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.

One thing’s for sure, if they’re compulsory on public transport then those without can’t use public transport, as an example. So far big shops have refused to police it.

Masks don't prevent infections
Those who think masks prevent infection need to read this:
evidencenotfear.com/masks-dont-work-a-review-of-science-relevant-to-covid-19-social-policy-researchgate/

@Pepperwort
You will be surprised how many people on public transport don't wear masks.
Retail is in such big trouble it would be madness to insist on masks as they need every customer.

@YoTheGinPussyOnThigh

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.

well don't buy a £20 mask if you cant afford it....

its not difficult - all you need is a face covering, it can be as expensive or cheap as you want it to be

I've handsewn masks from the DC's old school shirts and old socks. You can also use any rectangle of material and hairbands (see BBC guide to making your own mask). They really don't have to cost a lot!

I haven’t been on public transport since this started.

While this might risk a war of the academic citations which I can’t win, anyone who enjoys and is capable of dealing with complex stats may like to read this. —Not that you’re total nutters I will wait for the NHS summary— It came up when I googled to see if the Cochrane Library had anything on it yet. It looks like this sort of research is being made available freely —even to those outside Australia whose government buys access to Cochrane for its citizens while ours apparently cannot—

www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext

Crossout fails, sorry.

The thing is if you really want to wear one , there are ways to either make your own, use something around the house(towel,pillowcase,bandana,scarf,tshirt etc) , or buy something affordable rather than £20 .

Ebay sell reusable masks for £1.95.
There are various things available from nothing(that you already have) to fairly cheapish if you shop around and don't go for the £20 ones.

Amazon has the scarfy type ones 6 for £7.99 , you can wear one a day and wash them all on the 7th day.

But will an old sock or t-shirt tied round really offer sufficient protection?

Ive wondered that too. There’s not a lot out there on different materials and their efficacy. I gather, btw, that vacuum cleaner bags, initially regarded as good filter material, are now viewed a bit less positively.

Btw, my last ranty bit about the UK not giving us access to info I was linking in was, naturally, an entirely deliberate example of the lack of internal consistency I object to from Lunar’s sources .

the J cloth type things that tesco give away at the cleaning stations are perfect mask size. They sell packs of them for around £1 that are quite a lot bigger - so 40 for £1?

I hate the waste of disposable masks - I hate it even more when, as on a TFL bus where masks have been required for some time, there were nine idiots sitting proudly with disposable masks carefully arranged to protect their necks.

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

That's because we locked down. We opened up now rates are creeping back up. Come the next few weeks, there will be a larger increase due to the nice weather and people not social distancing. And, actually, there was an argument for masks before, just the British govt has always been wishy-washy about it.

Anyway, as we cannot lock down again nation-wide as numbers increase (too costly for the economy), mask-wearing WILL have to become more widespread along with reinforcing social distancing and strict handwashing/gelling. Just saying.

Also I think the government were recommending wearing masks in indoor public places from the start of June, when the WHO changed their advice and did require them on public transport from the 15th June.

"Masks don't prevent infections."

Really???

Face masks are widely used in infection control and have been for over a 100 years.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7311128/

www.who.int/publications/i/item/advice-on-the-use-of-masks-in-the-community-during-home-care-and-in-healthcare-settings-in-the-context-of-the-novel-coronavirus-(2019-ncov)-outbreak

erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2020/04/27/13993003.01260-2020

YANBU OP - I do feel that some people will not be able to afford them.

Some people have literally no money spare to buy them and are wearing 'old' t shirts and socks

I have to say I thought this today when buying myself and DH a £2.99 reusable one each. Family of two adults and 2 teens, you'd need 8 really, and £24 isn't easy for everyone to find.

Meant to say I could probably cobble together 1 or 2 from old clothes, but not 8!

Of course people from deprived areas lose out more

The same people who never brought the virus into the country in the first place. A lot of whom have never had the luxury of going for a holiday abroad are now being told to use old socks for face masks.

I do feel the govt should ensure all households have masks. Japan and Singapore have given reusables out for free each member of households.

I live on a council estate and my tenant organisation sent out a free mask to every household. I don't like it though, because it's white and gets stained easily, so I've hand-sewn my own out of old fabric and off cuts of elastic, which have turned out well. I also saw some handmade ones (made by local volunteers) being given out at the food bank. I see everyone wearing one around the shops and buses nearby, so I don't think there's an issue with people not being able to afford them here. Most people here can sew very well, much better than me!

I'm on Universal Credit, by the way, so on a very low income.

@Lunar567

It’s idiots like you that are not helping and why we are seeing infections rise. It’s to protect people from you, and you simply cannot maintain true SD in shops any more

Masks are simple to make, free if you have an old t shirt, you don’t need to sew

I have not paid anything for mine,

We got 10 reusable, plain black masks on amazon for £10. We are certainly not interested in buying anything with a fancy pattern to coordinate outfits. Although, yes you can argue those with filters or patterns seems to be identifying those who are not financially struggling.

£10 may well be a big cost to families struggling. However, there are a number of alternatives that families can use - scarves, bandanas. There are videos on how to make your own, including no sew. These families will have some old material in their house that can be used - bed sheets, tea towels, socks, T-shirt’s. In addition face masks are being donated. My mum, a sewer, has used lots of her nice, patterned fabric to make face masks for her community. It’s just about knowing where to look.

I don’t think the costs of face masks are the biggest economical challenge to those on low incomes. The increase in food costs and associated utility costs for everyone being at home is much bigger. There are then things mortgage/bill payments, cost of lost work or the impact of being made redundant. However, while the cost of face masks are relatively cheap and there are a number of inexpensive options, a face mask might be the straw that broke the camel’s back.

Get in touch with your local council - vulnerable, elderly, UC and food bank users can get them free. They are distributed by community groups.

@hammeringinmyhead

Meant to say I could probably cobble together 1 or 2 from old clothes, but not 8!

But why not? If you can make 1 you can male 8