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?

@SusieOwl4 I impulse bought one before you even replied! It looks good and great re glasses not steaming up.

@ActuallyItsEugene call a few local pharmacies and ask if they have them in. Our local pharmacy is selling them for around £6 so not expensive whereas the ones on amazon are. Ours is like this

I’m slightly confused how we need to wear masks in a shop where you don’t actually spend any time near anyone, but you can go to a pub without one, get drunk and social distancing goes straight out of the window??!! All the rules are so contradictory all the time

No need to be confused. All those pictures of gatherings of drunk people outside pubs were pictures of people not following the rules and IMO the police should have been actively dispersing them.

As PP said, though, not everyone goes to a pub to get bladdered. It is perfectly possible to have compulsory masks in shops and have a system in place so restaurants and pubs can open. It works in other places but not in Exceptional England. Hmmmmm.

And in case everyone missed the info: the advice is still 2m SD but it can be reduced to 1m with masks and sanitary precautions. Just because some people are flouting the rules, doesn't mean the rules aren't still there.

@Thewindofmysoul That's a great help, thank you so much. I'll call round

I get that we (will soon) have to wear masks(“face coverings”) when we go into shops, and I’ll comply – though I’ll avoid going there more than I can help. I’ve worn them when I’ve had to up to now, having discovered that the disposable masks are much more bearable than the cloth ones.

What I’m finding quite hard to take is the number of people who just can’t see why anyone else has physical or psychological difficulty with the experience of wearing them. It’s not trivial to everyone. Have some compassion.

giraffe0707 people spitting their dummy out and refusing to help protect other people aren't showing any compassion so why should we? Before I gave birth I was told to woman up, suck it up, give birth alone and not complain about it on this website 🤷‍♀️
People have lost family members, people have been unable to attend funerals, fathers have missed the birth of their babies, women with mental health issues have struggled to access antenatal care and had a total lack of postnatal support. So many people have had a bloody horrible time and yet we are expected to have compassion because some people can't make an effort to protect other people and they're behaving like absolute toddlers where the rest of us have had to manage our difficulties.

The more severe brittle asthma is likened to breathing through a straw - try it. Then pop a mask over the end of the straw.

Then have all the virtue signalling people shaming and moaning because you don't have a mask on and you should be ashamed/don't expect a ventilator/your killing people etc....often the people who during lock down were out and about sharing pictures of where they had visited that day...suddenly wanting everyone to wear masks now that the numbers have dropped substantially.

So many judgements and now another one for people to moan about --- look at her no mask on blah blah blah

By the same token (continuing from my post above), I didn’t mind lockdown at all. I’m very introverted and for the most part found it a positive pleasure having no pressure to see anyone socially. I don’t go away often and can’t afford to eat out much. (I was still going to work but daily exercise would have completely counteracted any “cabin fever” I’d have experienced otherwise.) In all respects except that I couldn’t see my adult children it was, if anything, bliss.

However, that doesn’t stop me seeing that for some people it was torture; I wasn't going around saying "Stop whining, get over yourself, it's no hardship".

@NiknicK

I think I’ll have to turn to online shopping more, we’ll that’s if I can get a delivery slot, and my dh he’s happy to do more food shopping as masks don’t bother him. I won’t be taking my ds into shops as I’m not willing to stand there and be grilled about why he is not wearing a mask, and having to tell all and sundry that he’s autistic. I’m not ashamed of his autism but my ds is aware and able and doesn’t like me discussing him in front of strangers,

Surely that's your answer then?!

If your DH is happy to do the food shopping whilst wearing a mask then he can do and do all of your food shopping?

Wtf is the big deal about it?

I don't go to shops at present so not a problem. Will just keep buying everything online and contribute to the environmental problems instead. Strange that people can protest in thousands and no spike, visit pubs and stand around when drunk without masks no spikes... but buy a pint of milk and sudden danger looms

I wear hearing aids and glasses - add a mask to that lot and I will be changing my name to wingnut. But I will do it, (and have been) because unlike a huge amount of people, you included, I am not precious or a bloody snowflake

Thank you @NameChange84 and all the other sensible thoughtful people who wear masks in public indoors spaces. This is the way we can all look after each other.

That (post just above) wasn't addressed to MissBaskin but it pretty much gives my response anyway. And I'm sorry your experience of birth was so awful, that sounds very hard.

@AlternativePerspective

The reason why the UK have one of the highest figures in Europe is because of the selfishness of its citizens.

No that's not the reason. It's actually because of population density. We're a small island with a lot of people in it.

But otherwise, yes, I agree with you, people need to get over themselves about the whole face-mask thing. Such a drama over something that's potentially going to help saves lives

@NiknicK

I think I’ll have to turn to online shopping more, we’ll that’s if I can get a delivery slot, and my dh he’s happy to do more food shopping as masks don’t bother him. I won’t be taking my ds into shops as I’m not willing to stand there and be grilled about why he is not wearing a mask, and having to tell all and sundry that he’s autistic. I’m not ashamed of his autism but my ds is aware and able and doesn’t like me discussing him in front of strangers,

There's plenty of online shops . You don't need to be at a supermarket three times a week. There's plenty of types - find one that suits .

I can understand this being a big deal to some if it ends up being a long term situation . Not everyone is lucky enough to be able to cope with masks on. It's great if you've got someone to do the shopping for the short term, but facing an unknown future of not being able to go shopping ( and will it end there) is scary for some

So many people have had a bloody horrible time and yet we are expected to have compassion because some people can't make an effort to protect other people and they're behaving like absolute toddlers where the rest of us have had to manage our difficulties.

@MissBaskinIfYoureNasty I read giraffe's post as talking about people who cannot wear a mask for psychological or physical reasons, not those who just don't want to wear a mask.

@SusieOwl4

There is a video on how to wear the paper masks properly. A lot of people are wearing them wrong . You should twist and fold the side parts.

Look up the images-of virustatic shield . They are much more comfortable And even if you don’t buy that brand as expensive something in that style might feel better.

Could you link the video?

With surgical masks you just need to:

• Loop the straps behind your ears
• Mould the wire around the bridge of your nose
• Hold the top of the mask to the bridge of your nose and stretch the bottom the fit beneath your chin

Out of all the Covid restrictions I think that wearing a face mask is by a long way the least restrictive.

I read on one of the links that the masks are particularly good for people who suspect that they may have the virus... shouldn't they be home isolating then. Mask wearings appear to think that makes them immune safe etc..... continually touching mask means it becomes dirty and useless really

Wearing a face mask in a shop - that should say.

It is particularly useful for those who believe they may have the coronavirus and do not want to infect family, friends or others they are in contact with.

strange if you think you have it then no contact would be best

PinkSparklyPussyCat Thank you - I actually meant those who find the prospect physically or psychologically unbearable, rather than those who really can't. I didn't mean those who object on libertarian grounds, though.

On the one occasion I've worn a mask I spent more time touching my face and pulling the mask away as my face was sweating so much under the mask.

@NiknicK your ignorance is astounding

'I get what you’re saying but is no one else fed up of constantly being told what to do.'

I'm fed up with the virus and the constant fear that it entails! I am fed up with having no social interactions except online for 4 months! 'Fed up' is an inadequate phrase for how I feel about tens of thousands dying.

I am cross with our incompetent goverment for its complete inconsistency and lack of clarity, but I haven't been restricted because of the rules; I've been restricted because I'm terrified of dying or becoming a permanent invalid. And at least I am someone who is able for the time being to work from home; many have to choose between taking a serious risk, and losing their job and livelihood.

' I genuinely am dreading this. I go to the supermarket at least three times a week, which I know is a lot to some, but there are reasons for this, and i can’t bare the thought of wearing a mask.'

If you have breathing problems or sensory issues that make a mask unbearable, then you should be able to get an exemption. If it's just that you don't like them, then it's not really fair on elderly or otherwise vulnerable people, who may only be able to go to the shops if most are wearing masks; or on shop employees who may otherwise have to choose between serious risks to their health and giving up the jobs on which they depend if they are to pay the rent.

You would not know if you were asymptomatic. That is what "being asymptomatic " means, my friend.