To start wearing a face mask

[User1437957]

I have been constantly ill since the past couple of months picking up every single bug going. Just occurred to me that during the facemask years I never picked up anything, so would it be silly to start wearing one ? No one is wearing them anymore but I am so sick of being constantly ill and having to be off work.

It’s entirely up to you as long as you don’t then start loaning that others don’t.

Do what you want.

In parts of Asia people usually wear them when they have colds to avoid the spread. It’s a pity we haven’t adopted that.

I thought with a face mask that it only stopped others getting whatever you had? Unless it’s more of a gas mask situation? But then you would look fairly odd.,,

Long before covid I sometimes thought I'd like to wear a facemask. Those days at work when the people all around are coughing and sneezing, holiday flights which inevitably led to a virus. Only the truly eccentric would have done that before covid.
Now I think it wouldn't be that unusual. I no longer fear covid even though I'm immunocompromised because my last bout was mild but there are some very nasty infections out there atm. A friend who is a doctor has just spent time in hospital with RSV. There is also a flu epidemicbrewing.
Having said all that I'm not wearing a mask except in medical settings but I don't blame am]nyone who does.

Make sure it’s FFP3 if you want to protect yourself. The thinner ones just stop you infecting others.

I’ve never stopped in some places. Always in the supermarket, especially at this time of year. Depends what type you use though.

Plenty of people still wearing them near me. Especially on public transport or older people at supermarkets. Nothing odd about it. The lady working at tesco self service section had one on the other day when I was there and so did one of the ladies working in boots. I happened to notice them as we had just been talking about it at home.

Get a decent FFP2 or 3 from somewhere like Medisave, and it will give you some protection. I'm still wearing one on busy public transport because that's not too terrible to have to do and reduces my overall exposure. I still have work and socializing, but that would be a step too far.

I still do on the tube. Hardly anyone else does, although there have been more in the past few weeks.

A face mask doesn’t make a heap of difference in my experience - wearing a face mask is more to keep others from catching your bugs than the other way around. Better to keep washing your hands and using the anti bac gel.

Yup do what you want as long as you dont expect others to do the same.

Very sensible, with so many bugs going round. I am wearing one on public transport. FFP2 or 3 gives over 90% protection.

Just occurred to me that during the facemask years I never picked up anything,

You have to take into consideration that less people were out and about and that more people were wearing them. It won't be a like for like but if it makes you feel better, wear one.

I wear them all the time in shops and busy places. Haven't been sick since the start of covid (touch wood!!)

I look like a weirdo, I know, but I'm okay with that.

I think it's very sensible.

No one wants any germs that you might have, you don't want any germs they might be brewing up. There are a lot of nasties floating round at the moment.

And reducing that number keeps everyone that bit safer.

Look at how countries like Japan are having so much lower incidence of everything.

You wouldn't think twice about insisting on condoms, because you don't want to be sharing germs with people who you don't know are clear. It's not that different - except of course you share air with far more people ta you do bodily fluids.

Keeping up the pressure for better ventilation/filtration indoors is worth it too

I will dig up my ffp masks I have them somewhere. I am on the bed with this latest fever and laryngitis bug. Didn’t want to be called a weirdo as I have seen anyone wearing it for months but needs must I think.

YANBU. I always say "you do you", so if you want to wear a mask then wear one.

I haven't for a while now, but am CEV and will still wear one at a concert or the theatre etc.

I didn't catch a cold once all the time I was wearing a mask

I never took mine off! Face masks are wonderful and I wish they had become normalised much sooner! I don't neccesarily wear mine to prevent illness though.

YANBU. If you wear an FFP2 or FFP3, then that will give you protection. FFP3s are usually more appropriate for doctors / dentists due to the higher risk so an FFP2 is more than adequate. Make sure you fit it properly. Don't bother with cloth masks or surgical masks - they only prevent you from spreading germs but don't offer you protection.

Never stopped wearing them when indoors in public & on public transport. 1 in 50 people have Covid, and they are the ones who test & report..
Don't much care what others do, I'm protecting myself & people with vulnerabilities.

You don't have to ask permission, just do it if it makes you feel safer. I admire you actually, if only more people wore them in virus season it would be great.

I confess to wearing a mask on public transport. No issues.

The best use for a mask is on a plane or long train journey. You can fall asleep and no one sees your open mouth and dribbles (mine). LOL.

Do what you want. Just don’t expect or ask other people to do so.

Well, it's a free country so you can do what you like. Of course, face masks don't make any difference to anything, so please don't expect other people to do the same - they are also exercising their freedom of choice.

Of course I am not expecting others to wear one ! How could I. All I was thinking of if it benefits me from not catching these horrid viruses it would be worth a try.
also reassuring to hear from those still wearing it.

Of course face masks make a difference!

www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/417906/still-confused-about-masks-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent

With several infectious diseases in circulation at the moment (covid, flu, RSV, strep A) it's a very sensible thing to do, for yourself and for others.