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?

How am I being selfish if I refuse to go into a shop? Because that’s what I’ll
have to do because I’m not wearing a mask. I just don’t like the fact I have to do this.

@NiknicK

If you want to talk selfish, how about all the people who went out to the pub the weekend before lockdown was enforced, knowing lockdown would be announced the next day. People dragging their kids to crowded beaches, not social distancing, leaving rubbish and bags of excrement all over the place. People not keeping their distance and leaning over others when food shopping. People having large parties and gatherings!

Yes, they are all selfish arseholes too.

I guess you’ll just have to enjoy the time up to 24th when they aren’t mandatory them not go in shops after that, or pay the £100 fine if unlucky enough to be caught or just wear one.

You do still choices, just not ones you want. We’re all in the same boat though, I doubt many people actively enjoy wearing them.

How am I being selfish if I refuse to go into a shop? Because that’s what I’ll
have to do because I’m not wearing a mask. I just don’t like the fact I have to do this.

You poor person, how sad, having to do something you don't wanna.

Its still all about you.

The hypocrisy of some “medical professionals” too is unreal. I’m just sat watching GMB and doctor Hillary is sat there saying is wearing masks is a move in the right direction. Yet only two weeks ago he said the opposite and said that wearing masks offers very little protection if any at all.

I applaud the decision to introduce face masks. Anything that slows the spread of this disease has to be worth it. I have to wear a mask for work. It was horrible the first few times, but now its fine an I don’t even notice I have it on.

@NiknicK

The hypocrisy of some “medical professionals” too is unreal. I’m just sat watching GMB and doctor Hillary is sat there saying is wearing masks is a move in the right direction. Yet only two weeks ago he said the opposite and said that wearing masks offers very little protection if any at all.

The guidance is changing as we learn more about the virus, and how other countries have responded to it.

I just don’t want to wear a mask I would imagine very few do. You sound extremely childish OP. You repeatedly list reasons you have decided the impact of Covid is harder for you than others and then state with some people, it’s like a competition of who’s have it worse throughout this pandemic, and I’m not playing that game When that’s exactly what you ARE doing. None of your “special” reasons for not wearing a mask are that unusual. I certainly share them all. You either comply with the rules by wearing a mask OR you stay home. Any other behaviour risks other people’s lives. Is that clear enough?

Shopping three times a week seems excessive. What is it you are struggling to source?

Oh bore off. I do things all the time that I don’t particularly want to do. I love it how going off one post you think that you know me.

I would organise as many click and collects as possible, with dh going for supplemently trips. As pp suggested see if a wholesalers will have some of the stuff you need for your son.

I don’t see how it could have been compulsory at the beginning of the pandemic, since it was virtually impossible to find any (the ones dh ordered online took weeks to arrive). I did make some (out of an old cotton pillowcase) but not everybody by any means would be able to or have the wherewithal.

Around here, I should say that fewer than 25% of people are wearing them in shops. But I do think they should be compulsory in shops now - many people have become so complacent. Yesterday a young-ish couple who walked into Asda with me wore no masks and ignored the hand sanitiser outside the entrance. And there are so many people the same.

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.

@NiknicK

Oh bore off. I do things all the time that I don’t particularly want to do. I love it how going off one post you think that you know me.

It's because you're talking rubbish. You don't 'know your own body' when it comes to this virus and your reasons for not wearing a mask are not unique or special to you, and new guidance doesn't equal hypocrisy.

Thanks I will. I know I’m coming across as selfish but aren’t we all completely fed up with this now? I’ve done my bit throughout like most other people and I was hoping that some degree of normality would resume. I don’t care about going out to the pub or on holiday right now, which for some people, it’s all they care about, I just want to be able to go about my daily life doing the most basic things like food shopping without being told i need to cover my face.

I agree OP, it seems on mumsnet, people think the virus takes priority over every aspect of life. I agree with the lockdown but I think now we are understanding the virus isn’t very deadly at all and we can start to relax.

At first it was berating people for feeling isolated and lonely because “just stay inside that’s all you have to do” when the loneliness and isolation was becoming a huge struggle, sometimes pushing people to the brink of suicide. But it’s better than getting the “flu” (0.6 mortality rate)

I agree that masks are going to be such a pain in the arse and a massive overreaction. But of course posters will tell you it doesn’t matter what you think because covid is the be all and end all

Milk and More have started taking on new customers in my area and have been really handy for bits I have missed off main shop and have run out of in between.

@NiknicK

The hypocrisy of some “medical professionals” too is unreal. I’m just sat watching GMB and doctor Hillary is sat there saying is wearing masks is a move in the right direction. Yet only two weeks ago he said the opposite and said that wearing masks offers very little protection if any at all.

What’s remotely hypocritical about saying “We’ve learned more and, actually, this is a good idea”?

It would be considerably worse if they just ignored new evidence as it came out just to save face

Thanks I will. I know I’m coming across as selfish but aren’t we all completely fed up with this now? I’ve done my bit throughout like most other people and I was hoping that some degree of normality would resume. I don’t care about going out to the pub or on holiday right now, which for some people, it’s all they care about, I just want to be able to go about my daily life doing the most basic things like food shopping without being told i need to cover my face.

Nobody likes it. Nobody is happier. Everybody wants normality. Nobody wants to wear a mask.

The alternative of not keeping doing your bit is worse, more deaths, worse economy, less school days in the long term, more job losses, more health related deaths because more procedures put off.

Tbh I think it will likely be a group effect. So the more people who wear masks the more people will feel they should and will follow suit.

People talk about not going out, but I genuinely don’t think they will, especially when they can’t get supermarket delivery slots and have no choice. Priority slots are still going to be given to the shielded throughout at the moment, so there’s every chance that the likes of sainsburys will halt deliveries to the masses again as they did previously if that side gets out of hand. And this time people will have a choice... Wear a mask, or go without shopping.

i wore one in the shops for the first time yesterday, it seemed the right thing to do.
they are doing this in other countries.
bloody english appear to need to be Told what to do,
mostly the older people are the ones i see wearing them.
the younger people resist

Wearing masks & washing hands regularly will save lives

Going into a confined public spaces, put a face covering over your mouth and nose - scarf, handkerchief or mask 😷 and protect others

Enter a building use hand gel entering and leaving, go to visit a friend, when you arrive wash your hands

op, of course we are fed up but it is still here, it hasnt gone away just because we are fed up

"I agree OP, it seems on mumsnet, people think the virus takes priority over every aspect of life."

Yes public health must be a priority right now. Only a fool would scoff at the statistics. Have you forgotten how many were dying at the height of the pandemic in the U.K.? Imagine if those figures had continued doubling every two days. Just because we avoided the worst predictions doesn't mean we couldn't easily find ourselves back there without appropriate measures in place.

Some measures - continued lockdown for example - would be intolerable, but masks seems like something most people could accommodate really.

If 85% of people use face coverings then this will greatly reduce the spread and the 15% that are unable to do so for health reasons will also be protected and protected somewhat against

but I think now we are understanding the virus isn’t very deadly at all and we can start to relax

What?! 45,000 deaths in 6 months isn’t very deadly? Try saying that to someone that had a loved one die from covid. What a spectacularly ridiculous comment.

Mask wearing is a fallacy based on the assumption that everyone you come in contact with has coronavirus which is simply not true. Last stats I saw were 1 in 3900 have covid.

But sure, anyone who questions whether mask wearing should be compulsory or optional is deemed selfish for even considering not wearing one.