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?

@Intruiged

Scientists and doctors can't predict the future....

Funny how posters on MN can though with their 'until there's a vaccine' and forever bollocks.

I think masks will stay around indefinitely. During flu and colds seasons, especially. I think they will become the norm like they are in some Asian countries.

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

It's bizarre. I don't understand all the negative comments. OP is wearing a mask but doesn't like them. Isn't it normal, when forced to do something you don't like, to wonder how long you'll have to do it for? I don't like masks, but I wear mine and I wear it properly, am I not allowed to think "this is a bit shit, I wonder how long it will last" without someone telling me how much I'd hate a ventilator?

I get this feeling.

Masks are really uncomfortable especially in hot weather and also it makes me anxious not seeing people's faces. So I will wear one if I go somewhere it's required but will avoid going to too many places like that if I can - e.g. probably no clothes/random shopping as it's just not enjoyable with a mask.

13th November. Not long to go OP

I think if the Government brought back ECT treatment to "correct the wrongthink" of people who dont like masks but ARE wearing them a lot of posters here would be all for it.

I’m with you OP. You’ll get lots of stick and trite comments about ventilators on here but I loathe the confounded things too, as does everyone I speak to irl. Of course, we’re all wearing them as required (DP excluded, as he’s exempt), but I also worry about the lack of clarity on timescales etc - the thought of this situation becoming semi-permanent is incredibly depressing.

I have a long overdue hair appointment booked for next week - 3 hours for highlights, cut and blow dry. Absolutely dreading it.

@Frazzled13

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

It's bizarre. I don't understand all the negative comments. OP is wearing a mask but doesn't like them. Isn't it normal, when forced to do something you don't like, to wonder how long you'll have to do it for? I don't like masks, but I wear mine and I wear it properly, am I not allowed to think "this is a bit shit, I wonder how long it will last" without someone telling me how much I'd hate a ventilator?

The one who love them like to be seen as good covid citizens. I expect they would wear a bloody pointy hat with bells on if Boris told them too.

The OP appears to be asking when we can stop worrying about the disease that has killed over 45,000 people in 6 months. Well, umm, gosh... no one knows. When there's a vaccine or more effective treatment. Until then, you just need to suck it up. Like the rest of us.

ohh its virtue signalling now, go you rebels!

I'm with you OP.
It's awful that people just do as they are told without questioning, and shoot down someone who has enough brain cells to question when? Why? What for?
I object to wearing a mask. It is dehumanising and uncomfortable. I am sick of seeing people touch their faces all the time wearing them, as they are so uncomfortable, and then get closer to each other. It seems to make them pointless.
I'd prefer to keep 2m away from everyone.

How can anyone answer this? Until there’s an effective vaccine; until COVID mutates into something more benign; until the pandemic dies out ? Take your pic because your guess is as good as anyone’s.

You're not being unreasonable to an extent, I understand your frustration. As an asthmatic, I hate them but at the same time the logic for having the masks is there and they should have been enforced way before now. They can't give us a benchmark on when we can stop using them because who knows what's going to happen a week or a month from now.

@netflixismysidehustle

The amout of waste being created by these disposable masks is horrendous and we will look back on it with shame

I'm surprised that there's been no campaign showing how much damage disposable gloves do to wildlife. The amount of people not disposing of them properly is disgusting

I'm not surprised. The level of fear is reaching the stratosphere.

If you think a mask is uncomfortable, try being on a ventilator
BINGO!!!!!!!

You have every right to moan about the masks. We all do. And more than that, I think we should be screaming very loudly about the way Her Majesty's Clowns keep throwing restrictions at us wily nily, without explaining them at all, or announcing when they might be reviewed. The "lockdown will be reviewed every three weeks" has long been forgotten; indeed, didn't they make the review less frequent, by stealth? In fact, I have written to my MP asking when the mandatory masks will be reviewed; and yes, I do think it's a worthy use of his time. We need to make it clear that we will not stand for "temporary" restrictions becoming permanent by stealth, which I think could easily happen if we let it.

I'm sure you've realised by now that there's a Mumsnet Masked Mafia, who will be quick to crucify us on here with (get the bingo card out) "you're selfish arseholes", "get a grip", "suck it up", "people are dying", "(although today the Her Majesty's clowns have as good as admitted they exaggerated the figures).

As for "some people won't make an effort, they don't care about the greater good, there's a pandemic on, people have no respect for the roolz..."
Perhaps public respect could be earned by Boris the clown and his merry men showing the public some respect, and communicating constructively with us, instead of lying, gaslighting, scaremongering, speaking in slogans and riddles "squeeeeeeeze the brakes", contradicting themselves "you're all too fat, so eat out to help out", "take more exercise, even though I've snatched away many of your means of doing so".

Small things to hope for masks becoming optional are:

• Boris's merry men might decide the masks are scaring too many people away from spending money.
• There might be a high-profile disability discrimination issue. There's time for this to happen.
• A mask zealot accosts the wrong person (a minister, perhaps)
• Somebody dies from wearing a mask. As MN often says, "if it saves just one death.
• Greta Thunberg or somebody jumps on the "masks are killing wildlife" bandwagon.

I think their concern for wild life and single use plastic has long gone out of the window. They are more concerned that someone in Tesco wasn't wearing a mask.

"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet? ..."

YABU for thinking "the grown-ups in charge" (the government, or their scientific advisors) can provide an answer.

They don't know.
They cannot know.
It is unknowable.
No one has a crystal ball, to provide the answers you crave and end this uncertainty.

Yes, it sucks.

@TheFaerieQueene

OP do you think they are nonsense if you have surgery?

Umm but the OP is going to the supermarket or the chemist or jumping on the bus NOT doing open heart surgery? Lovely whataboutery there - how very silly

We are so lucky that we have the option of facemasks,
That wearing facemasks helps us to give people confidence that we can carry out activites that were banned during full lockdown
That wearing facemasks offers some level of protection against a killer disease
That there is something practical we can do as individuals to help stem the tide of this virus. How often do individuals get the opportunity to make a difference.
Yes it is a pain in the arse.
But its not ultimately that much to ask is it?
Its not for the rest of your life is it?

@Sidewinder30

The OP appears to be asking when we can stop worrying about the disease that has killed over 45,000 people in 6 months. Well, umm, gosh... no one knows. When there's a vaccine or more effective treatment. Until then, you just need to suck it up. Like the rest of us.

OP said she is wearing a mask, so she is sucking it up! She's not marching round Tesco proclaiming loudly that she won't wear a mask until she's given an end point. Since this started, people have wondered how long various things will go on for - how long will lockdown last, when will schools reopen, when will restaurants reopen, when can we visit family, how long will we be working from home etc It's normal to wonder when things will go back to the "old normal"!

You can stop in September 2021 or when a vaccine is developed...whichever is sooner.

HTH

Never mind the bloody masks, I want to know when the mask-police are going to fucking shut up.
Absolutely sick of the way some people are going on about them.
I am way more fed up of other people's sanctimonious behaviour than having to wear a mask which I don't like either but am doing and will do until they are no longer compulsory.
I'm in another country and the mask compulsion was removed in June but the number of cases immediately began to rise so we've had to wear them since July again.

@Unhomme

You can stop in September 2021 or when a vaccine is developed...whichever is sooner.

HTH

People will have stopped wearing them long before then.

Masks are inconvenient, especially in this weather. I am technically exempt but I can wear one so I do, if my anxiety gets bad again that may change.

I don't think anyone can answer the question of when we can stop wearing them tbh. It's dependant on so many variables it's impossible to know.

I think we just have to grin and bare it, unfortunately.

www.rt.com/uk/497778-flu-pneumonia-deaths-coronavirus-britain/

Well considering for two months flu/pneumonia has caused around two thirds more deaths than Covid, who bloody knows when this mask crap will end? Cases are rising in several countries but deaths are not. According to the office of National Statistics, despite increasing cases, Covid is currently no worse as a circulatory virus than the common flu and yet we must all continue to social distance, wear masks, avoid mixing with other households inside and endless businesses must install copious amounts of screens, signs and systems in order to be allowed to operate in a wholly unnatural manner. Countless people have been left in pain and with undiagnosed serious illnesses while we all did our part and yet still it goes on with no end goal to speak off. 100% had enough and wish to be allowed to take my own assessed risks and go about my life as normal. Plenty of countries still advocate that masks have little effect including close neighbours such as the Netherlands.