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?

I find wearing one difficult. I didn't think I would (and didn't see why people were "making a fuss") but I do.

@BertieBotts if you are in Spain try the Lurbel Faz mask. They are made in Valencia and are cloth masks made of some medical grade fabric that apparently makes them as effective or nigh on as effective as the ffp2 masks. They are more comfortable and sustainable and I don't have the glasses fogging issue with them (i do with other types but these fit really close). They make kids sizes too.

We are struggling at work wearing them full time (hospital) people are coming out in rashes and spots. The guidance has changed where a surgical mask was only effective for 20-30 mins to now being 4 hours. That’s a cost related change I’m sure and makes a mockery of the initial guidance. They are claustrophobic and hot. They are uncomfortable and One size does not fit all. Elderly patients cannot understand you and neither can the hard of hearing.
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.
Our trust were counting how many masks each dept had yesterday because they’re running out. My worry is that those who really need them won’t have them when it’s crucial they wear them.

As far as I understand the evidence in favour of face masks isn't that clear cut. There are suggestions that it leads to people taking more risks/ignoring other rules around social distancing and as such the positive impact is disputed.

It's not hard to understand others may have different feelings and thoughts on the matter, it doesn't mean they don't care about others.

Claustrophobia and a permanently blocked nose due to to severe hayfever. I don't use public transport and only go to the the corner shop or post office so haven't needed to wear one yet. I'm not sure what I'll do when we have to go back to the office as we've been told we have to wear a mask.

Can a piece of cloth really be effective against a virus that is almost 1000 times smaller than the gaps/pores in the weave of the cloth? The virus is around 0.12 microns wide but cotton has gaps of 100 microns wide in the weave.

@TippledPink

I guess those with sensory issues may not wear them? So some with ASD? Also masks make life incredibly difficult for people who are deaf.

I haven't worn a mask yet, I tried one on and it was so hot and claustrophobic I can see why some can't wear them.

Please dont use deaf people as an excuse not to wear one. We'll work it out.

I know some can't for medical reasons (my friend is asthmatic and doesn't wear one) but surely this is a tiny minority?

UK residents who are asthmatic - 5.4 million people
UK residents who are autistic - 700,000
UK residents with diagnosed GAD - 8.1 million
UK residents with PTSD - approx 3 in 100
UK residents who are deaf - 11 million

Granted, this is just an overview and some of these people will be able to manage a mask. I also have not covered every condition/illness/disability but as you can see, it is more than a "tiny minority".

Because my glasses steam up and I can't see, which is more valuable to me than protecting others from a disease I don't have or negligbly reducing the risk of me catching it.

I do wear one at work and will on buses and in any business/service premises that want me to. But I do hate it and struggle not to panic. I'm just not great with masks, and whilst I am not arguing against them or refusing to wear them, I bloody hate it.

Mind you I'm not aware of evidence that they are particularly effective; if anyone has any I would be very glad to see it!

I struggle with wearing a mask. Ive tried and i cant breathe properly in them. So i have stopped using public transport.

And will not be attending a hairdressers in the near future. I cant cope with sitting in a salon in high summer with a mask on. So i wont go which will be safer for them and me.

So ......................not a problem.

@HelenaDove yes my little one's father and I were talking about it and in Japan they are developing masks to combat it which is great. Upthread I mentioned one that is made in Valencia which is similar.

Japan isn't messing avoit with masks and my son's father (Japanese but lives here) pointed out that its suoer weird to him as well that people would havean issue with masks. Especially in UK where its not even hot!

I had my deviated septum corrected however I’m still a mouth breather, I wear one. Lots of people wear them and lots don’t where I live in a London Borough, staff in shops about half and half as well. It’s a personal choice I don’t judge anyone who chooses not too however I’d quite happily give anyone a mouthful who decided to have a pop at me for wearing one, the PP if someone had spat at me I’m afraid that arsehole would have reported to the police because spitting is disgusting at the best of times I would not have tolerated that at all.

We live with a shielding person so when we go out we are extra careful anyway

They make me feel hot, panicky and like I can’t breathe properly - I have asthma and I always have a blocked nose at the moment due to hayfever so that doesn’t help. They also make my glasses get foggy.

Doesn’t mean I ‘won’t’ wear one. If it’s mandatory I will - I wore one for my hospital
appointment recently. I’ve had no need to use public transport lately but if I had to I would. I wore one when collecting medication for the dog from the vet. I don’t bother when going to the local shops which are the only place I go otherwise really, nor when out walking. If it became mandatory to do so I suppose I’d have to suck it up.

I’m due to give birth next month. As I understand it women in labour aren’t required to wear masks but if that changes then I’m afraid I will refuse.

I cannot wear things around my neck, head or over my face. I cannot cover my face with anything other than my hand. I cannot wear hats, headbands, necklaces, scarves or earmuffs, or put my head under the covers in bed. I wear my hair short. I use a very thin, firm pillow to make sure nothing comes up over my face. I have wrecked my teeth going years without needed dental treatments. Sometimes I even struggle with resting my head against my own DC when I hug them. This is all trauma related, and not a medical condition.

The UK has had ALL of its hottest summers in the last 17 years. It IS getting hotter here. The subject has been covered extensively on news programmes.

I will wear one for things they are required for, but generally I prefer to stay distanced instead. My glasses fog up (which actually means their isn't a good fit but I've not found one that this doesn't happen with) and also people cannot hear me - I have a quiet voice at the best of times.

I don't think the evidence is there that the are important so long as you don't stand too close to people.

People have collapsed on the Tube without bloody masks on.

I have asthma, hay-fever and rhinitis however I wear my mask in the supermarket. (it's the only place I go and only when I have to)
Today in asda someone pointed at me and called me a loser. I was the only person in the store apart from a couple of members of staff wearing one. I live in a big town in an area with a higher R rate and still a lot of cases.
Beyond me why people don't op. I think it should be compulsory in shops, if everyone wore one the virus could not spread.

It's been two weeks since there was a new covid case in my LA, so I don't really see the need.

Can we please not pretend people arent wearing masks to help the deaf and hard of hearing. It's not like anyone cares about us normally.

The UK has given mixed messages re masks and this is the price.

I would wear a mask if I went anywhere that required it. As it is I don’t go anywhere where I have to be within 2m of anyone else.

I will not be muzzled.

I’m claustrophobic and don’t enjoy wearing one. I will if i have to though.

But also, because I’m claustrophobic, one of the best things about lockdown for me has been not going into crowded places. I’m going to keep avoiding them as long as I can!

UK residents who are deaf - 11 million

Last time I checked, a deaf person not wearing a mask wont hear any better.