To say there is no need to wear a mask in a forest at 6pm?

[Teacher12345]

I have suggested going somewhere different for a walk one evening someone like the local forest. I suggested evening as it is likely to be much quieter. DH has said he will go if we can wear masks.
We don't wear them for our daily walks or when we go for a jog so why at 6pm in a quiet forest? AIBU?

I kind of get where he’s coming from. Forests are, obviously, big. Footpaths aren’t necessarily so and it’s not always possible to scramble out of the way.
Compromise? Take them with you, put them on if you see other people approaching on a narrow track?

How bizarre. Is he elderly or ill ?

so op, how did it go with your walk ? hope you had a good time.

He is overly anxious. HAsn't been to a shop himself since lockdown as he is too anxious and cleans everything I bring home with wipes or soap.

He wants all of us to wear one, me and the kids (4&7) included. I think he sees my logic but right now, our world is tiny. The house and our village has been it for weeks unless I pop to the supermarket which has mainly been click and collect.
I think he is anxious about it but is aware I think that he is being too irational so may be easily won round.

We are looking at going tomorrow night @recycledteenager24 not tonight. Too late for the kids.

Maybe he thinks the air where you normally walk is 'safe' but air from another new part isn't 😂. Op please tell us his logic. But if he wants to wear a mask that's his choice, but you don't have to.

The whole mask issue confuses people, I've seen many people driving with a mask on, alone 🙄.

Your mask protects others from you and vice versa. But depending on the quality of the mask, it does protect you a little... It's another barrier... If you happen to be exposed to covid.
I wear one inside supermarkets on the rare occasions I go.

I would not wear one in a wood, park, open areas, car etc.

Tell him to stop watching the news and people of 80+ are recovering from it. Why is he so anxious, is he in bad health?

I have also fastidiously washed food items etc coming into the house but he is doesn't understand the covid air issue.

But if he's worried about it, hasn't he read up about it?

In all seriousness a lot of people might need mental help when lockdowns over. Too many people have a total fear ofthe outside or other people.

Corona-squirrels, obviously.

I'm personally of the opinion that masks in public (not in a medical setting) are unnecessary unless you are personally displaying symptoms.

I'm aware that might be an unpopular opinion though.

It's very thoughtful of your husband to want to protect any other ppl you encounter. For yourselves you'll need to wear eye protection too if you want to avoid contracting the virus

Some weirdos have been wearing masks in their own cars. Taken leave of their senses. Tell him that he can keep some masks in his pocket in case you all find yourselves unavoidably passing close to someone but that wearing them in an otherwise empty wood is ridiculous.

amijust if you are displaying symptoms you should be at home isolating!
The mask protects others from asymptomatic carriers.

My partner is the same and is overly anxious and stressed when going out. In all honesty I have a much better time when I’ve left him at home as I find his stress rubs off on me. I just can’t mentally cope with getting worked up every time someone passes less than 2m away from me. Sounds harsh but my daily walk is to clear my head he makes it more stressful than it needs to be.

I'm not sure why he is so worried. We are all under 35 with no issues in this household. He does have alot of anxiety about health though. Was a bloody nusience when I was pregnant - actually questioned if it was okay for me to have a hot bath .

I think it may be because his mum is the opposite and has no clue about health and safety. She has done allsorts of crazy thing and is currently at home taking antibiotics she bought over the counter in spain some time last year because she thinks she has an ear infection. Maybe his anxiety is a reaction to his mum being so laid back!

Does he fire disinfectant through a hose at you after you've been shopping? 😁 Tell him you'll take masks in your pockets if needed. To be fair I think total isolation increases fears more.

LilyE - me and DS went for a walk the other evening, just the two of us and it was much more relaxed without DH barking everytime he saw another human. We were just as safe.

It's this kind of uninformed complete over-reaction that is holding the recovery back. As others have told you the mask isn't for protecting you and all the experts seem to agree that the risk outside at 2m is absolutely tiny.

Have you seen how many positive tests there were today - less than 3000, even if that is understated by 10 times does he understand how unlikely each of the 66 millions inhabitants is to catch it?

@Lalala205 - you joke, but he has resorted to spraying dettol on the bottom of the shoes after a walk!

@TerrapinStation you are preaching to the converted. I have no intention of wearing a bloody mask. I just want to go for a walk somewhere other than the end of my street!

Just bumped into a couple on our local woods at sunset, bear in mind, wearing masks and sunglasses! There's nowt as strange... 🤷‍♀️

The advice to use masks is not to avoid being infected but to avoid infecting others if you have it and are without symptoms.

The advice is also to consider using it - for reasons above- in enclosed areas like small shops and trains/ buses/ tubes.

Does he not understand this?

If he wants to wear one, let him, but he will look a bit of a plonker.

I actually can't help but think people wearing masks are ridiculous. Unless you are in a close unavoidable space i.e public transport what is the need? Like other posters have said, the worst ones are people driving alone with them on. They must be the same people who wear condoms on their own 😂