Wearing a facemask when shopping

[Cam77]

I have seen a few people do this. I know the advice is not to do it (or that it is unnecessary), but having spent the morning researching this, I believe the advice is not really "based on the science" but rather social, political, economic factors have been pushed to the fore. I'll start with this, which is typical of advice we've been given the past month and IMO perfectly supports the case for wearing facemasks in certain situations (even though its trying to do the very opposite)：

www.bbc.com/news/av/health-51881555/coronavirus-do-face-masks-actually-work

The lady in the video, like most other health experts in the West (note not in the rest of the world) is advocating against the use of facemasks for the general public when out and about. For me the key sentence is this: (50 seconds in).
"But logically, if you're not close to other people, they're not coughing and sneezing on you, then a facemask isn't necessary"

I have heard variations of this a hundred times. "Facemasks probably aren't very useful". "They will only be of very little use" "Some people won't dispose of them correctly" etc.

Problem - in certain situations, eg shopping, people are close to you. Either through lack of care (often) or sometimes unavoidably, people are often not adhering to the 2 metre guidelines. Therefore there is a significance chance of people encroaching close to you (have found this often). And then there is a chance (although small) of a sudden cough or sneeze. Is that person infected? You don't know because symptoms can take quite a few days to emerge.

The above is of course why they are/were being worn in this crisis by billions of people outside of the West, often under threat of official sanction for not doing so (not to mention social disapproval). The argument against use of facemasks for, eg supermarket shopping, is not "the science" it is Western societies partial/modified application of "the science".

Of course I get the argument about healthcare workers being priorities (if only the government had given a damn about the NHS prior to the beginning of the crisis). However, one person from a family wearing a mask once a week for an unavoidable, often crowded, supermarket trip in which two metres distancing cannot always be adhered to? Maybe this would have been the more responsible action and advice?


Further reading:
"Why Telling People they don't need facemasks backfired"
www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/opinion/coronavirus-face-masks.html

"Why some countries wear facemasks and others don't"
www.bbc.com/news/world-52015486

[Duchessofblandings]

Cam77

I know. Not sure why you sound cross with me, I agree. Anything that helps stop spread is worth considering if you must continue going out. But of course people who don’t really need them buying up masks is a problem too.

[bluebluezoo]

A relative has an Outpatients appointment soon and so I have ordered N95 respirator masks as I don't want them or me, as their carer, to catch anything from the HCP performing the scan. We will only put them on when entering the hospital and remove them when back at home

You’d be better giving the HCP one.

Facemasks are effective for 3 minutes. After that they are warm and moist and any virus particles can cling to the mask and increase the risk of infection.

Facemasks won’t protect you from carching the virus. However they will help prevent you from passing it on if you are already infected.

Nhs staff are likely to be vectors, so it’s important they wear PPE.

[CandiceSucksCandy]

I think they are only effective for an hour, then they become warm and moist with your breath and provide the perfect breeding ground for viruses and bacteria, which you will then breath in.
I've been told you can also contract this virus through the eye.
They probably provide some degree of protection, for a while. As long as your hands are sterile when you put it on or take it off. But the virus could also stick on your hair, on your clothing etc.

[Blewbell]

If used properly they help to cut down on transmission. If you have one learn how to use it.

[BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser]

Facemasks are effective for 3 minutes. After that they are warm and moist and any virus particles can cling to the mask and increase the risk of infection.

It really depends on which ones are you talking about. The paperlike ones? Yeah.
Double layer cotton with added "filter" inside? Recommended is about 2 hours.
Then you boil the crap out of it

[BovaryX]

An observation. People wearing face masks repeatedly touch their face to adjust the mask. Thereby doing something explicitly advised against because of transmission risk from hand to face.

[ginghamstarfish]

If I had to go shopping now (have been at home for 2 weeks and fortunately had Tesco delivery yesterday) I would wear one, even if just to stop me touching my face. Also you don't know when the other people around you might cough or sneeze, seeing as most of those out in the shops etc don't have a clue re distancing. I have sewn a batch of the double layer cotton masks, easy to do if anyone needs them, lots of tutorials online.

[BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser]

These were donated to one hospital. It's kind of a competition now. Who will have funkiest mask. They had to reopen all fabric shops in there.

[AGoodDay]

They help stop the spread by stopping you passing it on (good) but also provide an ideal environment v for bacteria/viruses (bad). Usefulness depends on climate/disease etc because it's a balance.

[BovaryX]

I would wear one, even if just to stop me touching my face

Why do you imagine it would stop you touching your face? The people I have seen wearing masks are constantly touching their face to readjust the mask.....

[bengalcat]

Personally I wouldn’t and don’t wear one . I have no problem with those that do whatever their rationale . I suspect the majority of mask wearers are more concerned with their perceived benefits to their own wellbeing rather than others - if it makes them feel safer and protects their mental health fair enough . Someone wearing a mask certainly doesn’t increase my risks so I have no strong feelings either way .

[MarshaBradyo]

I wonder if it protects others more than you. Ie stops virus flying out of you sneeze / cough (if you have it)

[WelcomeToShootingStars]

There are a few issues.

1. Often people don't wear them correctly, and even move them down to interact which defeats the purpose

1. People often don't remove them properly, so anything on the exterior side can make contact with the face.

1. People get a false sense of security wearing them. They may lessen the risk, but they do not remove it. They're more effective for protecting other people from you than the other way around.

1. People reuse masks which aren't intended for reuse, meaning they're already clogged and full of shit before they even put them on.

[Doobigetta]

I’ve seen people wearing them walking down empty streets, and even people on their own in cars with the windows closed. Given that we know that the virus doesn’t hang around on its own in the air, this just seems pointless. And if the masks are in short supply and only work for a limited time, it’s not just pointless it’s a waste to use them when they aren’t achieving anything.

[BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser]

I wonder if it protects others more than you

It absolutely does.

[PuppyMonkey]

I heard someone (and I acknowledge this could have just been Piers Morgan ) saying they can be a useful way of reminding people about keeping a distance when out at supermarket. Psychologically, it helps!

I don’t know!

[Homkaismycat]

I believe everyone should be wearing one!
Better any mask than none!
In Czech rep they are mandatory.

[middleager]

That's a good point Puppy

In China, wearing masks anyway is seen as the norm isn't it? Here, anybody wearing one - even now - gets strange looks. So it's a cultural difference in that they are acceptable elsewhere.

If they are ineffective (pollution aside) why are they so popular in other countries?

Genuinely curious. I only have dust masks. I have a cough (not new, caused weeks ago by me being worried about CV and spraying too many chemicals) so it would mainly be to protect others, even if that were just a visual reminder as Puppy mentions.

[Zaphodsotherhead]

Any droplets of virus are going to get in through your eyes. Surely. Covering your mouth and nose isn't going to help if someone loaded with virus sneezes or coughs anywhere near you...correct me, please someone!

[middleager]

Homk That's what I want to know. Why are they insisted on in other countries but not here, if they are ineffective?

[MarshaBradyo]

I’m sure they are more effective if we all wear them but they are in short supply here

[BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser]

Covering your mouth and nose isn't going to help if someone loaded with virus sneezes or coughs anywhere near you...correct me, please someone!

It will if they covered their mouth and nose too. That's the point.
Your mask protects others, their mask protects you

[MarshaBradyo]

Zaphod yes still eyes (lower likelihood but still there) which is also why better if everyone one else has one

[BodiesMakeForGoodFertiliser]

@middleager i think it's the mentality. People in here can't deal with being told to stay at home unless necessary. Imagine government saying you can't go out without a mask.
There would be riots of idiots

[Fimofriend]

I can understand why it can look a bit scary seeing a lot of people with face masks on but you can sew some that are funny and cute
www.etsy.com/listing/233235600/tiger-face-mask-anti-dust-mask-anti
www.etsy.com/uk/listing/585083097/koala-face-mask-brown-nose-cover-anti?ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-5&pro=1&frs=1