To not understand why people have a problem with wearing a mask?

[Changednamesorry]

Where I live masks are mandatory for everyone over the age of 6 in any public indoor space (shop, train station, doctor's surgery etc) and where it is not possible to guarantee the 2m distance. 100 euro fine for non compliance.

Of course some people break this rule but the vast majority wear masks including a lot of kids younger than 6. My mum and dad in the UK also wear masks when out atm.... But they also said its ay best a 40% uptake and that in the supermarket the staff don't wear them!!!

Here on MumsNet i see lots of people saying that they "won't wear a mask".... Why? It's to protect others so surely its a good thing to do even if they are a bit uncomfortable?
In Asian countries (China, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea) mask wearing is and always has been done to protect others.

Why?

There will be exceptions but they will be few

Soon the vast majority of us shall be wearing masks in shops etc even if we don’t like it (who does like it)

@FrenchFancie

Not sure where the OP is but I’m in southern Wurope with similar mask wearing conditions, 32 degrees heat and 50% humidity and no air con (as our health ministry seem to think it’s dangerous unless sanitised). My 7 year old asthmatic Dd wears her mask without complaint. God only knows what’s up with people in the uk....

And it’s great that she can.

But wherever my 10 year old was in the world he would be unable to breathe properly wearing a mask. We have tried it but it isn’t safe for him to do so and his medical team agree.

I work in them all day, and unless they’re FFP2 or higher then they’re fairly useless anyways. They’ll stop droplets but putting your scarf over your face won’t stop the microorganisms getting through and quite frankly the hot sweaty conditions in it will be like a pool party to millions of other bacteria and virus’ around.

I hate them, my skin is burning from being in them all the time. My psoriasis is flaring all over the place and it’s agony. I don’t wear them shopping or outside of work. I don’t want to, and I don’t have to.

If I went somewhere using public transport then clearly I’d have to, and if shops choose to enforce a mask rule, then that’s their right. I can choose to not shop there or follow their rules and I respect that.

And they have made it mandatory far to late. If they had decided we had to wear masks 12 weeks ago I think there would be less people complaining. Horse and stable door come to mind.

Do you watch the news at all ? There were huge PPE shortages, that's why masks were rationed at the start of the pandemic. Now-not so much although there is talk of masks running low.

There has always been cloth face coverings (washable) on sale on amazon and eBay

A surgical mask isn’t needed for the public to wear out and about

@Rachie1973 I feel your pain! I work in them all day too and its exhausting isn't it?! Especially in 30 degree heat! I'm at home today and I am very much enjoying the break from it and actually being able to breathe and being headache free - what a novelty!

[quote LouJ85]@Rachie1973 I feel your pain! I work in them all day too and its exhausting isn't it?! Especially in 30 degree heat! I'm at home today and I am very much enjoying the break from it and actually being able to breathe and being headache free - what a novelty! [/quote]
I’m day off as well Lou :) Im so excited lol.

The headaches! Exacerbated by the ear pulling elastics!

Try having covid symptoms for 3 months that include shortness of breath - then think about putting a mask on. I've had mild symptoms and still can't do it.

Me neither OP, and there is absolutely no doubt now (see numerous studies and reports on the topic) that if everyone wore a mask in public the rate of infection would have been dramatically reduced. However firstly the government didn't want to say this as people would have rushed out to buy medical masks which were in short supply, and secondly, as we see every day, many British people are complete idiots who think they are special/ different, more important than others, or just plain twats. So, here we are with one of the highest infection rates in the world because people cannot wear a bit of cotton over their face for a while. Yes, horrible if you have to wear them all day, but most of us don't - just while in a shop/at the doctors etc, then we get to take them off. FFS I despair of the human race.

You do realise that if it weren’t mandated in other countries many people wouldn’t wear them either? By all means criticise the government for not mandating it, but the UK population is not unique in not wearing face coverings unless forced to do so.

"So, here we are with one of the highest infection rates in the world because people cannot wear a bit of cotton over their face for a while."

Some people cannot. They are also unlikely to be the cause of high infection rates since they are frequently less likely, due to their health condition or disability to be out socialising and breaking social distancing guidelines than other people.

"So, here we are with one of the highest infection rates in the world because people cannot wear a bit of cotton over their face for a while."

Where has any respected scientist said that our infection rate is high because of people not wearing face coverings?

It’s really irrelevant who has said what - it is currently mandatory in the UK to wear a face covering on public transport and at hospital appointments.

Yes parker, but the disagreement here has been around wearing them in non mandatory settings. Everyone (as far as I can see) has said they wear them when them are required to by government guidelines or avoid those situations.

@Parker231

It’s really irrelevant who has said what - it is currently mandatory in the UK to wear a face covering on public transport and at hospital appointments.

Only if you don't have a medical condition that prevents you from doing so.

And I hope it stays that way. People with disabilities, autism or other problems don't need to be further marginalised because some people can only view life from an NT/fully healthy perspective.

It’s really irrelevant who has said what - it is currently mandatory in the UK to wear a face covering on public transport and at hospital appointments.

And everyone I've seen posting is either wearing a mask for those things or not using them.
I've got a psychiatrist's letter saying I can't wear one because of the events leading to my diagnosis of ptsd but I won't be using public transport or attending medical appointments whilst masks are required because I don't want to deal with people who think they know best.

I find the “PROVE to me that you have a condition that precludes the wearing of face coverings or I will assume you are a selfish murderer who wants me and “vulnerable” people DEAD” people truly truly disturbing. I really hope that those people will are over-represented / extra noisy on MN and in RL most people will just go about their business.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils

It’s really irrelevant who has said what - it is currently mandatory in the UK to wear a face covering on public transport and at hospital appointments.

And everyone I've seen posting is either wearing a mask for those things or not using them.
I've got a psychiatrist's letter saying I can't wear one because of the events leading to my diagnosis of ptsd but I won't be using public transport or attending medical appointments whilst masks are required because I don't want to deal with people who think they know best.

Please don’t skip medical appointments because of judgemental people. If you can phone the department in advance and explain to them to reassure yourself and ignore anyone else

I drive so haven't really had to wear one expect on a couple of occasions where I was asked to help out with patients at work. I am asthmatic and found it really difficult to breathe whilst wearing one. I will obviously wear one if need be but given the choice will opt not to.

@vanillandhoney there are no exceptions, as far as I am aware. But if they brought in exceptions (as they did letting people out to go to hospital appointments or work), you would need something written by a doctor to prove that you were exempt. You would then have to show this to the bus driver, the man taking people’s temperature going into a mall or supermarket or essentially anyone else who asked. You don’t need to wear the mask outdoors - so in the street or on a restaurant terrace, but it is mandatory in offices or in enclosed spaces. I have friends here who are so terrified (hypochondria is the national pastime) that they, and certainly their children, have not left their flat for months.

Soon the vast majority of us shall be wearing masks in shops etc even if we don’t like it (who does like it)

I just won't bother going to the shops. I've only been to the corner shop and post office since lockdown and I can live without going to either.

@MrsSchadenfreude, you say over 65s weren't allowed out at first. What would have happened if they did? I'm thinking of DH who is over 65 and still working.

@Catastrofuck Take a look upthread for my post about Diamond Buses.

@EnthusiasmIsDisturbed

Read this and then tell me whether you still think the thing you are getting off on....................that masks will be made mandatory in shops will actually happen...
www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/fears-trafford-centre-future-administrators-18491127

So, here we are with one of the highest infection rates in the world because people cannot wear a bit of cotton over their face for a while

Yes its nothing to do with locking down too late, Or the high infections which were strategically managed into care homes.

Or ppl continuing to go on ski trips/cruises etc when there was already a lot of publicity about the virus.

or avoid those situations

I suspect its not good enough that we are avoiding places because the faux concern is a smokescreen because their real view is that they want everyone in masks and out spending. Its not about safety or not infecting others at all.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat his work would have provided him with an affidavit to show the police if he got stopped. But most people of that age here are retired.