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 of a face mask is not the degradation of our civil liberties- sounds like some of the ridiculous American news reports. Wearing a face mask can protect others and as it’s now mandatory, the rest is irrelevant. The longer people protest, the longer our lives won’t return to normal and we face a proper lockdown.

Fosler the bacteria that usually live in your nose (on your skin, in your gut etc etc) are harmless, your body needs them and breathing them in and out won't do you any harm. Your doc meant that there are so many in there it's difficult to identify the ones that shouldn't be there.

I've just seen some utter fuckwit on a local Facebook page say that she would rather see local businesses close than go and shop in one wearing a mask. She doesn't see any she should and if they close it's not her problem. How does someone even get to be like that?

The good news for businesses is that they can absolutely refuse to let anyone on their premises if they don't want them there. How they enforce that is the problem, but I'm sure they'll find a way.

I'm still aghast at the number of people who appear to believe that they have to have a mask clapped to their face from the second they leave their home to the second they get back. It's in shops and enclosed spaces.

I'm now assuming that there must be people here (Germany) who think like this and they're all staying home. Great. Stay there, frankly i've stopped caring about what idiots do.

What on earth planet Michael Gove is on, when he says the British public can be trusted to do the right thing, God only knows.

Presumably he thinks this because the British Public voted his lot in.

@hamstersarse

It isn't just about dying! I'm only 50, with school aged DDs. This virus has left me with long-term symptoms: cough, temperature and chest pain. I can't walk any kind of distance without becoming breathless. It's now 4 months since the symptoms started. I already had CFS, so I wasn't in the best of health, but I didn't have this breathlessness. And if you look at the thread on the Coronavirus board about the burning lungs, you'll find out that there are a lot of people in that situation. That's been mentioned on the news a number of times as well.

Also, people with co morbidities aren't necessarily old or at death's door. My DH has asthma so he's vulnerable. But he hasn't had a day off work due to sickness in 5 years.

I have a close friend who is shielding; she's in her early 60s, and has had a very active life, and now she's the carer for her DH, who has Alzheimer's.

"People who say they have sensory issues or breathing difficulties - just find a light, comfortable mask. Don't be a dick about it. My sensory issue friend at work who was freaking out about the whole idea is now super-excited because she's found a mask with a silly slogan on it."

Just because it works for your friend at work doesn't mean it is going to work for everyone. Silly slogans will make no difference to my autistic child.

@hamstersarse, even though the evidence is disputed, at this stage it does seem like Britain has one of the most appalling record of dealing with the virus. We have done literally everything wrong, from testing to quarantine to contact tracing and lock down. Virtually every country in the world has managed better. This strongly suggests that there is some merit in looking at what other countries are doing.

It so happens that the countries with the lowest death rates are also the ones where mask wearing is most widespread.

Maybe it’s just correlation, or maybe it’s causation. But at this stage it would be madness not to try something different to our approach so far. Emulating those countries is a perfectly rational policy. The only way is up.

The death rate in the UK is nearly 700 times higher than places like Hong Kong, which have a much higher population density, but where mask wearing is nearly universal.

If the U.K. had dealt with the virus the way Hong Kong has (through a combination of testing, tracing, isolating, treating and yes, mask wearing), there would have been 500 deaths in the UK, instead of 45,000.

Personally I think mask wearing is worth a shot.

Is the law insisting your autistic child wear a mask @Underhisi? If my child couldn't wear a mask I'd be grateful that those who could were, not stropping about it.

The legislation about face coverings for some in shops has not yet been issued so no one knows what it will say. If it is like that for trains it will have a lot of exceptions and will say if you find it extremely distressing you do not have to wear a mask (that is a person issue of course as no one even your doctor knows what you find distressing).

Shops will probably find they receive less business however so we might well have less tax received to pay for nurses when we bring in face coverings for some in shops. I would leave it as a voluntary thing.

Where was I stropping about it? Someone who clearly has no understanding of sensory issues said those with them should not be dicks because her friend who clearly doesn't have sensory issues that require exemption ( because a silly slogan wouldn't stop them) can wear them.

I don't spend my life being grateful to everyone for following the law but nice bit of putting people in their place there.

What about deaf ppl who rely on lip reading?

My child is autistic and probably won’t manage a face mask but he also will struggle with all social distancing rules and as such isn’t going to be able to access the sort of places masks will be worn. I think they are an essential part of slowing the spread and should be used in ALL spaces where you are inside/close together/etc.

You are being ridiculous. If wearing masks saves even one life we should do it. How would you feel if it was your son in ITU with no visitors? Delivery slots are easy to get now by the way. Stop with the drama and do your bit like everyone else.

What about deaf ppl who rely on lip reading? Their lives are made harder by Covid than a non disabled person.

Cannot believe the whinging here. So many hurt feelz.

If you genuinely have an allergy or something, fine. Otherwise mask up or keep your arse glued to your sofa but don’t expect to be paid for it.

Do I like wearing a mask? No.

I also hate the colossal waste mountain, but wearing masks will help this go away faster.

What about deaf ppl who rely on lip reading?

If you read the exemptions, that's covered. It's not ideal, but it's not ideal for anyone. And it is possible to buy masks that have clear section over the mouth.

I want to sympathise with you but your comments just get worse and worse tbh. From "we've been through enough" (let's email the virus and let it know so it can stop then shall we), to "I'm not throwing my toys out of the pram because they're telling me what to do, but aren't you all sick of being told what to do", to "I would know if I had Covid", to the amount of times you have repeated that your son is autistic as though to shame people out of thinking the rules should still apply to you.

It's just a mask OP. Find a nice one, or don't go to the shops, but don't spend your time bemoaning the fact that they didn't say it earlier like you're Sherlock Holmes cracking the conspiracy. The country might have dealt with the pandemic better if there weren't so many British people desperately trying to find excuses to not have to bother.

The country might have dealt with the pandemic better if there weren't so many British people desperately trying to find excuses to not have to bother. I agree. A little sharing of responsibility is needed.

I live in Asia and we have been wearing masks on a daily basis here since early February. Not mandatory, it was a collective community decision taken by 95% of the population.

To start with I was very reluctant and very skeptical. The first time you wear a mask it feels awful, makes you feel breathless and claustrophobic. You get used to it, it becomes second nature. It never feels comfortable, in the way that wearing a bra never feels comfortable and you relish taking it off. It is 35 degrees here daily and 90 per cent humidity. Imagine a mask in that, we all still put them on.

Yet here, with an open border to China there are less than 2k cases and only 7 people have died. We have never been in a strict lockdown.

The evidence for masks is compelling. Just get on board, give it a go, it won't be anywhere near as traumatic as you think it will.

Grow up. Wear a mask.

I really don't understand people using 'what about the deaf people' as an excuse. Its easy these days to do your shopping without needing to even speak to a single person. If you do need to speak to a staff member and they happen to be hard of hearing and they ask you to remove your mask then fine whats the big deal?

Why risk infecting swathes more of the population because of deaf people you might never even meet!

I sympathise, but surely the hard of hearing can manage for a few months, rather than the whole population having to endure another spike.

Wear a mask. It's not that hard.

If they are so great it should have been brought in earlier but as usual Boris does everything too late.

What Johnson (Cummings) has decided and the smart things to do are not necessarily the same.

Yes they should have been made mandatory earlier but as lockdown is only just being relaxed, people have been at home and not mixing with other people so potentially less important then.

Children in Scotland over five have to wear them too and my youngest said she she felt frightened and kept touching her face. Utterly pointless and probably dangerous for kids. Welcome to the world of the deluded Ms sturgeon

Your child is probably picking up on your own feelings about the masks. I've made it in to a fun dressing up ninja style adventure. We wear snoods not masks.

OP you say your son is understanding and able so perhaps he'll understand and find a face covering option that works for him. Lots of dc here wearing bandanas cowboy style. It's simply a face covering not necessarily a medical grade mask. And to clarify no you aren't U or selfish to stay home and not go to shops. If this is what you plan to do I don't see your issue. If you don't go to the shops as is your intention there's no reason you need to wear one

Shopping is going to be much easier for those of us happy to wear a mask if people are saying they won’t go into shops.

I'm in Scotland and have been shopping regularly. There are plenty of people out and all are wearing masks, even small children. It's a bit odd at first, but since we're all doing it the oddness wears off quickly.

I'm enjoying not catching the regular seasonal viruses - I haven't felt ill at all since lockdown. I work in a school and catch viruses from the kids often. Mask-wearing and increased distancing is going to become a feature of my life in future.

I really don't understand how people are not wearing them properly. It's not exactly complicated.

No it isn't but I'm afraid this whole thing has exposed the general level of intelligence of the population.