Face masks. To feel that we have all been through enough....

[NiknicK]

And shouldn’t have to wear face masks if we don’t want to. I know it’s not officially been confirmed yet, but it’s expected to be today, and I don’t get it. If face masks truly help prevent the spreading of the virus, then why on earth wasn’t it made compulsory at the beginning of this pandemic, why now? I know you’ll all likely call me selfish but I can’t do it. I have to wear a mask for ten minutes once or twice month to collect mine and dh’s medication and I find it unbearable even for that small amount of time. They make my face itch and make me want to touch my face more, I can’t breathe properly and get panicky, they slide up as they’re too big for my face and hit my eye lids. My ds is autistic and I suspect I have some traits eg sensory issues, and the thought of having to wear these masks when I find shopping stressful enough as it is, fills me with dread. AIBU?

Is it children under 11 that are exempt?

Thanks

I have enormous boobs. If I can wear a bra night and day my entire life, you can wear a sodding mask to go shopping.

Should ONLY be available via GP

Official exemptions likely will be, anyone can buy anything online, it doesn't mean you won't get fined.

I despair at the selfishness here. Children carrying gas masks to school, having to put their babies in boxes because their faces were too small for one was more traumatic than carrying a piece of fabric around to wear just in select circumstances. I think if it was to protect themselves rather than others people would be happier.

have enormous boobs. If I can wear a bra night and day my entire life, you can wear a sodding mask to go shopping.

Haha this is so true!

OP I didn’t see your child was disabled. That’s a different discussion. Adults who are well, its a moral obligation.

Loads of people will be way more confident to be out and about in a mask

I agree with this. Posters talk of it killing off the high street but it works in reverse too.
I've worn one since March when going in a supermarket. I feel uncomfortable when in there are hardly any people wearing one. So I have avoided shops because of this.
Now I will feel far more comfortable about going into a shop. TKMaxx here I come!

@peonypower

What?! 45,000 deaths in 6 months isn’t very deadly? Try saying that to someone that had a loved one die from covid. What a spectacularly ridiculous comment.

It's not ridiculous. It's numerate.

1500 people die a day anyway. 45,000 are deaths WITH not OF COVID. It's not out of kilter with a bad flu season. The excess mortality spike looks more dramatic because the flu season comparable is more Dec-Jan and not April.

You better let the Office of National Statistics know then. As of last month they estimated 60,000 excess deaths as a result of COVID.

🤨

I would imagine 99% of people who claim they’re unable to wear a mask if put in an enclosed space with a positive Covid patient coughing at them would suddenly find an amazing ability to overcome their mask wearing issues.

This is from the WHO latest update on masks

People can potentially infect themselves if they use contaminated hands to adjust a mask, or to repeatedly take it off and put it on, without cleaning hands in between.

Not great!

Masks can also create a false sense of security, leading people to neglect measures such as hand hygiene and physical distancing.

Can see that happening already. Washing hands has been dropped from messages for months.

I cannot say this clearly enough: masks alone will not protect you from COVID-19.

Yet many here seem to think they are some magical way to eliminate the virus

Masks are not a replacement for physical distancing, hand hygiene and other public health measures.

I just get the vibe that people think they are! The whole “you selfish bastard if you don’t force yourself to wear one even though you have autism” stinks of latching onto masks as being the thing to beat people with

Masks are only of benefit as part of a comprehensive approach in the fight against COVID-19.

Their contribution is minor so no need for all the vitriol against people who can’t wear them.

The cornerstone of the response in every country must be to find, isolate, test and care for every case, and to trace and quarantine every contact

This is what works, not some shitty mask you’ve bought on eBay and had your hands on all day.

That is what we know works. That is every country’s best defense against COVID-19.

Not masks.

@hamstersarse how can you track and trace in a supermarket? Would you be happy to give your name and address everytime you went in? I'm not fussed, but people cry breach of my liberties over ridiculous things, let alone that. There needs to be a campaign on how to properly wear them, not sure where everyone goes but I don't see people fiddling with them when out, but I do see plenty of people fiddling with their hair and face anyway. In an enclosed environment effectiveness relies on a certain % wearing one, not all. For those who cannot wear them, it makes it safer for them also, without the need for a mask. It's those who declare they aren't wearing one just because they don't want to that are selfish.

The government ahave probably been looking at projections like the ones published on worldometer. The red line shows the projected number of deaths in the UK if all restrictions are lifted (eg, no social distancing), the green line shows the projection with universal mask wearing.

These particular projections have been complied by the Institute for Health Metrics (IHME) a scientific research institute attached to the University of Washington. I haven't read up on how they compile the data but they publish that information on their website.

I wear one for 4-10 hours at work in a bar. I feel safer as we cannot maintain social distancing. Heard yesterday that they are being banned as "customers can't see our faces" all while I was watching rolling news on the bar TV. "Covid can cause; kidney damage, brain damage, spinal damage, epilepsy, scarred lungs". I am resigning today. WEAR A MASK!!

This started in Scotland last Friday .
Cue lots of people proclaiming to be exempt .
every shop I've been in 99% of people are wearing.

Do we really need to do this?
No wonder we have the highest death rate, we have an utterly incompetent government and a population that thinks stamping their feet and saying "But I dont WANNA wear a mask!" is a smart move.
This isn't fucking Brexit. You cant "front up" to a fucking virus.

Their contribution is minor
Even a minor contribution is something.

Yet many here seem to think they are some magical way to eliminate the virus
I can't speak for everyone on here, but personally I really am not that thick.

Washing hands has been dropped from messages for months
Do you think we are that stupid that we can't remember to wash our hands?

And you know what people - high street shopping has to change, it was dying before this and maybe some forced innovation might just help. Department stores as a concept are dead all over the world. This has simply brought forward what would have happened in the next 5 years anyway. Our town centres need to become places for residential and leisure. Online shopping is not going away.

'We have been through enough'

This post is embarrassing. YABVVU. Evidence increasingly shows masks help to stop the spread. It's a very minor thing to do to allow us to continue to live vaguely normally. I can't imagine anyone likes wearing them. But if imasks help to prevent another load of deaths / long-term debilitations / more damage to the economy and job losses it's a very small price to pay.

Do you really think Boris Johnson of all people would wear a mask if he hadn't seen evidence to convince him that it will help to contain the virus?

This is just lack of grip OP. As others have said hospital workers have been wearing full PPE kit for work since the pandemic began - some on 12 hour shifts etc.

Yes masks are hot and frustrating at first but you soon get used to them.

A bit more Blitz spirit and a bit less self indulgence.

I suspect that the government weren't sure about the efficacy of masks due to conflicting opinions about them even from the experts. It sounds as if they're making it up as they go along - but then aren't they all? This is a new problem for everyone.
No one can pretend that masks are comfy but I'd rather put up with the small discomfort of a mask than the worst problem of the virus,

I'd suggest shopping in small bursts rather than a big shop once a week as that may be more comfortable for you. Pull your mask down when you get back to the car and breathe. That's what I do - touch wood it's been okay so far.

Do you really think Boris Johnson of all people would wear a mask if he hadn't seen evidence to convince him that it will help to contain the virus?
Well to be honest I think he’d wear a borat jockstrap suit if he thought it would help his polls standing. Otherwise I agree with you

Will teachers have to wear them when they are back in the classroom?
I bought a cloth one and although I hate wearing it I'm getting used to it in the shops even if I feel like I'm the only one wearing one as more people don't than do. They are not nice at all , but I also need to buy food! Mine is washable and much better than the paper ones.
It's strange that we're all ok not to have to wear them in shops up to the 24th ! 🤔
I hope the staff have to wear them as mostly they haven't been and I go to a few different supermarkets in my area. They don't even wear gloves. Maybe this is why people are not bothering ? Like most people im confused by it all.

I was a bit miffed about it being compulsory but like anything will get used to it .
There are loads of different masks about so I'm sure people can find one that suits .
My ds is autistic and I won't be able to get him to wear one but he'll be exempt, mind you I don't take him to any shops since the before the pandemic .

We have the highest death rate for multiple reasons, and mark wearing is such a minor contributing factor

• heavy elderly population
• unhealthy population (67% overweight)
• chronic vitamin D deficiencies
• highly populated areas

If the govt came out and said compulsory vitamin D supplements, I’d be delighted. Masks are a diversion from the real issues.

If face masks truly help prevent the spreading of the virus, then why on earth wasn’t it made compulsory at the beginning of this pandemic, why now?

It was in many countries such as Italy, but particularly the Eastern countries that experienced SARS and knew what was effective in combating that.

Yes it’s awfully late in the game - the government should have locked down earlier and made masks compulsory much earlier - but they’re crap.

I don't understand why mask wearing has only become mandatory now (well, from the 24th).
Lockdown came into force way back in March - surely masks should have been made mandatory then!? Seems too little too late, sort of like putting a plaster on a wound that has already scabbed over.