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.

@Hairthrowaway

I do agree that they’re an additional expense that poorer people may struggle with

The other week I took a long distance train, with a train change. My face mask actually broke (one of the ear loops detached) and I asked someone at the station what to do before taking the 2nd train. They directed me to a vending machine where the prices were like £10 for one bog standard disposable surgical mask

That's awful and exploitative. I expect you'll make sure you carry a spare from now on though.

Two Handy Bands
Pack of three masks from Sea Salt
Pack of three masks from Sainsbury's
Pack of 20 disposables

£65 for four of us. We have save 100s in fares and petrol over the last few months and in any event could make do with scarves.

Haha, that is exactly it OhtheRoses. You think £65 is nothing and you will save a fortune in fares wfh but the vast majority of people on minimum wage are back at work, it they haven't been there right through, so they're not saving anything.

Can you really not see that the poorest people will be in an entirely different position?

Eh? You can use a scarf, tie a tshirt around your nose/mouth or make a mask out of a bandana, a sock, a kitchen towel, a muslin or any piece of fabric (now sewing needed).
I guess if you are homeless then you might not have any of these but I imagine food banks would then be able to provide you with one.

*no sewing

@Lunar567 @OchonAgusOchonO

Lunar, your points of reference leave a lot to be desired - personal opinions. It's sharing rubbish like this that misinforms people.

Try using a proper evidence base that stands up to scrutiny and analysis (but then if you did you wouldn't be able to spout rubbish).

You can make a mask out of a hanky and elastic bands, an old t-shirt, an offcut of fabric an old pillowcase. It doesn't have to cost more than £1.

@Grottyfeet

Really Table? Could I have the link please?

Really? 🙄

Point is, they’re a few quid. You can get them everywhere so hardly limited stocks is there....

@Lunar567

I would like to point out that we didn't require masks until the 25th of July and very few people were wearing them before the 25th but the number of people admitted to hospital with Covid simptoms is down to single figures in many regions

www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/07/06/covid-19-hospital-admissions-in-single-figures-in-most-english-regions/
And theses figures are before masks become mandatory in shops.

So wearing masks now is pointless because the number of people with the virus is tiny.

That article is from the 6th July, 2 days after the wider reopening and definitely too early for in lockdown to have any impact on hospitalisation. The very tiny number cases at that point was due to most public places being shut.

Since we’ve widened the number of places the number of new infections (and proportion of positive tests) per day has increased. The number of hospitalisations will do the same. Something that might have been avoided if people were wearing masks in public places. The point of wearing masks when numbers are tiny is to keep them tiny rather than to let them grow exponentially.

Should have at least read the first sentence of that article properly. The figures they are talking about are from the 3rd July, which is even worse.

"A few quid" is a lot when you need at least 2 each for a family. You said pennies.

The cost of 8 reusable masks is my weekly food shopping budget

but the number of people admitted to hospital with Covid simptoms is down to single figures in many regions

Yes, because the age profile has changed, people are still asymptomatic with the virus, or symptomatic, but tend to be younger, so do not require hospitalisation. The number of people with the virus is going up. Old people and the shielded are finally emerging from their homes, and therefore the inevitable will occur once again, and they will catch the virus from the young, and the cycle continues.

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

I agree. Same with the coffee shops refusing to allow reusable cups. And all the little plastic bottles of hand sanitiser - just wash your hands.

You may not be able to afford to buy masks but I imagine everyone has something in their home that they don't need anymore like a tea towel or an old top and you can cut it up and use elastic bands for the ears.

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay
I know it was 3 of July but the number of hospital admissions have gone down since. Check ONS.
If you like masks it is fine but I'm not going to comply with mask wearing.
My friend's 80 year old mother in law collapsed after coming out of a shop this week because she was wearing a mask and could not breath well. I am sure she is not the only one who suffered because if it.

If you don't have simptoms you cannot infect anyone. How thick can you be to not know you can have the virus and therefore spread it without symptoms? You clearly have internet access. Look it up.

Same with the coffee shops refusing to allow reusable cups
Really? Oh FGS.

@Grottyfeet

"A few quid" is a lot when you need at least 2 each for a family. You said pennies.

Well as pp have stated- make your own if money’s that tight. Use a scarf, old t-shirt!

It’s not like they say we must buy or use a specific type...

It’s more environmentally friendly to use the washable ones anyway.

@Sparklesocks

@OchonAgusOchonO oh dayum

I don't understand your post?

@Lunar567. You really don't get the concept of an evidence base do you?
It's a bit like my dear old nan who smoked into her 90's - well it didn't kill me so it must be fine.

Strangely enough, I'd like to see my children reach adulthood, I say that having had cancer and shielding for my own safety. But why would you care about others? Slow - hand - clap.

My mate made them out of an old bra

Me wearing a mask, won,t protect me from you, but it might just protect you from me. But staying 2 meters apart is better and if I touch something and out it back then you touch it then my mask won,t protect you. Hence why government weren,t too bothered with them. But we do what we can and if it helps I go for it. (Home made, and shop bought disposable paper ones, and guide neckerchiefs.)

I know all of those things are possible and whilst my food bill is low, my income isn't, so it's not a problem for me but OP's point is that it's another pressure on poor people.

I work with teens who use public transport to school. The vast majority are from very deprived families but there is already a pecking order and "desirable" masks, with ridicule if you have the wrong sort.

If you can dismiss "a few pounds" as nothing you have no understanding at all of how some families live.

I find the single use ones disgusting. I secretly judge anyone wearing them. All this work we've done on recycling and clean energy and now we are using dingle use face asks?! I've not had any residents or families judging me or other staff for wearing reusable masks in our so far Covid free care home. Amongst many other things We couldn't guarantee the staff would wash reusable ones suitably and the washing would affect their energy bills. Since they're on minimum wage this would impact them. The owners wouldn't be able to afford enough resusable masks either as they need to be changed so regularly and we don't agree with charging residents and their families extra for PPE as some care homes have done.