To want to know when we can stop wearing face masks?

[ihatefacemasks]

That's about the size of it. I loathe the bastarding things for every possible reason. Obviously I have to wear them because I don't have a reason not to (I could perfectly easily pretend, in order to obtain exemption, though this would seem unfair on the people who genuinely can't wear them). But AIBU to want to know when we will be allowed to stop with this nonsense? Does the R rate have to reach a certain target? Does there have to be a vaccination? WTF will make a difference? Why has nobody given us any indication?

I agree OP, the virus (like the flu) isn’t going anywhere, so do we have to wear them indefinitely? I shudder to think

@user1471500037

I don't ear one now - resist

Resist what? A piece of paper that stops spit particles from exiting/entering your airspace? That's peak tinfoil hat with added Typhoid Mary.

@user1471500037

I don't ear one now - resist

Resist what?

I don't ear one now - resist

And I don't begrudge the 60%ers particularly but most arguments against masks are fucking galling so I wish people would just own their decision

I obvious answer I think some of us may propose is that as much as we find them still somewhat strange (although traditionally worn globally for flu and pollution etc for years) and not massively comfortable is to carry on wearing them for a few months. The more we adhere to now mandated non compliance criminal laws along with all other Covid smart mitigation measures - we will be able to as a united community defeat the killer virus and therefore hopefully only need them out of safety necessity for a year possibly longer if militant criminality.

Do not take note of troll and spam angry posters who routinely deliberately carry out personal attacks behind a screen (if unmasked) or cut and paste extra long irrelevant agenda led nonsense. As you will appreciate as in real life there are even online rules for politeness and common curtesy let alone wild militant hate speak and "vomit vile" masked slipped stupidity. Sending you all love and peace and remember it's hands, face, space and trace! Even little children can manage it so grown ups should for the sake of their children if nothing else. Our children will end up paying for all the "free" extra governmental hand outs. Those are new rules and I don't hear anyone complaining (even unmasked) against "free" NHS heath insurance which you don't find incidentally globally (possibly excluding Canada and a few others) but in those overseas nations without tax payer funded free healthcare people take Covid seriously and behave accordingly without even need for political or criminal law intervention.

I do wish people would read the link you posted Malteserdiet. A PP posted something similar at the start of the thread but was also ignored.

On the plus side I am nearing a full house with "try being on a ventilator" and "if it stops my kid dieing", so it's not all bad.

It’s so weird that people get so passionate about how we shouldn’t complain about them.

It's the same as the people who don't want to know the daily infection/death figures. They know it's happening but hearing the number makes them feel low and they'd rather not hear about it and soldier on.

Nobody likes wearing masks but gritting your teeth and tolerating it until at least the need for social distancing is gone is easier than listening to people complain constantly. It's like how we train our kids not to moan about school/dinner/brushing teeth/going to bed. The moaning is grating and gets everybody else down.

in those overseas nations without tax payer funded free healthcare people take Covid seriously and behave accordingly without even need for political or criminal law intervention.

The USA being a magnificent example

It’s so weird that people get so passionate about how we shouldn’t complain about them

I don't think it's that deep. Try starting 30 threads a day moaning about ANYTHING and see if you don't get a lot of people telling you to STFU.

I am wondering was there a fuss against other health and safety measures? Examples I guess would include vehicle passenger safety norms like seat safety belts, child size appropriate travel safety seating, tobaccos smoking (and passive smoking issues, motorcycle and cycle safety helmets (and anti pollution safety masks), etc etc. Don't see many Covidiots deliberately being militant and breaking aviation in flight safety laws etc. In the big smoke of central London cyclists commuters have been wearing pollution masks for years. And I think surgeons are best to advise given their experience whether masks are useful or not. I would bet the unmasked Covidiots would expect their surgeon to be masked up for mutual safety! Let's keep common sense common and to all the unmasked and non social distancing doubters there is a real global pandemic not a bit of flu (if only!).

The reason I'd like some clarity on the conditions needed for no longer wearing masks is due to the mission creep I've mentioned before on this thread. Not even a month in and we already have people confidently saying this will persist Covid or not.

For the same reason I don't like all the chastising posts telling people to stop whining, even if complying. It might be a minor inconvenience in the context of this virus at this time, but it is unpleasant and I can now see the same arguments being trotted out in respect of colds. There was even mention upthread of the Japanese wearing them when suffering from hay fever. This is not where i want this society to go and if I never see another thread about how good and compliant other nations are it will be too soon.

It would be nice to have some assurance that perspective has not gone out of the window, and a message from the government on this would hopefully nip in the bud this growing tendency in society to try to avoid all risk and shame those who disagree.

I doubt given the polarised views on face coverings versus human rights abuse - would the UK be following in the hygiene safety practice of Japanese society. UK democracy and politics has even given us the right to choose our political destiny by allowing both an independence on splitting of the union and a departure (twice effectively) for relationship with our European neighbours. I doubt the political leadership will have any other mission creep as you will already note we have such bad Covid fatalities and infection rates because of the lack of political guidance. Overseas nations Covid performance tend to reflect their government Covid savvy instructions and also local populations Covid smartness including taking all risk mitigation measures seriously in a deadly global medical war.

I don't think they help at all...I go out of my way to avoid all scenarios where they have to be worn. They were introduced simply to try and get people out spending money again. Not for any medical reason otherwise they would have been introduced back in March.

As to how long, goodness knows. Hopefully the recession we are in will tip the balance to getting rid of the wretched things.

Should we call you a wambulance OP?

Not for any medical reason otherwise they would have been introduced back in March.

When they were trying to encourage people to stay indoors 🤔

The flu is causing far more deaths now than Covid but we have never had to wear one for the flu. The whole situation is a depressing illogical mess.

When they were trying to encourage people to stay indoors 🤔

Not until the end of March they weren’t, plus shops have been open throughout. If they work, they might have had an impact when twats were crowding into Tesco panic buying arse rag.

Considering how many people here are militant ERF car seat advocates, I find the mask complaints pretty surprising tbh

My kids are old enough not to be in car seats btw and I know ERF is safer but it's not something I see very often where I live in England and this isn't a deprived area really.

The flu is causing far more deaths now than Covid but we have never had to wear one for the flu. The whole situation is a depressing illogical mess

Isn't that the same as saying why not reopen schools and bars and concerts etc. now, since even the flu is killing more people than COVID now?

COVID is killing less people BECAUSE we have measures in place to reduce its spread (which includes masks). If we stop all that, won't deaths shoot back up again?

On the plus side I am nearing a full house with "try being on a ventilator" and "if it stops my kid dieing", so it's not all bad

All that's needed on mine is "try telling that to some one who's lost a loved one...you wouldn't think like that if you had".

For the record I have and I do.

Ummm... if you want, I could just call the virus up directly and ask it to just stop existing, because the OP doesn't want to wear a mask.

Masks are easier to breathe through than ventilators.

On the plus side I am nearing a full house with "try being on a ventilator" and "if it stops my kid dieing", so it's not all bad

All that's needed on mine is "try telling that to some one who's lost a loved one...you wouldn't think like that if you had

TBF, if people are gonna start/read/reply to threads on the exact same topic multiple times a day, it's not really surprising that many of the replies are exactly the same too.

It's a terrible precedent: any ridiculous nonsense could be decreed by the government, with no exit strategy, and we would just have to go along with it. It is almost unbelievable.. You know there's a pandemic, right?

OP, you are not at all unreasonable to ask the government to let us know how long the mask-wearing will go on.

Equally you are allowed to hate it but comply, as a lot of people are doing.

To the person who posted about having to wear them in cars in Hong Kong - I hope the government is making sure masks are available in all sizes and fits. Like a few PP, my mask rides up my face and pokes me in the eyes. There is absolutely no way I could drive safely while wearing one. I cannot see the road!

In fact I would like to see move disposable masks available in different sizes if this is a long term thing, as one size most definitely does not fit all (I'm sure they are designed for men, like most things). It's easier to get a good fit with a cloth one but I can't manage to get enough air in through 2 layers of cotton and a filter when it's 35 degrees outside. I'll probably return to the cloth one in the winter.

Wearing masks when it's very hot can absolutely have a bad effect on your health. I was at the GP on Monday (34 degrees in the shade), wearing a mask as is obligatory, and my blood pressure was 192/116. It's normally highish (hereditary) but well controlled with medication. I have no idea how many times it has spiked like that; I've certainly felt unwell many times when wearing a mask but what choice do I have? Do people think that because my blood pressure only effects me it is tough luck? I was allowed to leave with instructions to monitor it, but the doctor was hesitating about admitting me. Once I removed the mask, returned home, and cooled off, my BP returned to normal levels. I will continue to wear the mask because I don't want to die of Covid, but I don't particularly want to die of a heart attack or stoke either, so I'll be avoiding non air-conditioned places until after the summer.