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?

@AlternativePerspective the main reason the U.K. has one of the highest death figures is because of its government’s atrocious “strategy” to tackle Coronavirus and the fact that Boris, Hancock et al couldn’t lead their way out of a paper bag, let alone their country through a national pandemic.

Stop blaming citizens who were mostly compliant once full lockdown was (eventually) introduced.

"Or if you can’t cope with wearing a mask, don’t go into a shop."

The law says you can. I know some people are enjoying telling others what they can and can't do but randoms don't get to decide.

I'm with you OP. Don't want to wear one so will just avoid the places where I'm supposed to wear it. I've got a toddler and I feel upset at the thought of him not seeing my face properly or hearing me clearly.

NiknicK I am so sorry! A big hug.

I got very upset on hearing about face masks. I won’t go through my reasoning because there will be a pile on.

I hope that more delivery slots get freed in your area so that you can manage. It won’t be outside, just transport and inside shops. Maybe click and collect if you need to go several times?

I am only on page 3 but I am sorry you haven’t received much support. A big hug from me.

@YourWinter

What is the problem with masks? If you're worried about them, then practise for short periods at home before taking it when you go shopping. Try 3 to 5 minutes and build up to 10, 15, 30 minutes. How long does it take to go around the shop?

I have disposable masks, which are an environmental nightmare for disposal but are really light, I have pleated cotton masks, and some fabric ones in a more moulded shape that fit closer. The last ones are the hardest for talking, they fit closer to the lips, but none of them are any trouble to breathe through, even when it's hot. Hospital staff, nurses, surgeons manage for hours at a time, surely anyone can manage for an hour here or there. Practise, practise, calm down and remember, if you don't like it you sure as hell won't like a ventilator. You CAN breathe perfectly well with a mask on, and they're routinely worn outside the home in countries a lot hotter than the UK.

Are you seriously suggesting people practise so they find it easier to wear a ventilator? Wtf? That's so many different kinds of fucked up I don't know where to begin. Darling ...you don't need to practise for medical procedures like that. They sedate you. Noone gets good at wearing a ventilator by practising shit at home with face coverings.

"if you don't like it you sure as hell won't like a ventilator."

Why do people keep repeating this? Yep I know my son won't like being on a ventilator just as I know from experience he will hate any hospital procedure and is likely to need sedating pretty much the whole time he is in hospital for anything.

Saying it in doesn't make it possible for me to keep a mask on him.

No, that isn't what zelda is saying at all, they are making the point that if you use your mask then you are less likely to need an oxygen mask, which would be far worse. You aren't unconscious if you need oxygen, a ventilator yes, but I'd rather not risk being in that position either if mask wearing can help to prevent it.

I've been wearing weekly for an hour for hospital appointments and hated at first but now I barely notice so if you stick with it you'll get used to it - honest. Not wading in on the boring debate but just saying maybe it won't be as bad as you think once you're used to it

The ‘me me me’ attitudes on this thread are astonishing. Get a grip, honestly. I’ll wear a mask because I’m not a selfish prick and I care about about people. I don’t like it, I wish we didn’t have to, but we do and I don’t want people to die so I will do my part and what I can to prevent that from happening. It’s about basic human consideration whilst we are in the middle of a fucking pandemic. It’s not about ‘erosion of freedom’ or restriction of liberty, it’s about trying to control a virus that has killed thousands.

Sorry you’re feeling fed up. I hope no one any of you care about are touched by this virus, but perhaps if God forbid they are can you imagine consoling yourself with ‘well, it could have been avoided but at least people aren’t having their freedom restricted by following the guidelines.’ Ridiculous.

@dancinfeet I am sorry

@Greensmurf1 WHO changed their advice. That’s what has prompted the change in advice from the government

www.bbc.com/news/health-52945210

@hamstersarse thank you for your post.

People will make their own choices based on the law which by the way I have checked again today and is still not drafted (24 July is proposed as date when it comes in); so we don't know what the new law says yet.

Because we have had over £45,000 deaths, the 2nd highest death rate per million population after Belgium.

Because all the countries where masks have been consistently worn have the lowest death rates.

It wasn’t introduced earlier because our gift couldn’t buy enough masks for healthcare professionals and didn’t want us competing with them for masks and because they’ve HP been a bit slow/crap.

Are you seriously suggesting people practise so they find it easier to wear a ventilator? Wtf? That's so many different kinds of fucked up I don't know where to begin. Darling ...you don't need to practise for medical procedures like that. They sedate you. Noone gets good at wearing a ventilator by practising shit at home with face coverings.

No of course that isn't what she's saying, she's saying practice wearing a mask, so you can wear a mask, so you are less likely to get ill and need a ventilator....

www.gov.uk/government/speeches/face-coverings-to-be-mandatory-in-shops-and-supermarkets-from-24-july#:~:text=Under%20the%20new%20rules%2C%20people,covering%20lies%20with%20the%20individual.

Gov.uk publication

@scubadive

Because we have had over £45,000 deaths, the 2nd highest death rate per million population after Belgium.

Because all the countries where masks have been consistently worn have the lowest death rates.

It wasn’t introduced earlier because our gift couldn’t buy enough masks for healthcare professionals and didn’t want us competing with them for masks and because they’ve HP been a bit slow/crap.

Let's not create a myth that our high death rates were due to not wearing face coverings.

We locked down too late. Public opinion was not in favour of lockdown and our government acts only based on public opinion of the day. I was in favour of early lockdown. I personally blame every UK citizen who didn't ask the government to lockdown early for that death rate, along with, of course our terrible government mishandling.

You go ahead and feel smug about being happy wearing a piece of fabric round your mouth. It's on a par with your claps saving the NHS. Performance art.

@TheLegendOfZelda Stop talking rot. The govt didn’t lockdown because the economy is more important, it was nothing to do with public opinion.

The evidence is clear, that in countries where face coverings were mandatory from early on the death rate and R rate was lower. It also helps if you have a female leader.

Face coverings help prevent the spread of Covid by reducing the droplets in the air when you talk/cough/sneeze etc. It’s not smugness to wear one that could potentially save someone’s life.

Honestly, the hoohah around masks is embarrassing.

The evidence is very clear and accepted. Our death rate would have been substantially less if we had locked down one week earlier, even lower if it had been two.

Why do you think we didn't? Pure incompetence in the face of public demands for a lockdown? I don't remember many people screaming for lockdown in early March. Us mumsnetters were called scaremongering panic merchants, if I remember correctly.

Blame yourselves. Along with our government. For that high death rate. Wear your scarf of shame if it makes you feel better now. Tell me why it works in shops but not in schools and pubs?

We now know the U.K. locked down too late (and it’s never been a proper lockdown) but we are where we are and the next step is mandatory face coverings in shops. People can argue as soon as they like but from next week if you want to go into a shop you will have to comply.

I personally blame every UK citizen who didn't ask the government to lockdown early for that death rate

I personally blame all the idiots who didn't practice good hygiene, didn't social distance, didn't self isolate with symptoms, didn't avoid crowded places, etc., in the weeks before lockdown after the Government told them to! We tried voluntary measures, but the idiotic people wouldn't listen so we got a lockdown instead.

The ‘me me me’ attitudes on this thread are astonishing. Get a grip, honestly. I’ll wear a mask because I’m not a selfish prick and I care about about people. I don’t like it, I wish we didn’t have to, but we do and I don’t want people to die so I will do my part and what I can to prevent that from happening. It’s about basic human consideration whilst we are in the middle of a fucking pandemic. It’s not about ‘erosion of freedom’ or restriction of liberty, it’s about trying to control a virus that has killed thousands.
This with knobs on. I also don't understand what people hope to gain by banging on about what did or didn't happen nearly 4 months ago!!

@RiverCrossing

The ‘me me me’ attitudes on this thread are astonishing. Get a grip, honestly. I’ll wear a mask because I’m not a selfish prick and I care about about people. I don’t like it, I wish we didn’t have to, but we do and I don’t want people to die so I will do my part and what I can to prevent that from happening. It’s about basic human consideration whilst we are in the middle of a fucking pandemic. It’s not about ‘erosion of freedom’ or restriction of liberty, it’s about trying to control a virus that has killed thousands.

Sorry you’re feeling fed up. I hope no one any of you care about are touched by this virus, but perhaps if God forbid they are can you imagine consoling yourself with ‘well, it could have been avoided but at least people aren’t having their freedom restricted by following the guidelines.’ Ridiculous.

Amen.

Kids shouldn't wear masks . apparently a mask won't protect you from germs coming onwards,but somehow protects people from germs going outwards.cloth masks offer no protection to anything ,but you still need to wear them.people policing each other with government propaganda

@Chemtrail123 - are you a scientist?

@Chemtrail123

Kids shouldn't wear masks . apparently a mask won't protect you from germs coming onwards,but somehow protects people from germs going outwards.cloth masks offer no protection to anything ,but you still need to wear them.people policing each other with government propaganda

www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/417906/still-confused-about-masks-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent

@Badbadbunny

I personally blame every UK citizen who didn't ask the government to lockdown early for that death rate

I personally blame all the idiots who didn't practice good hygiene, didn't social distance, didn't self isolate with symptoms, didn't avoid crowded places, etc., in the weeks before lockdown after the Government told them to! We tried voluntary measures, but the idiotic people wouldn't listen so we got a lockdown instead.

Oh that as well

We closed to the public two weeks before lockdown. Wrote to MP. Posted on here and social media. Spoke to everyone. What else can you do?

Wear a pathetic face covering now and think you're doing anything, but didn't act earlier and go round judging people and feeling smug? Yeah you can fuck off (not you Badbadbunny! That's a general 'you' to whoever thinks a cotton scarf mid summer after the peak is anything more than performance. Just like that clapping thing. Whatevz)