To ask about the inequalities and economics of face masks?

[Pepperwort]

This is now an extra compulsory expense of life at a time of economic issues for many. I’m wondering how easily most / all people can add this to their bills.

There are also luxury varieties appearing on the market offering increased protection, despite the lack of research on them so far, which conceivably might reduce chances of catching it. I’m wondering about both elements.

claiming to offer increased protection that should be. Proof read, proof read.

Face coverings are to protect other people not you. They are to help minimise other people's contact with your saliva.

So you wear a face-covering in shops to protect shop assistants and other customers. You wear it on the bus to protect the bus driver and other passengers etc.

If people from East Asia can wear them and have done so for years in the cold and flu season then British people, who are capable, should be able wear them as well.

And you can make them out of tea towels without sewing them.

I made one from an old t shirt as per the government's website. All you need is a t shirt and a pair of scissors. No sewing needed. So they don't need to be expensive.

In theory, you can just use a scarf, which I had planned to do, but so few people are doing that so I feel conspicuous.

I am actually feeling traumatised by the disposable ones. We must be getting through millions of them. I honestly don't know if that's a price worth paying.

Yes I know which side they’re supposed to protect. I wasn’t really asking about Asians either, although the economics of it over there might answer. Will everyone be able to make them easily? Some not as easily as others I suspect.

RedRum I don’t think the OP has any issue with wearing a face mask but is making the very valid point about added expense at this time. I have seen posh masks being offered for £20 which is not feasible for everyone.

Agree tea towels are a good option or a scarf wrapped round the face.

You can make short term use disposable masks from kitchen roll and two elastic bands (you can pick the elastic bands from the ground where they have discarded by the Royal Mail delivery personnel). Have a look at YouTube for the folding methods.

Ok. Do old t-shirts give the same protection to the public as the fancy £12 masks, and does that matter?

I’ve made my own. Wouldn’t dream of planning to use disposables.

You can make one for nothing or just buy a cheap one. Im making patterned ones out of designer fabrics but most people I see wear plain ones or the disposable. I don’t think the disposable ones should be encouraged. Keep seeing them littered about.

I had t heard of paper ones! Very temporary but that might be enough for a shop visit I guess. A very quick visit. Now we’ll find out which kitchen towel really is the strongest!

No objection to wearing them here. I’ve made a few using internet instructions - we’ve been hearing about families struggling to homeschool with no limited internet access - a sewing machine and various craft supplies I have on hand. I also don’t like the increased disposability this is forcing on us in many areas, but can’t see good alternatives right now.

We give them away at the foodbank - they were kindly made by a group of crafters in our village. They made over 10,000 of them with fabric and elastic donated by people living around here. Now when we run out they give us another batch of 100. They also put them in shops and pubs and drop them off to people too. If people can afford to make a donation they do.

As I was leaving my local Morrisons the other day, I noticed the extremely large bin outside the entrance was overflowing with disposable masks. This is a bin I've never ever seen with rubbish past the halfway point, now had masks piled on top to the point of overflow. Made me quite sad regarding waste, landfill, etc.

Masks don't protect anyone and only add to waste. If you don't have simptoms you cannot infect anyone.
I don't bother with masks, just keep my distance. Nobody said anything to me in a shop so far.

@Lunar567

Masks don't protect anyone and only add to waste. If you don't have simptoms you cannot infect anyone. I don't bother with masks, just keep my distance. Nobody said anything to me in a shop so far.

Untrue. Most infections In the community occur before the person becomes symptomatic.

@Lunar567 what a load of tripe

@Lunar567

Masks don't protect anyone and only add to waste. If you don't have simptoms you cannot infect anyone. I don't bother with masks, just keep my distance. Nobody said anything to me in a shop so far.

Wrong wrong wrong

You can be infected and spreading without having symptoms. Attitudes and continued lack of understanding of simple concepts like this is what is going to make this last even longer

I made and donated a load of face masks to the food bank, it's the most efficient way to get face masks to people who need them.
If 1/10 people donated one mask to the food bank there would be plenty to go round.
In reality 1/100 people will donate a few and there won't be enough, so if you are genuinely concerned about people in poverty having a decent face mask, there are ways to make it so.

If you don't have simptoms you cannot infect anyone.
can you link us to a reputable source for that?

@Lunar567

Masks don't protect anyone and only add to waste. If you don't have simptoms you cannot infect anyone. I don't bother with masks, just keep my distance. Nobody said anything to me in a shop so far.

If you don't have an exemption and can't exercise social responsibility stay at home.

@Lunar567 - Masks don't protect anyone and only add to waste. If you don't have simptoms you cannot infect anyone.

Can I ask what scientific qualifications you have and how you conducted your research to reach that conclusion? I'm sure the scientific journals would be happy to publish it alongside all the other research that has been done which demonstrates the benefits of face coverings.

Councils and charity groups having been offering free ones for elderly and vulnerable people

I've made a few myself with the instructions online out of cotton material and elastic I already have at home so they haven't cost me anything.

I have bought a packet of six disposable ones just in case I haven't got a clean one of my own make available, which is unlikely as I do tend to wash them pretty soon after use.

I hate the idea of all that waste and plastic going to landfill.