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?

Spain: We have suffered an appalling proper lockdown for months, you have no idea.Nobody is angry with the gvmt

"In total, as of Wednesday 20 May, Spain had issued 1,013,747 fines and arrested 8,418 people for flouting the lockdown regulations according to Interior Ministry statistics."

en.as.com/en/2020/05/20/other_sports/1590007192_285496.html

Madrid - "Anti-lockdown car protest draws thousands"

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-52783936

Jeeez, I honestly cannot be anything other than staggeringly bemused at the amount of people over the last few days who are adamant that they CANNOT wear a mask/face covering (as opposed to won't wear one)

I have worked in a profession for over 30 years that has required wearing a face mask all day to perform procedures and not once, not ever has any patient said to me that they couldn't do what I do because they would have to wear a mask and they aren't able to.

I work with colleagues who are asthmatic, they wear them, it doesn't restrict their breathing. I've worked with colleagues in the past with ASD and they have worn them without any issues. I had 12 years of asthma because of a damn cat that I was allergic to but was terribly attached to and used to let sleep on my bed and I wore a mask every day and could still breathe.

Yes, I agree that the stable door has been swinging in the wind for far too flipping long and the horse bolted a long time ago, but at least it bolted while far few people were out and about and that ones that were were keeping their distance.

Now, the streets are busier, shops are definitely much busier and people are becoming noticeably more complacent and not keeping their distance and giving me others space.

Unless you have a genuine medical exemption or are under 2 years old cover your mouth and nose when you're in a shop, remove it by the ear-loops and wash your hands or use hand-gel as soon as you can. Not too much to really ask, is it?

yes it weird yes its horrible but i think we have to do this now everything is open theres too many people about and some of them arent social distancing weve got to at least try this

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.

You’re gonna have your hands full on the judgey front if Scotland one week in is anything to go by.

Yes, we've all been through enough, but we'll go through a lot more if we don't have protective measures in place while we're trying to work and live our lives the best we can.

@Isthisfinallyit 'Ooooh but I don't wanna, I've been through enough, it's uncomfortable waaaaaah' - thanks, this sums it up for me! That's exactly how it sounds in my head when someone is being asked to do something so small and they keep complaining.

I appreciate people are feeling fragile right now but it's a minor inconvenience for a short period of time.

OK let's say you don't believe in the science behind it. Take a step back and think about those who have to wear them 10/11 hours to be able to make a living and I'm not talking just about NHS staff. Think about all the hairdressers for example who haven't worked since March and now have to wear them all day long to be able to put food on the table?

How about showing a bit of solidarity for all those people who don't have a choice?

I think probably more people 'get it' than you think OP. We're knackered. It's been really tough. There's more pain - economic and health-wise - ahead. It's really hard to keep going. There are lots of deniers out there - and on here - who presumably haven't had to see the effects first-hand.

We all have things that break us. But we have to get back up and get going again. There are lots of solutions being presented here and when you feel a bit better it would be a good idea to try and work through rationally what you can and can't control and what will help you get through. Online shopping probably is going to be an answer (it's a lot easier to get slots now). Things that are tricky to pick up online - out of stock or just not in the shop where you can get a slot - your DH can get those bits as he doesn't mind a mask.

I know it's easy to jump on OP's back about being a 'whiny baby'. We're all frustrated. But I think we all recognise that feeling of WHAT NOW? I get the feeling from the OP that even though she is saying she doesn't want to wear a mask, the fact that she's stuck by the rules so far mean that she probably will, even if it's hard, and she just needs a rant. Like we all do from time to time.

@Butchyrestingface i'm fine with that.

The world has gone to shit with this virus and the long-lasting impact is going to be massive. Thousands of excess deaths from other reasons because we don't have a NHS we have a National Covid Service. Planet drowning in single use plastic wipes, soap bottles, masks, aprons, cleaning products - whatever else but that's all OK because all that matters is Covid?

Give it 50 years and people will be wondering what the hell it was all about.

@sockyarn you are staggeringly badly informed. And completely wrong in your analysis and thinking.

I've been wearing a mask in shops for weeks. Not 'virtual signalling', btw, but, from everything I've read, it just made sense to me. Yes, it's a pain, but you don't have to wear it all the time. Put it on when you go into a shop. Take it off when you come out. Be careful when handling it. Carry sanitizer. That's it. Generations older than me went through worse in my home city, London, so I figure its the least I can do.

@YankeeinKingArthursCourt, you sound as if you are a sensible citizen and this is the route I will take, that and totally avoiding any shops. I had a little routine of click and collect going which I will revert to.

The whole thing is like a very very bad joke though isn't it? Why the 10 day wait?

YABU

OP you sound like one of those ignorant Floridians who stood up to speak at the public consultation on wearing masks.

Get. Over. Yourself.

To quote more eloquent posters

There are plenty of vulnerable people starting to make their way back into society now and we all have a duty of care to keep them safe

And

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

Thank you LaBelleSauvage for working in a hospital over the last few months in full PPE and extremely uncomfortable and stressful conditions.

I’m infuriated by the OP’s post so god knows how you must feel, knowing what you’ve been through and in all likelihood are about to go through again.

You forgot disposable towels for the hairdressers, randomer.

Madness. Just wash the usual ones on high, FFS.

@022828MAN

I agree, I had to wear one for around an hour recently and I thought I was going to faint with air thirst. I really struggled to take deep breaths (psychological, not physical) so don't really know how to overcome it. I've also had a positive antibody test and although I know it's not 100% guarantee that gives immunity, I do feel like I'm probably safer without one than running the risk of fainting with one - currently pregnant.

You shed particles for at least a month after having it, if not more. The mask is to protect other people from you, not to protect yourself.

@Roussette is absolutely right.

Good luck coming to Spain, entering the equivalent of Tesco without a facemask, if the general public don't humiliate and shame you, the cashier won't serve you. The security guard will call the police.

What do Spanish laws and attitudes have to do with the issue rousette was discussing? Can't see where any of the people who have pointed out how ridiculous she was being have said anything to suggest they intend to visit.

[quote randomer]@YankeeinKingArthursCourt, you sound as if you are a sensible citizen and this is the route I will take, that and totally avoiding any shops. I had a little routine of click and collect going which I will revert to.

The whole thing is like a very very bad joke though isn't it? Why the 10 day wait?[/quote]
To give people time to buy them. You can't introduce a law that people will instantly have to break because they don't have a mask, and maybe can't afford to buy them for their entire family this week.

Why the 10 day wait?

Presumably because it gives everyone time to sort out a face mask. Nothing to stop people wearing a face mask now, and I suspect many more people will start to wear them before July 24th.

The sooner we get to zero UK cases,

Like that's ever going to happen. Unless we lock our borders and nobody in and nobody out, ever.

And @besensiblepeople you might like to think i'm "ill informed" but I just have a different opinion to you. I'm not disagreeing that in very confined spaces, or when you are unavoidably face to face with someone like at a GP appointment or when in a small jeweller shop where you are spending ages looking at rings, masks have a purpose.

But in a large supermarket where all you are doing in passing someone in an aisle they are totally pointless.

I'm afraid, @NiknicK, that how your body reacts to a cold (which may or may not be cause by a type of coronavirus) is no guide to how it'll react to Covid-19. Therefore assuming you'd definitely know if you had it, is quite dangerous, for you and for others. Some have needed rushing to hospital because of lack of oxygen, having had no previous clue that they were infected. And some have spread infection to many others with no symptoms whatsoever.

@clavinova you are highlighting another difference between the UK and Spain and other european countries which is enforcement. People were arrested and fined if not complying with rules.

I work in a hospital where we have to wear them all day anyway. It's not fun for anyone

Many people do agree with you [NOT ON THIS THREAD THEY DON'T]and I've yet to see any reputable evidence that wearing anything other than proper pls grade masks without touching them does anything other than lead to a false sense of security.

@IAintentDead You need to read or listen more. The latest research says that wearing one can reduce your rate of being infected by 30% and someone who has it , it can reduce them passing it on y 90%.

But anyway. Getting everyone to rant about face masks is a great way from distracting us from the care homes fuck up, isn't it?

When you are in a large supermarket and the person passing you sneezes @SockYarn they are not useless at all.

That was a really understanding and calm and considered post everybodysang

I’m afraid I just wasn’t in the mood to be so kind myself today, but your post really jumped out at me.