Dodgy face masks/ expensive

[melonslicexx]

I was asked to send a box of face masks from Amazon to someone's house. I ordered a pack of 50 and then read the reviews. Strings breaking. Tearing. All different sizes.

I kept searching. The prices were shocking on some. So I nipped on boots. £30 and more for masks.

So I went on superdrug. Terrible reviews on the sensible priced ones.

I went back on Amazon and found 10 washable ones for £10.99. read them. Good reviews. So I sent them.

The person who I sent them to rang to say on the box it says.

Not intended for medical purposes.
Will not protect against viruses.
Not intended to be used as a preventer or medical device.

Why are legit shops charging the earth?

Why are there so many people trying to make money and providing a poor quality product. If it's mandatory then it should be affordable considering how expensive life is a d many are on lower pay at the moment.

If anyone knows a safe genuine online shop to buy masks at a sensible price let me know

Op seems to resent wearing a mask because it doesn't benefit her personally. Sod the evidence it reduces risk of transmission to other people!

We are being asked to wear face coverings, not medical grade face masks which are needed for medical staff. Coverings can be made at home with a paper tied, as a filter. Take the paper out and bin when you get home and wash the covering

We are being asked to wear them in case we are symptomatic and spread it, and still being asked to adhere to social distancing

It’s for shops only, it’s not difficult, although looking at the various posts on MN you would think it’s the end of the world. Let’s just get on with it

You can't breathe properly in them either.

I'm sure I've seen various videos of tests being done regarding the breathing thing, and actually there's no real issue at all. It's more people's,perception that wearing a mask will make it harder to breathe - and so some panic. Rather than it actually being the case - oxygen levels being breather in and out where as normal.

I struggle with the anti mask wearers (except those with legitimate medical exemptions of course). It’s not 100% cure all, but if it helps reduce spread then it’s a no brainer.

I take the point about the pubs and I’m not sure what the right answer is there, but it’s not a reason to say that no masks should be worn anywhere else.

I am asthmatic, a mouth breather, glasses wearer and menopausal. I am shielding I tried a silk scarf wrapped around on a visit to the doctors but I found it too hot too wear, I felt claustrophobic and my glasses were steamed up. I can just about cope with wearing the paper ones if I relax my breathing for short periods but I need to source something light and cool and washable (preferably with a metal nose clip) for myself and some for DH and the teens who have all agreed to wear black ones (Ideally with a storage bag) but personally I hate black. I have looked on Amazon and Etsy but its a minefield. I wouldn’t be surprised if masks are compulsory for secondary school by September either.

Can anyone suggest recommend any black comfortable, washable ones (with a bag) for DH and the teens all tall and some for me which are cool, light, breathable and comfortable.

I just don't think you can trust Boris or our government.

They have done nothing but blag their way through it. We've been going in shops since march. If it's so important why's he waiting until next week?

I respect the decision. I won't go out shopping at the moment. I will shop online. If they want people to enjoy using the shops again then I'm not sure washing your face and putting a mask on or wearing a mask for hours will appeal to some.

It's rude to be pissed off about people not liking it. People have no idea how others are feeling. Yet if you don't just get on with it you are pathetic.

I've never had anxiety in my life. I now lie awake at night scared because I'm frightened of living and getting back out into the world. Not because of the virus. But because my head as adapted to this new "normal" of not living. So now when I think of school runs. Going in shops. Having days out. I feel frightened. I don't feel I can leave my house for more than an hour. It's horrible.

The whole thing makes me flustered. The thought of wearing masks and dealing with my children in public places. Not being able to relax incase you go the Wrong way. Not being allowed to touch things unless I'm buying them. Telling the kids not to go near anyone or touch anything.

To me the joy has been removed from everywhere.
Good for the people who adapt and just carry on. It's not that easy for everyone and I'm fed up of being called a whinger.

There's a mental health pandemic going on right now too. You are lucky if you are feeling fine.

I wonder how surgeons and theatre staff can breathe wearing masks and visors under hot operating lights for hours on end?

Maybe those that don’t like the feeling shouldn’t be made to wear them?

Re eating out, etc.

We went for a meal and a drink at the weekend. We had to pre book before - we actually had pre-booked the restaurant before the March lockdown anyway, hence going. The bar was attached so we added a slot to that beforehand.

The bar was very spaced out, no groups were sat in top of one another. It was easy to stay 1m+ away from people in your own group (if not same household) and we were at least 2m from other groups. The staff were all wearing masks when they served us drinks. Drinks were placed on one side of the table and passed down. We ordered and paid via an app ( I know some do table service instead). We were given hand sanitiser to rub in on arrival and when leaving.

The restaurant worked in the same way. As we were two households our tables were pulled apart slightly meaning we were at least 1m away from the other household. The other tables were over 2m away. Staff wore masks and it was table service only. Food and drink again was placed in the table for us to take and pass down rather than handed to us directly. We paid contactless. Again on arrival and leaving we had sanitiser for our hands.

The toilets were cleaned regularly throughout the night and there was cleaning spray stuff to wipe the toilet seat and sink yourself before if you wished too.

We used taxis for the first time. We both took masks and were prepared to wear them. Both taxis in the end showed up with screens between the front and back seats. The taxis smelt like they'd been wiped down before us getting in.

We've now been to 2 restaurants, 1 cafe, a bar and also the local pub. In all there was around at least 1/3 of the normal amount of tables and people. It was always table service. There's always a sign in sheet, if not booked online with contact details, always hand gel, etc.

In fact I've commented that it's, in many ways, nicer to go out now than before as you get a guaranteed seat and table, it's less noisy and it's much less crowded.

I shall be travelling for the first time next week - Eurostar - complete with mask, and dd flew yesterday in an almost empty place, wearing masks. All was fine, all felt pretty safe.

I've felt more risk at a local supermarket than in my other journeys out of the home as the supermarket was more crowded, more contact and less masks and gel, etc.

Splattherat - they might prefer the neck gaitor style with washable filters.

Food shopping is a necessity, going to the pub is a choice.

Everyone needs to eat, so making masks mandatory in shops protects more people, as I'm fairly sure there were people with symptoms that still went out shopping for food.
People going to the pub have made a personal risk assessment and decided it's safe for them, so there is no need to mandate masks. Hopefully someone with symptoms would not be so stupid as to go to the pub... but if they were, I am assuming that staff have the right not to admit them? And staff also have their contact details. Thankfully we don't have to give those before entering a shop.

www.instructables.com/id/AB-Mask-for-a-Nurse-by-a-Nurse/

freesewing.org/blog/facemask-frenzy/

www.makershabitat.com/blogs/the-maker-s-habitat-blog/diy-fabric-mask-tutorial

There are LOADS of patterns out there, if you dont want to buy one

There are plenty of groups that will provide you with a mask

[NAME]‎ to [Town] Notice Board

[County] Volunteer Crafters will craft you face coverings/non surgical masks. Free! All our members care about the community, helping keeping it a healthier environment. We are very proud to have helped many places and people already. We are all volunteers who like to help all charities and good causes as well as the individual people.

Lots of key workers (myself included) have had to wear more extensive PPE for long periods of time throughout this pandemic with no ill effect so I don’t really buy a lot of the anti face covering arguments, if you have a genuine exemption these can be found on the British Lung Foundation website and exemption letters and cards can be printed. If you don’t want to wear a mask use a scarf covering your nose and mouth-this is an acceptable face covering for shopping it doesn’t have to be medical grade. Following the rules will in the grand scheme of things allow society to return to normal whether we agree with the way the gov has mandated things of not. There will always be people who capitalise in these situations but you don’t actually need to buy anything if you have a scarf/the ability to make your own.

I have terrible lung function, although I'm not really asthmatic. We went to Ikea yesterday and were there for around an hour and a half. I managed to wear a mask the entire time and so did my husband. It was a bit hot, but honestly not as bad as I thought it would be. I never felt that I wasn't getting enough oxygen. It makes me feel much less stressed about mandatory mask wearing as I imagine it gets easier with practice too.

It was mostly young people in their 20's and 30's there and a handful were wearing masks. Made me feel a certain camaraderie with them.

There was also a youngish man with a constant cough, looking dreadful and no mask. Gave him a wide berth, I can tell you.

I bought mine from TheChelseaPaperCo.etsy.com

They're 100% cotton so they don't get sweaty, and they have a pocket to add a filter for extra protection.
It's a legal nightmare selling face masks these days, so they're all going to have a disclaimer that they aren't medical grade - however most are going to be made according to the WHO guidelines, just make sure that's in the description and get yourself some filters if you're extra worried.

Remember that face masks are protecting others from you, not the other way around. So it's pointless to get too worked up: as you can't control the quality of others masks!

I can think of only one reason not to mandate masks in pubs and restaurants and it's not down to safety. You can't eat and drink with a mask on and constant putting on and taking off masks is a big no no for effectiveness. So basically it's an economic decision on the Government's behalf.

Wear a mask and go shopping or don't wear a mask and don't go!. It's simple really.
If you don't want to wear one stay in!
Your argument is irrelevant!
It mandatory on the 24th so get over it or shop on line.
It's not about you. It's about helping people not catch the virus.

Just one such example of how a mask doesn't restrict your oxygen. Dr Khan is a qualified GP in England.

There are many other such videos around.

twitter.com/dramirkhangp/status/1283086145681854469?s=21

To me the joy has been removed from everywhere. Good for the people who adapt and just carry on. It's not that easy for everyone and I'm fed up of being called a whinger.*

Actually lots of people arent finding it easy but are adjusting. You adjusted to lockdown, you can adjust to the new normal.

There are lots of resources online that help people to handle this mentally. Try action for happiness and the change curve.