... 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.

This. I noticed that today.

@MyGardensAMess I avoid them in the same way that people avoided me as I couldn't wear one! You believe they work and that's fine so you don't really want to be around someone like me who can't wear one. If your trying to protect people and think masks work then you would be better off away from people like me I would think! So yay win for you!!

You think you know better than the world’s leading scientific experts because Boris Johnson and his mates came up with a set of rules about who could meet up and when?!

I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry. If this is the level we’ve sunk to, the human race is utterly fucked.

Three friends have covid right now. The person may be recovering and being considerate so you don't catch it. The point of a mask is so you don't pass on your germs to others.

I’ve noticed the increase in London. Plus protective gloves in some cases.

Because they want to.

Absolutely none of your business.

They also told you kids don’t get covid, and we didn’t need to test because we have the nhs.

Which was all bluster to stop people panic buying masks and worrying because it was all lies.
Masks do work, kids do get covid and we did need testing but the govt sat on their hands so long we didn’t build capacity quick enough (so we ended up in lockdown).

I have a close relative whose partner is extremely clinically vulnerable. They both wear masks in public indoor spaces (on advice from her clinician) as any respiratory infection could be dangerous for her.

I know they've faced some hostility and rudeness for this, and it saddens me how people can lack compassion and assume to know better than medical experts. It's no one else's business.

I don't know why it was ever seen as an issue anyway. Since way before COVID people from East Asian countries have been wearing masks as a courtesy to others if they have infection. No one bats an eyelid, it's seen as polite.

Because they are sensible, or sick, or both.

Cases are rising again.

There's a new variant.

I caught it mid-August and haven't recovered completely yet. I didn't enjoy being in bed for 3 days with a high temp and having no voice for a week 🤷‍♀️

They don't make any difference, but if people think it makes them safer somehow, then it's up to them. Each to their own.

I wore a mask when I had covid this year to protect you from me. If I had a bad cold or cough I'd probably stick one on if I were on the bus.

Why do people take vitamins, medicine, wear support belts with spd, take preventer inhalers, hayfever medication...

They wear them to lower the risk of a respiratory illness for themselves and others just like people do many other things for health reasons.

The stigma puts them off protecting their health

The point for me is not whether they work. It's about knowing they might provide some level of protection and my need to know I am doing everything I can to protect my vulnerable child who was hospitalised with Covid the time they got it. I was instructed to buy masks before Covid existed for certain situations. Even if it did turn out they didn't help in the end, at least I tried.

I have a family member who can't wear masks and never avoided them because of it. I could trust them to stay away from visiting if they had any doubts about their health though.

It is definitely a win for me if anyone who thinks I'm just a brainwashed minion, rather than someone who has made a calculated decision to protect someone else as best I can, avoids me though. If I see someone wearing a mask when out I assume they may have a reason unknown to me. It doesn't hurt me.

is the idea of only providing free tests to vulnerable people so that they can find out early Id they have it and get on the anti virals?

because I don’t know anyone who has COVID symptoms/cold symptoms now who pay for tests who routinely test. The only non vulnerable people I know still testing do it very very rarely, me included, and only then because they’re maybe going to a big party where vulnerable relatives wil be in close contact.

I work in a school and the unspoken understanding is that we shouldn’t test if we have COVID symptoms as if we get a positive that would mean we should avoid people and well, that’s just not feasible. But we are too short staffed for people to stay at home. the kids are merrily spreading it anyway as none of them are vaccinated or test regularly so honestly, what is the point? I’m not not wasting my own money on tests for work purposes.

@CurlyhairedAssassin yes I'm entitled to anti virals . They work like a dream and they have to be started pretty quickly .

I definitely won't be wearing one at work either

Glasses steam up no matter what I do!

Can't see employers trying to enforce them anyway

I have purchased tests that test for flu a and b, rsv and Covid all in one. I want to know what we are dealing with so that if the vulnerable family member comes down with it, I know to get them antivirals promptly. If it's just a cold they don't need them.

And as I said that is your choice, I never called you any names or questioned your motives! I simply answered your question about why I do avoid those wearing them. I appreciate your concern for your loved ones and certainly understand where you are coming from. Just because I can't always know why people are doing what they are doing I feel it best to avoid those wearing them as I cannot. As during the mandates I was treated quite badly I just tend to avoid those wearing them as it's possibly a leftover reaction for me ?!

I don't get the confusion at all. As we move towards winter Covid cases will rise. Some people are immuno-compromised and would rather not get it. Some people had a bad bout before and don't want to get it again, if avoidable. Some people care for elderly relatives who likely wouldn't survive it.

It's understandable.

And why is that a problem? If it makes people more comfortable then I don’t see the issue.

Anazing how many armchair experts now spout advice like this, despite having zero medical qualifications.
Stay in your lane

@CurlyhairedAssassin that’s the problem - my Dd has a brain injury (from a virus) so she’s vulnerable. Her classmates dad was on chemo. Her other classmate sister was also on chemo. It’s very stressful for schoolchildren who are vulnerable or have vulnerable relatives. I know one child who ‘killed’ their grandparent (their words, not mine). I expect many more are pschyologically damaged by transferring it to someone they love who fared badly.

I wore a mask for a plane trip recently. The reason was that it’s a few hours tightly packed and I don’t want to get ill on, or after, my trip.

My 8 year old asked a similar question. I told him that it could be to protect themselves or someone close to them, or they could have covid and don’t want to spread it. I also said it’s not really any of our concern.