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?

@SockYarn

Because I'm a decent human being.

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

And typical MN sanctimony.

Let's face it, frontline nhs workers going to ikea, face covering or no face covering, it's not too great is it. All those people you might infect. But hopefully with a medical grade mask you didn't put too many people at risk

Me? I don't go to ikea at all. Even though my risk of being infected in tiny.

Ah but then I expect I am contributing to the economic devastation.

It's all so complicated, this judging people thing.

Well, I don't think I'll be going back to IKEA in a hurry based on my experience t'other day. I naively thought that without the restaurant open its appeal would have dwindled.

"Loving" BoJo's comment regarding "trust people to do the right thing" re face masks - right...

I wear my mask when I'm going to be near people. At the moment that's really just shopping. If my work call us all back in the second they are allowed to (as they have threatened) then I'll wear one there as well. I have quite a few nice ones that have been made for me. I don't mind wearing one. I try not to judge people for not wearing one because I don't know what their story is. They may have a perfectly valid reason.

It's all so complicated, this judging people thing.

The main thing I judge is the death rates of the countries who use masks as one of their tools against Covid.

I hope people will wear masks in crowded places along with SD, HW etc Medical exception allowing.

I realise that makes it difficult for some. And I am sorry for them. As I am sorry for my husband who is shielding. And my children whom that affects. And the people who have died.

I heard a great phrase the other day from someone who lives and works in country that has controlled Covid death rates very successfully.

"British exceptionalism"

It's all over these threads.

TheLegend - it’s not just others who should be wearing a mask, you should be as well. It’s to protect others and is the right thing to do. Hopefully it will only be for a short period of time although we need to see if the government make any announcement about it this week.

Everything said in news last couple days suggests they aren’t going to make them mandatory so where are people getting this from?! Plus it’s only shops so people can still go bars restaurants theme parks etc without them

Most people won’t even wash them after each trip so you’re just trapping any potential virus on your face! Waste time

amp.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/10/we-need-to-be-stricter-on-face-masks-says-boris-johnson

Here's another angle to address this better late than never issue after 50k plus former fellow Brits did not have the choice!

Still political procrastination given the arguably gross mismanagement all round such as protect the NHS but sacrifice "care" homes and going into unenforceable lockdown too late and coming out too early etc.

How about treating this deadly disease seriously and as intelligently as humanly and practicably as possible once and for all? At least so we can all not be the last to perish from this silent killer and actually move on to heath and wealth and get the economy back to the new normal and start paying off all the recent "freebies"?

We need to all buy into this pandemic mitigation stuff and it starts with wearing some sort of PPE be it a clinical mask or face shield etc as well as sanitiser and scrubbing hands etc etc.

When you drive do you not wear a car safety seat beat. As a mum of a child do you not use a child safety seat? Likewise a safety helmet when your child is learning to cycle or scootering, safety life vest when sailing etc etc?

The clue is in the name ie protection in PPE!

All mitigation measures combined help but I assume (apart from the medically excluded shielded cohort) it is possibly wise not to be a Covidiot and as lucky Covid survivors will tell you please wear a damn mask or wrap your scarf around your mouth and nose when in close proximity to another! It's not that difficult to understand is it? And don't forget the initial is it beneficial nonsense was because we in the UK did not even have enough for the medical staff and hence how many of them would have benefitted from having PPE - tragically a bit late to ask them now! Sure you are not working in a Covid medical facility but can you see the asymptomatic carriers and transmitters in a shop or in shared public transportation carriers (not just on a flight) etc?

@SockYarn

Because I'm a decent human being.

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

Well if you’re looking for a cause for that sentiment you’re looking at the wrong group of people. It’s the wont’s not the cant’s making the most noise and making life harder for those who really can’t. Much like vaccinations if those that can have them do it protects the ones who can’t.

@daisymay133 a couple of scientists (people who actually know what they’re talking about) have gone on record as saying even incorrectly used masks in the community offer a degree of protection. It’s most certainly a case of something is better than nothing.

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.

Zelda, what a horrifying specimen you are.

That is all.

Bit of a common sense that the poster meant that decent human beings wear the mask if they can🙄 Not that people who cannot wear them are not decent humans.

Seriously. EVERYTHING has to have a caveat here, doesn't it. Think people. Think.

@Alsohuman my friend left the house twice in 4 weeks to just do a supermarket shop, on the second shop she got Covid. She didn’t go anywhere else, she totally safe distanced on that shop.. I think you’re mistaken if you think that if all you do is shop at a safe distance that means you are in the clear. If there’s any chance it could help reduce infection by any percentage wouldn’t you rather help your chances? I’m.not having a go btw, I‘m just very interested to understand why you wouldn’t?

I'm so done with this thread and having to be berated for leaving my house to go to IKEA by judgemental full of it posters like @TheLegendOfZelda
I did say that just for context I am not in the UK.. also I am tested/swabbed regularly at work so obviously if I DO have covid I clearly wouldn't be leaving the house like an absolute idiot.
People like you is what is wrong with today's society

@Janus, if you really are genuinely interested, I’ll discuss with you via DM. Given the way this thread’s going, I’m not going to throw myself to the wolves!

[quote Parker231]amp.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/10/we-need-to-be-stricter-on-face-masks-says-boris-johnson[/quote]
Boohoo to the frothers, it looks like it might not be made mandatory after all, not even for those most likely to spread it from the hospitals and carehomes to the rest of us
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/12/face-masks-shops-will-not-be-mandatory-england-gove-suggests

@coffeewithmilk

I'm so done with this thread and having to be berated for leaving my house to go to IKEA by judgemental full of it posters like *@TheLegendOfZelda* I did say that just for context I am not in the UK.. also I am tested/swabbed regularly at work so obviously if I DO have covid I clearly wouldn't be leaving the house like an absolute idiot. People like you is what is wrong with today's society

Oh but it's okay for you to judge other people? I get so confused over when it is and isn't acceptable to judge the legal actions of others

Ikea ..essential? Hmmm maybe.

Obviously legal. But was it the responsible thing to do, what with your high risk job.and everything too?

@PicsInRed what issues do you have wearing a mask?

Of course some people can't wear them for various reasons, and that's understandable. Did you miss this part of my post it are you just cherry picking the bits you want to have a pop at?

Is this thread making anybody else really hate people?

Your mask protects other people. Other peoples masks protect you. It's literally the least you can do.

@TheLegendOfZelda well yes actually it was the responsible thing to do as I haven't even been in work for a month.. why would I have to justify that to you anyway. Clearly you just have a very high opinion of yourself and think of healthcare workers as a piece of sh*t or walking plague infecting others.
Once again let me repeat that I don't live in the UK. Where I live, all shops/hairdressers etc have been open for weeks as we have managed to control the number of cases in the country.

I'll leave it at that

@TheLegendOfZelda

Obviously legal. But was it the responsible thing to do, what with your high risk job.and everything too

Well her job wouldn’t be high risk for as long if people did their bit to reduce the spread would it?

[quote Cornettoninja]@TheLegendOfZelda

Obviously legal. But was it the responsible thing to do, what with your high risk job.and everything too

Well her job wouldn’t be high risk for as long if people did their bit to reduce the spread would it?[/quote]
It's the healthcare workers spreading it. It's not like the hospital patients or carehome inhabitants are spreading it between wards, is it? Then out it comes into the community. But I'm a nice person. I don't judge healthcare workers who go shopping at ikea. Not as long as they are wearing their masks. We all need to do some non essential indoor retail shopping, after all.

[quote coffeewithmilk]**@TheLegendOfZelda* well yes actually it was the responsible thing to do as I haven't even been in work for a month.. why would I have to justify that to you anyway. Clearly you just have a very high opinion of yourself and think of healthcare workers as a piece of sht or walking plague infecting others.
Once again let me repeat that I don't live in the UK. Where I live, all shops/hairdressers etc have been open for weeks as we have managed to control the number of cases in the country.

I'll leave it at that [/quote]
Must be all that mask wearing. Jolly well done.

Zelda - what evidence do you have that’s it’s healthcare workers spreading the virus? Are you wearing your mask yet when you go supermarket shopping?

what evidence do you have that’s it’s healthcare workers spreading the virus? I would have thought that HCP and those working in care homes are more likely to come into contact with it PLUS they make a large % of the workforce en masse (1.3 million people in total), although granted not all are health care professionals.