... to ask why people are still wearing masks?

[KatyKopykat]

I've seen several people wearing a mask in shopping centres and on buses and trains.

I wear mine on the tube and in crowded places not had it yet and don't want it.

Because Long Covid fucking sucks.

Those saying that they wear one for preventative measures - I thought we’d all agreed that masks stop the wearer from spreading, rather than protecting them from contracting?

Attention seeking.

I wore a mask when taken suddenly ill and stayed away from others.

Just as well. When I could test, it was Covid.

I have an extremely vulnerable household member. I have started masking again in certain situations because local illness rates for viruses that can cause him serious problems, not just Covid, are increasing dramatically at the moment. We follow the guidelines from his specialists.

@Wisterical Really? I can think of so many other ways I could be attention seeking rather than wearing a mask.

I currently have covid for the 3rd time in a year. I feel fine, like a have a bit of a cold but have worn a mask in shops because I don’t want to spread it.

Its a no brainer, surely.

My husband is extremely vulnerable and I've been advised to continue to wear a mask. People say they don't work, and it may be coincidence, but we haven't had colds or coughs since before Covid.

No, you are incorrect. Masks do protect you, particularly if you were the better ones.

OP I wear one on public transport because I’m clinically vulnerable.

Also many/most hospitals still don’t want people to attend some appointments if they have COVID or symptoms of. Lots of people have been waiting months if not a year for their appointment to come up so the last thing they need is to get unwell and be put to the back of the queue. Wearing a mask ought to help if you use it properly.

We’ve never stopped wearing masks.
We don’t do indoors unless necessary.
The pandemic isn’t over.
We understand health and the immune system and know it isn’t a muscle and there’s no real benefit to getting any virus let alone a novel virus several times a year.

What makes me LOL so much is the people who think they have “the flu” in summer 😂😂 or are shocked when they get covid because they “thought it had gone away because it’s not in the news” or those who say “covid is back” or when people see us in our masks so they sanitise their hands 😜 like that will help 😂🙈😂.

Or maybe being careful so they don't accidentally kill their extremely vulnerable relative.

But aye...for attention.

I currently know of 2 people with confirmed COVID; there's a new variant around which the general public don't know much about yet; if you're in a "clinically vulnerable" group I guess one wants to remain cautious till more is known.

I'm near 2 large teachining hospitals so have friends and family working in those. Yes, it's on the rise again. And who the fuck knows what the plan is for future vaccinations. For all we know, any immunity we had has dwindled to almost nothing by now. So we're heading into the unknown again.

I did visit the walk in centre tonight (non-COVID reason) and noted that the nurse I saw in triage was wearing a mask. Have seen a few others recently in various situations and yes, I agree there seems to be an increase in mask-wearing. Has no bearing on me. Other than making me think, when is mask-wearing (for concerns about the new variant or whatever the current fear seems to be) going to be mandated in schools? (as I work in one, and we always seemed to be an afterthought with such things through the pandemic)

I've not seen anyone here locally wearing them!

I saw a hilarious tweet from Steven Griffin that said something along the lines of “even though schools have been packed with porous concrete there’s still no push for improving ventilation”.

1. They choose to
2. They may have been exposed to COVID and are being careful
3. They believe masks may protect them
4. Again, they choose to

Why do you ask?

How does it affect you?

I often think it's because they have Covid but want to carry on with their life. Old habits and all that, maybe they want to protect people from catching it.

.. Or they just want to.

I never understood why so many people believed in the first place that those basic, flimsy, cheap masks (that so many did not even wore properly, ie not covering mouth/nose) would work in any way.

Many studies also discredited the effect of medical grade ones when it comes to Covid and the general population.

Always seemed to be more about trying to reassure people and psychological manipulation that anything else...

I wasn't aware we were only able to ask about things that affect us.

Yep.

But just like mask deniers some people still believe they have been told masks protect the wearer.

When we were mid covid times and wearing masks we didn't catch a cold at all that winter. Why not wear masks and.miss out on catching or spreading that annoyance?

Given the usual debates about masks just asking the question usually implies criticism

Why ask otherwise?

I think some people are under the impression that it's a really big deal to wear a mask. For lots and lots of people they don't mind, they don't find them uncomfortable, so they think well I have a cold why not wear it? Or I dont watch to catch covid or whatever so why not wear it. For tons of people wearing a mask was never some big deal like others made out.

I think most people wearing masks probably HAVE covid right now and are trying to protect people🤷‍♀️