful

No.