AIBU to say that masks are here to stay

[pepsicolagirl]

Just that really. Having a discussion about yesterdays news and I threw into it the fact that I don't see how mask wearing in shops etc is ever going to stop now. We will just continue to live in this way the same as china and other asian countries do.

I don’t think they will be here forever but nor can I envisage a point where we will be told they are no longer necessary.

Next summer maybe?

@SoUtterlyGroundDown

I wear a mask in all scenarios that I am required to wear one. Once I am no longer required to wear one, I won’t.

I hear ya, but how will that come about? I am trying to imagine where that line will be drawn and I just can't

I worked in Hong Kong for a few years and people only wore masks when they had a cold.

@Foxyloxy1plus1 There are many people who are exempt and you cannot tell by looking at them. And then reasons on the surface that seem silly but then when you think it through make sense. My BIL has severe eczema around his face, he tries to wear a mask but finds it makes his skin flare even more. He itches the whole time he is wearing one so ends up touching the thing and his face a whole lot more than if he wasn’t wearing one in the first place. It isn’t a case of it just being uncomfortable for him.

bogrollbogof I have problems with them too. Have to wear glasses when in shops or I can’t read anything, and my glasses steam up constantly. Also, if I wear a mask for longer than 10 minutes I feel dizzy and clammy and have to leave the shop to go outside. It’s not pleasant for any of us for various reasons, but I accept I either have to manage the situation, or stay out of shops. I won’t whinge about it - it’s got to be done.

I think I will continue to wear one on public transport during flu season and generally continue sanitising things like trolley handles, as every cold I've had in the last 10 years has started a few days after doing the big shop. It's been great not having one for ages, as my immune system isn't good. I had 3 viruses in 4 months from December last year to March, each nastier than the one before so I''ve been grateful to have the opportunity to get properly healthy again.

I'd rather masks stay than social distancing.

@Livelovebehappy

Problem with the vaccine is that prepping vaccines usually takes years not months, because they have to be checked for long term usage too, so rushing it through is going to come with potential health risks. Masks should be compulsory for everyone in public places. Yes they can be uncomfortable, make you dizzy wearing for long periods, trigger MH issues, but people have to learn to manage the problems they have, so that we can all be protected. Pointless the majority of us wearing them, when 25% of the population refuse to wear for various reasons.

So people with mental health issues should just get over it? Do you actually tell people in real life who have mental health problems to just deal with it?

I bloody hate them but can see the benefit of people wearing them when they know they have a cold and may even do that myself if it becomes commonplace.

Pointless the majority of us wearing them, when 25% of the population refuse to wear for various reasons. That still means 75% of people not spreading their Covid droplets. Overall that's an improvement.

but can see the benefit of people wearing them when they know they have a cold I still struggle to see how that works. What do you do? sneeze, drip snot into the mask and turn it into a slimy mess? Take the mask off every time you need to sneeze, blow your nose (when we're told to fiddle with it as little as possible)? Change masks every time you sneeze? (How many masks would you use in a day?)

How on earth do you blow your nose in a mask? Or do you just let it drip down your face?

I'm a bit at the amount of people "wearing" them on their chin, under their nose, dangling from their ear etc (a lot of this is on public transport)....basically that's the same as not wearing a mask!! (I assume they've got them in the unlikely event anyone in authority challenged them about it)

....I'm not talking about taking it down for a few seconds because your glasses are steaming up etc, I'm thinking about for the duration of 30-40 min journeys (or longer)