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?

Wearing a mask isn’t the most pleasant sensation but you get used to it and, far more importantly, it’s a TINY sacrifice. You potentially help others and the NHS by wearing a mask while indoors.

I'm dreading it, I'm suffering terribly with hay fever this year and am permanently having to blow my nose, so it's unlikely I'll be able to go out

I agree, it's inconvenient.

However, I don't think any part of a global pandemic is supposed to be convenient.

It isn't forever - probably only for a few months and I read that if two parties both wear masks the risk of spreading corona between two people is reduced to 0.05%.

Worth it in the long run. We got used to lock down; we'll get used to this.

A dirty bit of fabric or single wear mask worn over and over again, hanging round your neck, is a total waste of time .

I'm dreading it, I'm suffering terribly with hay fever this year and am permanently having to blow my nose, so it's unlikely I'll be able to go out

You'll probably find it helps, as most pollen enters through the nose, if it's covered it won't be as easy for it.

Wearing as mask isn’t nice. I don’t like it either.

But I sure am glad that they’re deemed suitable for HCP’s to wear them for hours at a time when, for example, in surgery.

Sorry I think it’s pathetic to say NOW I won’t wear a mask, it’s upsetting me. We’re united in our upset you know. Wear one or shop online.

I'm not looking forward to wearing a mask in a shop but I will of course do it. As I think the majority of people will. I already have to wear one on public transport.

Roussette you're deluded if you think shops will pay any attention to you. It's not their staff's job to police it and enforce the law. I'm in London where face coverings are mandatory on public transport. It's not enforced and my experience is only about 60-70% bother.

I hate the fucking things because they are an environmental horror and a bloody discarded everywhere by some idiots but I'm even more fed up with the whinging here.

So I got myself some washable fabric ones and I have been wearing them, they are easy to wash and iron and easier for breathing.

The sooner we get that going the sooner this will be over. Stop whining. Woman up and get yourself a washable mask or keep your arse indoors.

They’re mandatory in Scotland so I’ve bought some reusable fabric ones. More comfortable than the disposable ones and less waste. We went shopping on Saturday and wore them, it was okay but I’m a nurse and am used to wearing masks now so I appreciate I’ve got a different view probably.

@Standardy

I'm dreading it, I'm suffering terribly with hay fever this year and am permanently having to blow my nose, so it's unlikely I'll be able to go out

You'll probably find it helps, as most pollen enters through the nose, if it's covered it won't be as easy for it.

I found mine was worse, my nose was so blocked I was struggling and had to keep pulling it down (when I was on my own obviously) or unhooking it from one ear.

Butchy I've explained it endlessly. I've said I worded one sentence wrong. I apologised to you for misleading you. I have responded to you and explained countless times, if you don't read my replies I can't help that.

A bit disingenuous. It’s not an apology if you accuse someone of “nitpicking” and “latching” onto something. You’re just using your “apology” to have a go at someone, and obv the person is going to respond to that.

I'm a hospital doctor and I think your tiny inconvenience of being ever so slightly uncomfortable during a shopping trip is less important than others' more significant inconvenience of having a deadly virus.

It's a crap time for everyone but it's significantly more crap if you're on a respirator or indeed sweating in full PPE in a roasting ward working longer hours with a baby at home who might like to see her mummy more.

The sooner we get to zero UK cases, the sooner you can take that traumatic partial face mask off for the injustice of a couple of hours per week and recover from your ordeal.

Roussette you're deluded if you think shops will pay any attention to you. It's not their staff's job to police it and enforce the law. I'm in London where face coverings are mandatory on public transport. It's not enforced and my experience is only about 60-70% bother.

I can’t see shop staff calling the police to come “enforce” this policy. OR police having the manpower to come out to fine individual non-mask wearers. Parties in the park? Yes. Mrs Smith in aisle 3 at Asda? Naw, not so much.

It’ll be interesting to see how it pans out.

I'm pleased about the change. I have avoided shops almost 100% up until now after a very unpleasant trip to Waitrose where people stood too close to me, reached across in front of me, disregarded floor markings etc. I was a gibbering wreck by the time I'd left and have not been back. DH goes to Tesco once a week for gluten free stuff and today he reported he was the only one in the shop wearing a mask. These changes will give us peace of mind. I work in care and my team have to wear masks all day now, it is not pleasant to begin with but they get used to it, as will we all.

I know it's not always easy to wear masks. I'm a healthcare worker- I wear a mask on the way to work, up 7 flights of stairs to my ward and then for the duration of my shift. 5-6 times a week. I also have asthma.

My skin is in a mess, but my breathing is fine because the problems are psychological. The only difficulty I've had is when I get a slight CO2 headache after several hours- something you wouldn't get from going to the shop. Masks do not reduce your oxygen saturations.

I'm sorry but you're going to have to get over it and get used to it. Its making me feel quite frustrated seeing so many people saying they can't bear to wear the masks and it's unreasonable to have to wear them. What do you think the healthcare workers have been doing for months? We aren't superhuman, we just get on with it.

@randomer

We wash our reusable masks after every use. Boiling water, soap, leave over night. Dry in the sun. We have several each, so have one in our bag ( in a plastic bag), several spare.

Also I will judge the fuck out of you if you are virtue signalling with your wee disposable mask to chuck into landfill, because all that matters is Covid.

Disposable masks should be banned, or at least for medical personnel only. Wear a snood, or a cotton scarf, bandana or even a woolly scarf. Don't be creating millions of litter by showing how aamazing you are with your disposable masks.

Face masks are at best annoying, but there is no good option.

It's pretty obvious that the alternative - pretend the virus doesn't exist - hasn't worked in Florida, and we are heading toward the winter months when it is likely that the virus will spread more easily.

Face masks (and other measures) are just the price of avoiding a lockdown.

I wore a mask all day every work day for 10 years to help keep people safe.

Surely this isn't a big ask of people? It's not forever, or isn't even every day for most of us, and it will only be for as long as we spend in a shop, or on public transport. And still people come out with nonsense such as 'I know my own body' 'we've been through enough' 'andI'd know if I'd got it'.

Hcps have been wearing masks for up to 11 hours a shift, getting sores on our noses and ears, making our skin sore and broken out, to protect our patients. You are being asked to wear a 'face covering', could be a lovely soft cotton or silk scarf, that will not cause you any physical pain, for the time it takes to go shopping.

I know it's a pain and everyone's mental health has gone to shit.

But quite honestly, get a fucking grip, get over yourself and either wear it or don't go out.

I have absolutely no time or sympathy for the 'oh but I don't like it' brigade. Your comfort does not trump the safety of everyone else around you.

I think unless somebody is medically exempt then people just need to suck it up and deal with it. I just can't get behind people moaning about something that will help us as a nation and individually.

What would you prefer, another extended lockdown?

Yes it's not nice but it's preferable to the alternative. I'm sure those moaning wouldn't want their vulnerable relatives having to battle covid.

Regardless of having antibodies its still possible to pass on the virus after touching a contaminated surface and then touching something else.

My DH has autism and he doesn't complain about wearing one, even though I know he doesn't like it and finds it very uncomfortable.

Woman up.

I completely agree that we've all been through enough, but if people don't wear masks we'll have to go through even more. We all just need to get on with it.

Get some made by a local seller to your face measurements. If they’re elastic then get a headband with buttons to stop the discomfort on your ears. Or try ones that tie. Either that or stay the fuck at home. Simple.

I have severe tinnitus and really struggle to hear and everyone wearing masks makes it awkward and embarrassing as I constantly ask people to repeat themselves. I have hayfever so it is uncomfortable and sneezing in a mask not pleasant. I have dry eyes and wearing a mask seems to push my breathe upwards and irritates them and i need to use drops more. Regardless of what I have tried my glasses steam up. I am not fit and wearing a mask for too long makes me dizzy especially on a warm day so I can't go anywhere indoors that needs a mask on those days.

We are in the middle of a global pandemic, the virus is still out there and it can still do a lot of harm. I'll be wearing a mask and/or making adjustments to my life. While there will be a small minority who cannot wear them at all, the rest of you just need to get over it and get on with it. None of us want this pandemic but it is here, stop flinging your toys out the pram and grow up.

I want the world to re-open and life to go back to approximately normal and we ALL have a role to play in making sure that is possible. The longer we all claim we have very special personal reasons for not wearing a mask, the longer it takes.

Exactly this.