If masks are so important

[whatdoidonowffs]

Why is it not becoming compulsory now instead of ten days time ?

"Makes no sense to make them mandatory 4 months into a pandemic though, it’s like bringing a condom to a baby shower"

Nope, it's like bringing a condom to a weekly orgy after thoughts and prayers have failed to eradicate herpes

Yes I like that analogy DameFanny are you speaking from experience?

Back to the "mask issues" people are raising, Its already been said that masks can be removed for verifying ID and also in situations where lip reading is required. Children under 11 and certain adults with SEN or medical conditions are exempt. It would be sensible to carry some proof of this, a NHS letter or something in writing.

Like all the guidelines, common sense needs to be applied in exceptional circumstances. Although I get it , sometimes it feels therapeutic just to moan about it on mumsnet.

How very dare you smileyClare

Back to the "mask issues" people are raising, Its already been said that masks can be removed for verifying ID and also in situations where lip reading is required

The weekend just gone I had a customer come in shouting about all the drugs and money he apparently had on him and the illegal activities he had participated in. A mask would have prevented me from having to wipe his spray of the screens however if he really had what he claimed on him a mask would have hindered the description to the police. Fortunately I.was Able able to get rid..

I still forsee a few problems..

@mummmy2017

YouTube and the Govenment website show ones made from t shirts. We all have old t shirts we can cut up.

But the weave of an average t-shirt has gaps between fibers which are 1000 times bigger than the virus itself. It’s like using a chain-link fence to keep wasps out of your garden.

Because they know retail takings will be down after that point.
Driving along night street today, masses of people out shopping saw only the occasional mask on the usual type that wear them. So clearly most people do not currently feel the paranoia necessity

Britwife the virus may be tiny but it's not self-propelling - you can capture the droplets it's traveling in

@SmileyClare

Yes I like that analogy DameFanny are you speaking from experience?

Back to the "mask issues" people are raising, Its already been said that masks can be removed for verifying ID and also in situations where lip reading is required. Children under 11 and certain adults with SEN or medical conditions are exempt. It would be sensible to carry some proof of this, a NHS letter or something in writing.

Like all the guidelines, common sense needs to be applied in exceptional circumstances. Although I get it , sometimes it feels therapeutic just to moan about it on mumsnet.

Yes hopefully common sense will be applied and those wanting to demand anything have some.

Which letters should they carry? The ones detailing their diagnosis, appointment letters, does the date issued make a difference like it does for your address so 3 months.

*For some reason not everyone has bought them yet. Even though they've had at least four bloody months.,

Well maybe because they weren't compulsory or even recommended. Even the WHO said that only medical professionals needed to use them. I bought some today for the first time.

@GinDrinker00

it’s like bringing a condom to a baby shower.
Ha! Ha! 🤣🤣. I'm SO going to steal this!

@DameFanny

Britwife the virus may be tiny but it's not self-propelling - you can capture the droplets it's traveling in

yes but if the hole isn't small enough those droplets get in. So someone sneezes and they are wearing an ill fitting/too holey mask, if the mask is also ill fitting/too holey of the person sneezed on, might stop a few getting through.

And off they skip happily sneezing around telling themselves they are protecting everyone.

Before this is rolled out, the gov really need to pull their heads out of their arses and explain all this properly to the nation.

Which letters should they carry? I just mentioned carrying some sort of proof in case anyone was asked. I would think anything half official looking would suffice. I must admit I don't know!

That said, I really don't think the mask wearing will be heavily "policed", it's just relying on people having some social responsibility.

I think it's more likely that members of the public might question an unmasked shopper accusingly (unfortunately) or theyd employ the favourite British sign of approval; tutting.

The blue ones were in Aldi yesterday 10 for £5 probably all gone now!

I got 2 reusable ones in Poundland for a couple of quid each this morning. Took 5 minutes not 10 days, although I appreciate not everyone has easy access to shops.

They always give notice of such changes OP. And yes, masks are important in tackling the Covid pandemic. I am actually questioning why they weren't made mandatory a long time ago! Initial Government resistance to mask requirements for the public were driven by concerns about a lack of medical grade PPE which was stupid in a way as the public should have been told to wear masks but only non-medical ones. Our Government clearly thinks that was too complicated a message for the majority.

The weave on a t shirt has gaps The videos on Do it yourself masks do make it clear you need to fold the material so you have at least 4 layers as a mask. That might offer more protection.

It's not ideal I agree.

@canigooutyet people shouldn't be out if they're symptomatic, but if someone does sneeze at you isn't better that you're both wearing masks?

Oh it's been policed fantastically. - London transport over 18500 stopped and checked, something like 59 fines issued. It shows there is a need for the exemptions. Scotland first week no fines issued despite not everyone wearing one.

It will be bad in the beginning in the same way it was calling the police to report your neighbour for going to work. Just not sure this time if the police will be as lenient as they was with the callers.

I have no problem wearing a mask. I have been wearing them for a while, much before they were announced to be compulsory anywhere and will continue to do so.

One thing I will say is that this negatively affects women (or those that wear makeup). No matter what I do, any mask removes my foundation where the wire touches across my nose/cheeks and if my face is warm, (it is summer after all) most of my makeup under the mask.

I just end up looking very unprofessional going into work after wearing a mask on the train commute, no amount of touching up will fix it. It is a patchy mess.

[quote DameFanny]@canigooutyet people shouldn't be out if they're symptomatic, but if someone does sneeze at you isn't better that you're both wearing masks?[/quote]
Depends on the heath background of both people.

Although we are advised to stay indoors, to get a test it is first verified if you can get to a testing centre before the home kit is sent out.

If you are both wearing the mask you have that false sense you are protected and wouldn't essentially change the mask, wash hands and face etc. Not saying none mask wearers. would either, but at least they'd know they should absolutely not maybe.

Are you aware of the guidance for the frequency they need changing?

It's these things why the public need to be given proper details, not just scour the net and hope for the best.

It's often mentioned look at other countries. Yes please go look. Other countries are given out advice about an assortment of different material types and the science behind it.

Others have given households some free reusable masks. Some info about filters etc.

UK yea get a t-shirt and cobble a mask together. You can all fight amongst yourself instead of use giving you all this info.

I'm in the wear one, don't wear one, just leave me alone and get on with your own damn live camp!!

@Mnhealth202020

I have no problem wearing a mask. I have been wearing them for a while, much before they were announced to be compulsory anywhere and will continue to do so.

One thing I will say is that this negatively affects women (or those that wear makeup). No matter what I do, any mask removes my foundation where the wire touches across my nose/cheeks and if my face is warm, (it is summer after all) most of my makeup under the mask.

I just end up looking very unprofessional going into work after wearing a mask on the train commute, no amount of touching up will fix it. It is a patchy mess.

Some men also wear make up, which is a choice. Could do what many have done when slept late. Sneak into somewhere quiet and apply makeup. Plus added bonus of the mask to cover anything that you think needs it.

ChaoticCatling
No one needs to buy a mask. It’s a face covering you need so any scarf would do
I'd still have had to buy a scarf then. Or fabric to make a mask (by hand, I don't have a sewing machine). Not everyone has these things already.
You can make them out of a sock. Surely you have a sock!

@ChaoticCatling

a tea towel ? 😁

We're sorted for masks now @sleepingpup. I can't be the only one without surplus items in their house though. I only moved to this house with a couple of suitcases a few years ago, and I cull everything I don't need as soon as I get stressed as a coping mechanism . I could use things for a mask but they are things I actually need for their original purpose so I'm glad we had time to get some actual masks.

@lazylinguist

*For some reason not everyone has bought them yet. Even though they've had at least four bloody months.,

Well maybe because they weren't compulsory or even recommended. Even the WHO said that only medical professionals needed to use them. I bought some today for the first time.

I've only been out for runs since before lockdown. Food is delivered and I've only shopped online.

I don't need a mask to run so why would I have bought one earlier?

[quote JammyHands]@Pleasantville the only people who've had no 'need' for a mask up until now are people who haven't set foot outside their door for four months or are too selfish to wear them unless there is 'compulsion' and for whom this measure is being introduced.

I wear a mask any time I'm in a shop or busy high street or on public transport.[/quote]
No, I've carried on pretty much as normal, I can work either at home or with social distance. I've shopped for food every single week since lockdown again obeying the rules, met outside with friends, been out to eat.

At no time was it compulsory to wear a mask and there has been no definitive science on whether it makes a significant difference.

I haven't caught covid so there was clearly no need to do so but now that it's going to be compulsory I've ordered some. I still say the risk is tiny especially as I live in an area with few cases but I'm happy to do it when shopping in future.