To mask or not to mask

[coffeewithmilk]

This thread might have some divided opinions

I have been wearing a face covering whenever I go into a shop or enclosed space where I cannot social distance - for example: went to IKEA this morning and put my mask on. I'm really shocked at the amount of people not wearing one.
I would have thought with everything that has happened the last few months that people would be inclined to wear a mask, but it's almost like nothing has happened... and feel like I even get some strange looks when I am wearing one.

Just for context: I'm not in the UK. Currently in ROI.

Do people think they are superior and won't catch anything so they don't bother putting one on?

AIBU with this?

Don’t use masks when the infection is blazing, make them mandatory when it’s dying away. Complete lack of understanding of basic science right there.

Bit of an ironic comment there...

Anyway... better late than never.

The data in favour of mask use came fairly recently. And there was a dire shortage of masks.
And countries went into lockdown.
We are in a better position now, in terms of knowledge of the virus transmission, and in terms of mask availability.

Many people are still wearing mask in wrong ways. I'm not 100% safe myself, and I know it. But because risk is low, even if I don't wear it 100% properly, with distancing, etc, it still helps a lot in reducing an already low risk (at the moment).
We couldn't rely on mask wearing with high transmission because people do not wear masks safely.

We couldn't rely on mask wearing with high transmission because people do not wear masks safely

In which case, what’s the point?

In which case, what’s the point?

Please see infection rates of countries that do wear masks.

This is available in Scotland, but might help other people who come under the exemption criteria:

disabilityequality.scot/face-covering/

Do people think they are superior and won't catch anything so they don't bother putting one on?

The point of a mask is not to protect yourself from infection, but to protect others.

People not wearing masks in enclosed public spaces (such as shops) show no respect or care for others.

Face coverings should be mandatory in enclosed public spaces.

If everyone wears a face covering, rates of transmission are dramatically lowered, to around 1.5%. Seems to me it's a simple requirement for keeping everyone safe.

Again, @YonBonnieBanks, why should someone feel obligated to disclose or explain their difficulty to a randomer in a shop?

Because we've all seen how desperate people are to shop their neighbours and report rule breaking, even when they were just recommendations, not laws. Now that it's the law in Scotland that you must wear a mask, anyone not wearing one is going to be scrutinised. And that's not fair for a lot of reasons.

I will not be wearing a mask. I have ordered some of the clear visors which I will be forced to wear to the supermarket as I'm not prepared to pay a £60 fine.

@Alsohuman

We couldn't rely on mask wearing with high transmission because people do not wear masks safely

In which case, what’s the point?

You could read the rest of my post from where you took the quote for the answer.

People not wearing masks in enclosed public spaces (such as shops) show no respect or care for others

As someone who has done nothing apart from go to the supermarket and walk the dog for 15 weeks, while obsessively social distancing, I’ve shown more respect and care for others than most people. That’s still all I’m doing - no pub, no non food shops, no restaurant. I’ll continue to social distance. I’m not wearing a mask.

That’s still all I’m doing - no pub, no non food shops, no restaurant. I’ll continue to social distance. I’m not wearing a mask.

But that's no issue then. 🤷‍♀️ It's pretty much about wearing them indoors in populated spaces.

I have no idea where you food shop though. The other customers and shop workers would benefit but hey you're adamant so there we are.

I dont define a supermarket as an enclosed space. Most of the modern ones are large and airy with high ceilings. A train carriage or small shop packed with stuff is an enclosed space. Or an office where you sit facing someone for 8 hours a day.

New York City, with a population of about 8.4 million, had over 28,000 coronavirus deaths as of May 18. Meanwhile, Hong Kong has officially recorded only four Covid-19 deaths, despite having 7.5 million residents.

Coincidence? I don't think so and will wear the damn mask for as long as it takes to get a vaccine. I don't love wearing one, of course, but I also believe in science and consideration for others.

It's good that you wear one, op, as you are a high risk to other people with your job. Hopefully your mask is a high grade one. Ideally you wouldn't be in ikea at all, but obviously that would be an infringement on your liberty too far. It's mostly spread by healthcare workers and careworkers now, isn't it?

Why don't I wear a mask? I am very unlikely to have it, due to my job and lifestyle. I'm not bothered about catching it either as I mostly socialise with those at low risk, like myself. It isn't a massive consideration in my life.

I'd like all healthcare workers to be mandated to wear them in any public setting so it's great that you are ahead of the curve there. Thank you.

@TheLegendOfZelda

It's good that you wear one, op, as you are a high risk to other people with your job. Hopefully your mask is a high grade one. Ideally you wouldn't be in ikea at all, but obviously that would be an infringement on your liberty too far. It's mostly spread by healthcare workers and careworkers now, isn't it?

Why don't I wear a mask? I am very unlikely to have it, due to my job and lifestyle. I'm not bothered about catching it either as I mostly socialise with those at low risk, like myself. It isn't a massive consideration in my life.

I'd like all healthcare workers to be mandated to wear them in any public setting so it's great that you are ahead of the curve there. Thank you.

I’m in Scotland and I’ve noticed here the last few days that things have changed with regards to non-mask wearers disapproving of mask wearers, it’s mostly the opposite now.
I honestly just can’t understand the attitude of people who won’t wear one. To have that kind of disregard for other people takes a special king of person.
I have severe anxiety and I can’t stand wearing mine, I feel hot and like I can’t breathe and it gives me constant anxiety attacks, but I’d rather that than knowing I could be potentially putting someone’s life at risk.

The other customers and shop workers would benefit but hey you're adamant so there we are

And when they wear masks I might consider it. Around here they’re as rare as rocking horse shit.

And when they wear masks I might consider it.
That's the spirit! Well done.

Well I'm currently sitting on a train to London, and absolutely nobody is wearing one. I am and I hate it but them's the rules.

@TheLegendOfZelda - the wearing of masks is to protect others not you. So it’s ok for others to wear one but not you? If it becomes mandatory this week you won’t get a choice.

And when they wear masks I might consider it. Around here they’re as rare as rocking horse shit.

I don't really bother whether others are doing it or not tbh. I wear it cos I think it's the appropriate and helpful thing to do.

But hey glad to hear that @Alsohuman

Yes, as I said I hope the op is wearing a proper mask not just a face covering as she is high risk to the rest of us.

@sleepingpup, you castigate me for not caring about or respecting other people when my only possible exposure to the virus is a scrupulously socially distanced weekly 30 minute supermarket trip.

Then apparently I’m supposed to wear a mask to protect people who have been far less careful than I have, even though they’re not wearing one to protect me.

And I’m selfish.

I just think wear a bloody mask if you can. I can't be arsed with all this 'I've been told to wear one but I'm so bloody minded I won't' shit I see people say on social media.

Fine, don't wear one, just make arrangements to get your shopping another way as I'm sure it'll become mandatory for all soon. Of course some people can't wear them for various reasons, and that's understandable, but if it's just that you don't want to then that's a bit pathetic. I don't want to wear one either but if there's the teensiest chance that it'll help in the teensiest way for us all to get our lives back to normal, then I'll do it. Because I'm a decent human being.

It's mostly spread by healthcare workers and careworkers now, isn't it?

I’m not sure that’s true but they are more likely to have been exposed to it (public transport workers and taxi drivers also have high exposure risks) - regardless who do you think they’re spreading it to? Then those people continue to spread it and we end up with huge infection numbers again.

It’s all about breaking chains of transmission so yes nothing will ever be 100% perfect but transmission within the general population can be significantly lowered and kept low with a few fairly easy prevention methods that allow people to function relatively normally. It’s been pretty well established that up to 40% of people are asymptomatic whilst still contagious so behaviour needs to be modified to act as if the individual is infected.

I’ve seen people object to being treated as ‘diseased’ but quite honestly it makes no sense. We think other hygiene methods are not just acceptable but socially unacceptable to skip. I have no signs of e.coli but I still wash my hands after going to the toilet because I don’t want to risk making other people ill. If my dc get chicken pox I keep them at home till their spots have crusted over. I would use condoms in a new relationship not because I would think someone was a plague rat but because so many sti’s are undetected and it’s the sensible thing to do, if they had a latex allergy we would look into alternatives to protect ourselves as much as possible.

The only difference with corona virus is... well nothing. Nothing except it’s been turned into a hugely political virus and people seem to have lost any ability to rationalise or think beyond their own nose.

@sleepingpup, you castigate me for not caring about or respecting other people when my only possible exposure to the virus is a scrupulously socially distanced weekly 30 minute supermarket trip.

Slight over reaction. Haven't castigated you at all.

I have just said I didn't choose to my face because of what others are doing.

I'm sure you are scrupulous.

But wearing a face mask is about protecting others. Even the ones you don't know. 🤷‍♀️ It's up to you if you don't see the point.

Because I'm a decent human being.

Inference being that people who have issues with masks are not decent human beings? Nice.