Will you continue to wear a mask when they’re no longer compulsory?

[AngeloMysterioso]

I can’t really decide how I feel about it- as a pregnant woman with a tendency to get a bit sweaty in the face on warm days, I would like not to have to wear one whenever I’m inside a building that isn’t my own home. And I’m double jabbed so not at much risk. But then you’ve got people from SAGE and the BMA saying we should keep wearing them, and I’d imagine they know a bit better than Sajid Javid whose background is in finance.

What do you think?

YABU- I’ll continue to wear a mask
YANBU - I won’t be wearing a mask anymore.

@AnnieSnap goes hand in hand with the "substantial meal" saga.

But why haven’t those “others” got a vaccine by the time we don’t need to wear masks or shortly thereafter.

Being vaccinated doesn't stop people catching and transmitting covid!

I've had both of my vaccinations. I'll carry on wearing a mask in specific situations. In regards to this covid infection, surely a mask wearer is only going to protect someone else if they sneeze without the mask, etc. I have hayfever but I've never had flu, and I haven't had a cold for about three years. I doubt very much I can infect someone, but for now I would wear a mask if I felt it was needed for others.

I stil am flumoxed that they are going ahead with relaxing the rules on 19 July. This will be a disaster and people will get the virus and hospital admissions will multiply and I cannot believe they are giving us the option of wearing a mask. As for allowing nightclubs to open, I thinkn this Government is mad. I think there will be another lockdown and this country will be totally out of control

It was always going to be met with resistance when mask wearing and other restrictions were finally eased. People have spent a solid year and a half of their lives being fed terrifying info and public health messaging that suggests if they don’t comply they’re selfish fuckers responsible for murdering their granny, and at risk of death themselves. It was inevitable that when the time came to get back to some normality there’d be fear and resistance and reluctance. It’s been such a long time and we’ve all really absorbed the messaging.

This isn’t an issue for the government, they will have completely anticipated it and are trying to placate those people by reminding them they can still take precautions if they wish, but it’s now down to the individual’s comfort level and personal risk assessment instead of being mandated.

It’s the right decision imo. I’ve complied the whole time and felt the lockdowns were necessary. But it’s not something you can delay forever without even more damage to people’s lives and the economy (which has a massive effect on the individual), it feels scary and unthinkable because we’ve spent so long in this new way of life. But it has to happen eventually as we’re not getting rid of COVID and waiting until later in the year will make things even harder combining relaxing the restrictions with winter and the flu, so now it is.

On public transport yes I will, this is the longest I have been without antibiotics due to chest infections or colds it's been wonderful in that sense for me. I catch everything as my lungs are prone to getting infections whenever I get a cold. (Asthmatic) I think I'll wear them for a long time to come!

@Bunbunbunny

On public transport yes I will, this is the longest I have been without antibiotics due to chest infections or colds it's been wonderful in that sense for me. I catch everything as my lungs are prone to getting infections whenever I get a cold. (Asthmatic) I think I'll wear them for a long time to come!

I'm the same (asthmatic and prone to chest infections) and I didn't have a single cold or respiratory infection for the entire pandemic until a month ago... and oh my god, it hit me harder than any I've had before. I was bed bound for several days. Got every symptom going, couldn't drag myself further than the bathroom, lost my voice completely for over a week. I'm not sure if the evidence backs this up but it did feel like in being protected from bugs and germs for so long when I finally got something again my immune system totally failed and it was horrific.

So for that and many other reasons, I can't wait to drop the masks and get bugs and germs again! I don't think it's good for my immune system at all, or the immune system of my child.

Some sanity prevailing.

Depends where, but mostly not once I'm fully vaccinated.

I absolutely hate wearing my mask but I will in supermarkets, public transport and places where its crowded. we still have to be sensible this as I do think we will have another wave in August/September.

@TeddingtonTrashbag

Some sanity prevailing.

I’d say that is insanity. Travellers crowded together in relatively small environments are the very definition of a high risk event!

On the unground yes when flying in the future probably but day to day just running to the supermarket for milk no.

@WeatherSystems

It was always going to be met with resistance when mask wearing and other restrictions were finally eased. People have spent a solid year and a half of their lives being fed terrifying info and public health messaging that suggests if they don’t comply they’re selfish fuckers responsible for murdering their granny, and at risk of death themselves. It was inevitable that when the time came to get back to some normality there’d be fear and resistance and reluctance. It’s been such a long time and we’ve all really absorbed the messaging.

This isn’t an issue for the government, they will have completely anticipated it and are trying to placate those people by reminding them they can still take precautions if they wish, but it’s now down to the individual’s comfort level and personal risk assessment instead of being mandated.

It’s the right decision imo. I’ve complied the whole time and felt the lockdowns were necessary. But it’s not something you can delay forever without even more damage to people’s lives and the economy (which has a massive effect on the individual), it feels scary and unthinkable because we’ve spent so long in this new way of life. But it has to happen eventually as we’re not getting rid of COVID and waiting until later in the year will make things even harder combining relaxing the restrictions with winter and the flu, so now it is.

Absolutely spot on, I couldn't agree more.

Below from BBC today - an admission that masks don’t really do much and are more psychological signalling than anything else. This from “government scientists” apparently. Who are now “government scientists” and not scientists who advise the government. These unelected scientists are now in charge, it seems.

“But that does not mean government scientists do not have concerns. Behind the scenes, they have been questioning the policy on face masks, in particular, after ministers made big play last week of the fact mask-wearing would no longer be legally required. Not because it will dramatically alter the course of rising infections, but because of the message it sent out - that controlling infection no longer mattered.”

Nope!!! Never!

@SoniaD ...oh yes you will.

It is looking more likely that retailers will make their own policies so that you will have to abide by their policies if you wish to shop in their stores.

So far Sainsbury's has said that mask wearing will be personal choice of it's customers. Other supermarkets have yet to clarify which way they will go.

Waterstones book sellers have said that they hope customers will follow government guidance but staff won't enforce it (so seeing what will work best for business).

I dislike masks and wish they had never been made mandatory. However, they were. Now retailers and others will feel their way and start by seeing what will work best for their business.

I will. No so much because I think they do much but more to help CEV people feel more confident in going out. A dear friend is disabled and her dd is CEV and they will continue to wear masks. If wearing a mask might help others like them I'll do it.

@WeatherSystems: It was always going to be met with resistance when mask wearing and other restrictions were finally eased. People have spent a solid year and a half of their lives being fed terrifying info and public health messaging that suggests if they don’t comply they’re selfish fuckers responsible for murdering their granny, and at risk of death themselves. It was inevitable that when the time came to get back to some normality there’d be fear and resistance and reluctance. It’s been such a long time and we’ve all really absorbed the messaging.

It's more to do with listening to the CEOs of hospitals, and what they're saying. That and listening to the scientists. Or the people working in the hospitals, and trying to manage this. BJ was shaking hands with covid patients, until someone reminded him he shouldn't do that. He's an incompetent knob, but loads of you voted for him to be an incompetent knob for a few more years... so you'd better all own this.

Sarah-Jane Marsh. Birmingham Women and Children's hospital. 9th July : "Time to stand our Covid system response back up due to the numbers of patients in general and ITU beds across our city. No one has the physical or mental resilience for this wave but its here, and so we must find some inner strength to start again [Crying face]

Why do so many of you think masks "don't do much"? If you are the sort of people who buy homeopathic remedies, but insist that an actual barrier method "doesn't do much", there's a bridge you may be interested in buying.

@PineappleMojito

Below from BBC today - an admission that masks don’t really do much and are more psychological signalling than anything else. This from “government scientists” apparently. Who are now “government scientists” and not scientists who advise the government. These unelected scientists are now in charge, it seems.

“But that does not mean government scientists do not have concerns. Behind the scenes, they have been questioning the policy on face masks, in particular, after ministers made big play last week of the fact mask-wearing would no longer be legally required. Not because it will dramatically alter the course of rising infections, but because of the message it sent out - that controlling infection no longer mattered.”

Masks are an effective barrier method.

You say "unelected scientists". Are you serious? Scientists with degrees (years of academic study) and experience in labs. No one needs to elect them. They are scientists. Are you one of those idiot Brexit supporters who discounts the expertise of experts until you find yourself needing said expertise?

Do please explain your scientific qualifications and credentials, if you're going to diss the scientists who do know their shit.

@Doodlebug71

Why do so many of you think masks "don't do much"? If you are the sort of people who buy homeopathic remedies, but insist that an actual barrier method "doesn't do much", there's a bridge you may be interested in buying.

I feel like air/breath gets through my mask 🤷‍♀️

Don't even get me started on visors. Pointless things.

@essexgirl58

I stil am flumoxed that they are going ahead with relaxing the rules on 19 July. This will be a disaster and people will get the virus and hospital admissions will multiply and I cannot believe they are giving us the option of wearing a mask. As for allowing nightclubs to open, I thinkn this Government is mad. I think there will be another lockdown and this country will be totally out of control

I wouldn't be surprised at all. I will be wearing a mask inside until I see where we are headed. Don't trust this government's decision making at all.

@Doodlebug71 this came from the BBC - that masks aren’t going to alter the course of infections. The implication is that masks are psychological props, NOT effective barrier methods. I’m as well qualified as some of these scientists who are advising the government. Many of them are behavioural psychologists, so same level of qualification as me and similar field. They’re not epidemiologists. And they teach us in our training to read and critically analyse studies and trials. No evidence has convinced me yet of the effectiveness of masks outside healthcare settings, where of course they are more appropriate. But have you seen the way most people use masks? Way far from anything resembling sterile or hygienic. Yuck. People are making a fuss about masks no longer being mandatory, I’m personally more concerned about lack of social distancing and people being less vigilant about hand washing and ventilation, as those actually do have hard evidence behind them. Ditto vaccines - they’re the single most important tool in this fight and I lined up with the rest of my colleagues in January to get it. I trust science, but the science behind masks is weak. People are getting het up over something that’s little better than a placebo.

Brexit? Hahaaaaa nope. Far from it. Sorry to mess up your stereotyping I just prefer that those who are making decisions about my life and liberty were elected to do so. This government are beyond useless, incompetent, flip flopping, absolute shower of shite and they have handled this all terribly. You will find no Tory or Brexiteering here. It isn’t true that everyone who is skeptical about what’s happening is right wing in their politics, or thinks homeopathy is more effective than vaccines. Shock horror, there are even scientists who don’t agree with the prevailing narrative - the mass media just doesn’t ever quote them.