To think more people would be willing to wear masks if...

[Lovely1a2b3c]

they thought that masks protected them from others (rather than vice versa- which they do to a limited extent) AND that Covid-19 posed a personal risk?

Masks protect both the wearer and those they are around. In addition if everyone wears them then we are all protecting each other. There are probably a limited number of people who genuinely cannot wear masks for medical reasons but some countries have a very high compliance.

I think that if the government had said that masks protected people from the beginning rather than saying that they only protect other people AND if people realised that even 20/30 somethings can be very ill (not necessarily die in most cases, but definitely suffer a prolonged period of feeling really unwell) then more Brits would be willing to wear them.

[notangelinajolie]

Gov has been stock piling and flying in PPE and masks from China for months. They have now got enough to keep the NHS going throughout the next wave and so there is no longer the risk of there not being enough to go round. Plenty of masks for everyone hence the latest announcement.

[Goosefoot]

@BogRollBOGOF

No one has stopped people from wearing masks if they find it comforting.
I'm finding less and less people wearing them. Less shop staff taking the option. Less customers wearing them.
The demographic I am seeing more of is older people who are wearing them as they venture out more.

Supermarkets have been open throughout without being major transition points for virus spread.

The timing is completely illogical. Either it should have been done back in March with a high community transmission, or in June when non-essential shops opened.

There is no logic in doing it in 10 days time.

I in Eastern Canada, I've found the mask trajectory here odd too. The messaging has been similar to the UK, earlier it wasn't reccomended but they are reccomending more now, as things are opening up.

I'm suddenly seeing more of them, and more shaming of those who don't. But in a lot of ways it makes little sense, we haven't had a case in weeks, and travel is still restricted.

But I noticed when I was at church on Sunday, it was all the young people wearing them, the old people mostly were not, even the 98 year old lady who gives out the books. My thought was it's because the young people are being much more affected by the social media messaging.

[AlternativePerspective]

Anyone who doesn’t want to wear a mask should spend a day wearing an oxygen mask to see what that’s like.

I really don’t like masks. For me they are a trigger (I hate that word) to last year when I had to wear an oxygen mask in ICU. I have a serious heart condition with the potential for breathing issues and so I could probably claim an exemption if I wanted to.

But having been on both a ventilator and oxygen in the past they are not experiences I am keen to repeat any time soon.

And it’s worth bearing in mind that quite a lot of people who are admitted to hospital with COVID end up needing oxygen through a mask and will be conscious for the process unlike a ventilator.

[Mencho]

I can’t speak for other Asian countries but the Japanese don’t wear masks because of pollution, they wear them when they have colds or the flu to prevent spread of illness to others.

Japan has managed to contain the spread of coronavirus through a combination of ubiquitous mask-wearing, meticulous hygiene and social distancing. Recent outbreaks in Tokyo are mostly related to young people being careless and going out partying in bars and clubs.

[Whichoneofyoudidthat]

@Notfeelinggreattoday

Wheres the research please that you have seen that it protects the weArer ? The non medical face coverings that the public will likely wear ?
Also at the beginning there was little evidence re : masks even who didnt advise them , we are still learning

There is evidence suggesting that masks worn en masse help to stop the spread. It’s not about protecting you personally, as the individual wearer. It’s about how this one thing, done by everyone, can help slow the spread.

[Lifeisgenerallyfun]

I’ll happily wear a mask but my glasses steam up seemingly no matter what type of mask. I will definitely be keeping shopping On the internet so I can see.

Has anyone found a solution to this without covering your face in tape?

[MissBaskinIfYoureNasty]

Not really getting why some people seem to be having such childish tantrums surrounding wearing masks.
They're the same people who threw tantrums about lockdown and then more tantrums when lockdown was lifted. Nothing will please them. Their various reasons for being annoyed overrides everything else, even other people's health.
And no, I'm not NT or healthy and I've had a baby in this lockdown. I'm under no illusions that it has been an easy time.

[Ginfordinner]

Re mask wearing with a cold - when I have a cold I need to blow my nose so often that mask wearing would be impractical. Although, if it was that bad I would stay indoors.

[Meredithgrey1]

I'm not so sure, I think the message of "wear a masks to protect others" is aimed at encouraging mask wearing because it stops people saying "well I'm not wearing one because I don't care if I catch it, I'm perfectly healthy", plus it encourages the social pressure (eg social media messages basically saying things along the lines of "wear a mask you selfish twat"). If masks mainly protected the wearer, it wouldn't matter as much if an individual didn't wear one so there'd be less stigma around it (and I think stigma is growing, slowly for now) - this would obviously be much better for people who can't wear a mask and are worried about being harassed by obnoxious strangers demanding to know why they aren't wearing one.

[Hercwasonaroll]

The complete inconsistency gets me. Masks in a shop but not in a school?

[breathingok]

What will be accepted for exemption or is it going to be awkward and aggressive questioning for those who can’t like when you need a seat on public transport

The last thing anyone with for example, ASD meeds is to be singled out in front of others and queries about their mask status and having to justify it. It won’t be done sensitively at busy time’s for example and I despair It will just be another reason for the ‘well you look ok’ brigades to come out as like on buses perhaps film vulnerable people and make their lives very difficult

[Northernsoullover]

@Meredithgrey1 the evidence has always been that it protects others. There is evidence and there always was even at the beginning of the lockdown.
The government and many public have banged on and on about 'limited evidence' and it IS limited. Thats because we haven't had the need to study this to the extent that we are now.
I haven't been wearing my mask because the infection rates are so low where I am but I've started wearing it now. If my wearing it can make people see it more as a norm and potentially help others then I'm happy to.

[Zampa]

@Lifeisgenerallyfun

I’ll happily wear a mask but my glasses steam up seemingly no matter what type of mask. I will definitely be keeping shopping On the internet so I can see.

Has anyone found a solution to this without covering your face in tape?

Have you tried rubbing in washing up liquid and not washing it off? It's supposed to help.

Really pleased about compulsory mask wearing. It's just good manners tbh but not many people seem to recognise this.

[LilithTheKitty]

@Lifeisgenerallyfun There are a couple of things you can do to help with glasses steaming up. I've had to wear a mask in work for a while now along with lab specs so I've had quite a bit of practice!

• Twist or knot the mask loops in front of your ears to get a better fit.
  
• Use one of the mask extender things that go at the back of your head (this also stops the mask from rubbing on your ears)
  
• Anti-fog spray can be bought for your glasses (bikers use it on visors). Lip balm or vaseline rubbed on and then buffed off also helps if you can't get the spray.
  It does feel weird at first and it's frustrating trying to deal with the fogging up until you find the solution that works for you.

[Meredithgrey1]

@Northernsoullover I know, I just meant that the strong emphasis on protecting others is more likely to encourage mask wearing than not. OP was asking if people thought the opposite might be true.

[Whichoneofyoudidthat]

@Lifeisgenerallyfun

I’ll happily wear a mask but my glasses steam up seemingly no matter what type of mask. I will definitely be keeping shopping On the internet so I can see.

Has anyone found a solution to this without covering your face in tape?

The top of the mask, the bit that goes over the bridge of your nose, must be flush against the face. Wear your glasses over the top of the mask.

[WanderingMilly]

I welcome the mask wearing....but then I've been wearing them since the start of lockdown.

Sadly, I think part of the problem is that in the UK we have a complain-culture….whatever is said, folk will complain and moan about it, it seems ingrained.
I also think many lack a "social responsibility" mindset, we are too interested in whether it affects us, not interested in doing things for the common good, or for others.

[goingtokickthisweight]

I think it's become compulsory now because the extremely vulnerable are slowly been allowed back out. So we will wear face masks to protect them and so we should.
I get fed up of people's selfish attitudes of I'm young and healthy etc. There is plenty out there who arnt and why should they have to stay locked behind closed doors just because it's slightly uncomfortable for everyone else to wear a mask.
And I say this as a mothers of 2 one who is severely autistic and has multiple sensory issues, so wearing a mask isn't possible.
Luckily he's 8 so won't have to but he has one with his favourite characters on and we try to put it on every time we go out for everyone's protection.
I also work in a sen school and see the irony in not wearing them in schools.
But this is a way of life for now, just like wearing a bike helmet or a seatbelt you just do it.

[SpillTheTeaa]

I've always worn a mask and I'm so glad everyone that can has to now. This should have been made mandatory from the beginning!

[ZombieLizzieBennet]

Some confusion is inevitable when the government has backtracked, yes.

[Prokupatuscrakedatus]

Masks are mandatory (+ distancing and hygiene) where I am.
So I've been to the hairdresser several times, finally got some clothes that fit, have a major tooth problem resolved including a small OP, my internet provider will sent sb over to properly install wireless, I've eaten out, my MIL's care home admits visitors again, DS (AS) leaves the house again, DD can use the uni library, all preventive check ups will take place.

OK the really important things - community events like life music, choirs, festivals, football, long night of science and museums etc are still not taking place, but it's a start.

[xcess2184]

The government's motivation for this change was not to protect health but rather encourage all the anxious, covid-phobic people to leave their homes and start shopping again.

There are people now who haven't been shopping in months and online sales haven't picked up all of this reduction.

It might backfire because along with all the queues and social distancing measures it will discourage the people who were happy to go shopping without masks. And that includes me; I'm not worried about covid but have absolutely no intention of going through the faff now involved for non-essential shopping.

Maybe they have research showing on balance masks will increase sales? It will be interesting to see if this has the desired effect.

[totallyyesno]

I think the government has been really lax in telling people what to do. This is a pandemic! We need clear instructions. Even the headlines today are "Boris Johnson has hinted that masks will become mandatory". What a wishy-washy message. They should just say "Wear a mask from today". Every other country seems to manage it. I'm in Italy and they became mandatory really quickly - they gave them away with newspapers, at pharmacies etc at first and now you can buy them just about everywhere. I never thought the UK would be so disorganized.

[WhattheFishappening]

goingtokick
I get fed up of people's selfish attitudes of I'm young and healthy etc. There is plenty out there who arnt and why should they have to stay locked behind closed doors just because it's slightly uncomfortable for everyone else to wear a mask.
And I say this as a mothers of 2 one who is severely autistic and has multiple sensory issues, so wearing a mask isn't possible.
Luckily he's 8 so won't have to but he has one with his favourite characters on and we try to put it on every time we go out for everyone's protection.

My friend’s son is 18, autistic with severe sensory issues. As an ‘adult’ he will required to wear a mask. Apparently this has led to a complete meltdown and he says that he is now trapped at home.
It’s a no win situation because he can’t tolerate anything near his face/ head (hats, scarves and now face masks...). Haircuts for example are a nightmare as is shaving.
The casual observer (other shoppers/shop assistants etc) would have no idea he is autistic and will be seen by others as someone with purely selfish attitudes if he doesn’t wear one.

[WhattheFishappening]

I also think that this 11 day delay is ridiculous.
Let’s wait until schools break up before we make it compulsory (because if we don’t, all he’ll will break lose with teaching unions - no masks required in stuffy classrooms but compulsory in Sainsbury’s?).