To think snotty, coughing people should wear masks?

[RiderofRohan]

On the train or other forms of public transport. In waiting rooms etc. People coughing with half-hearted hands held up to their mouths. Blowing their noses with abandon. None of them wearing masks, just shedding their viruses into closed spaces.

Isn't it just common decency, after we went through a global pandemic, to try to protect those around you? It's super normal to wear a mask in parts of Asia if you are unwell to reduce the risk of your germs spreading to your fellow humans.

@BeyondMyWits

OMG how disgusting!!

Or sniffing, or gobbing. Neither of which are likely to be popular!

Wearing a mask makes me cough more. They aren’t practical with an active cold because you’d have to keep taking it off anyway to wipe your nose etc. I was always an avid mask wearer during the pandemic, but no, I don’t think people should wear them if they are unwell anymore. It would be nice if people used basic manners though and didn’t just cough into the air or blow snot into the street by holding their finger over one nostril. Tissues and antibac hands and cough into your arm/elbow IMO is enough.

My DS was laughing at me last week in Tesco’s. The only people still wearing masks are young people. I suggested that they are probably shop lifting and wear masks to avoid being recognised on security cameras.
They are utterly useless at stopping viruses being transmitted. Viruses pass through the mask material freely and accumulate in the mask as it becomes wetter from breathing. The mask wearer will inevitably constantly touch the mask thereby contaminating their hands with concentrated virus numbers. Any surface they then touch will be super infected.
If you are worried about catching anything off them watch what they touch and avoid it. Hand hygiene is far more preventive than mask wearing. Door handles are your worst enemy.

I really don't know why adults have become so childish over this. Why is it so difficult to do simple hygiene things like this?

This is untrue. Viruses molecules are trapped in larger respiratory molecules, and are then caught in the fabric net, creating any dampness you describe. They don't 'escape.'

No. HTH

PS I was very happy to get two seats to myself on the train earlier this week because of someone objected to me being a bit ill.

It would be nice if people did but honestly I’m not sure how effective they are. I was living in HK in Jan-Mar 2022. Masks were legally enforceable ( inside and outside) and compliance was as close to 100% as you’d ever get. Kids wore masks all day at school etc. Group gatherings restricted to 4 people. No large scale events permitted. HK University estimates that 5 million of 7 million people caught covid within the 6 week mega wave that started from literally zero cases ( HK had closed borders and a 3 week quarantine to identify every single imported case.) Now I know HK is v densely populated which was definitely a contributory factor but even so. Everyone wore a mask, everyone still got covid.

yanbu
it's the easiest way to reduce sread of airborne disease.

Unless ff3 they don't work and are uncomfortable. It's selfish to want other people to wear masks because of your own anxiety. It would be different if a large reduction in transmission actually occurred but 1 or 2% is nowhere near worth the torture of masks.
Also has the huge increase in salt needs for under 7s gone unnoticed? Due to masks no doubt.

You're going to enjoy Nipah/Ebola/Marburg, or whatever other high fatality rate and/or hemorrhagic virus is behind the next global pandemic.

Well you're a cheerful soul aren't you. Hopefully I'll be dead by then so won't have to worry about it.

Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

There is and has been for some time global preparation for the next major pandemic, in hopes of averting it, or being at least more prepared for it than the world was for Covid. I appreciate these efforts - rather than everyone just sitting around being "cheerful" and pretending it won't matter, as "life is for living".

🙄 Yes, can't wait, how exciting. What mask would you recommend for bleeding out of the anus and eyeballs?

Part of any pandemic response is, of course, what the population think and are willing to do. It's worth thinking critically about whether attempts to further regiment people's behaviour and reinforce the idea that it's OK to say whether others should be covering their faces or not are going to do anything helpful to prepare us for the next one.

I didn't even wear a mask when I was 'meant to' so I'm hardly going to bother now!

You do know it's possible to have allergies in December? 🙄

I cough with hay fever and this year it's carried on into December. I won't be wearing a mask as it makes me cough even more.

Other people are not responsible for your health anxiety.

I have a cold at the moment. Streaming nose and a cough. A mask would be utterly pointless as I would be constantly taking it off to blow my nose etc.

@bakewellbride

oh well done you! Aren’t you the rebel!

Pre, during and post lockdown I've never seen the efficacy of masks. I've never got sick by anyone not wearing a mask. One situation where I think a mask is appropriate is when someone is stood behind you breathing down your neck and then they sneeze. You can feel the sputum splattering up your neck. But then there are some vile people out there.

Nope.
If you want to stay inside for the rest of your life and never get ill that's up to you.
Being sick boosts your immunity and also wearing a mask all the time doesn't work. If they did Asia wouldn't have suffered so much from the pandemic.
Rubbish - during the pandemic people just threw masks on the floor and littered everywhere.
My husbands asthma was so much worse wearing a mask, also I felt very short of breath.. Wouldn't be surprised if they cause long term health issues.

Most masks don’t work. This would be utterly pointless. If people are really ill they should stay at home, but in reality if people are working and need the money and don’t get sick pay what are they going to do? Being around people with coughs and colds is sort of part of life I’m afraid, and lots of things are contagious before there’s any outward sign- what would you propose in relation to those illnesses?

OP. You should wear a mask to protect yourself from others. It's not my job to protect you

Funny thing I've found about people who cough and sneeze everywhere without care, they get angry, like really angry, if you spit on them.

Apparently it's OK to splutter spittle in my face but completely unacceptable for me to grog on their jeans.

I work in a care home and I f*ing wish some coworkers would. We now have at least half the residents on antibiotics or have been on antibiotics in the last month for chest infections! And some elderly people don't make it home again if they end up in hospital. There is no rule that coughing carers have to wear masks for whatever bad chest or cold they have or but maybe there should be.