To start wearing a mask again on public transport to avoid all these illnesses

[SunnySkyBlue]

I'm back working in an office for the last year and a bit and travel by bus/train an hour each way. I'm now on my fourth heavy cold since April 2024 (one dose was the flu), the last being early last month and am really fed up and am thinking of wearing a mask.

Working at home for the previous years during/ after Covid, no illnesses at all.

I'm very particular about hand washing and hand sanitizing still, but it's obviously making no difference.

AIBU to start wearing a mask?

Why would you be reasonable or unreasonable?

Just wear one if you want to.

You certainly won't be the only one 🤷‍♂️

You can do whatever you’d like
masks unless N95 or hospital grade won’t do a great deal otherwise
if it makes you feel better - reassured then go for it

I had quite a few illnesses after the lockdowns lifted. I put it down to my immune system not being used to it.

It’s not something I am still experiencing but I’ve been out and about for the last 3 years.

If you feel better wearing a mask then why not?

The flimsy cloth masks are more to protect others from your exhalations, not you from others exhalations.

To get some protections from others exhalations, you’d need a N95 or higher mask.

Handwashing is the most effective way to avoid picking up a cold.

YANBU - there's so much unfettered hacking and coughing on public transport you spend most of the journey thinking Where's this fucking bus going? Lourdes?

Cloth and tissue masks which are non medical grade will do nothing other than perhaps appease your fears psychologically.

Wearing one doesn’t long periods of time, especially if it’s same may lead to impetigo around your mouth. Not a good look.

Would you have even considered it pre-2020? Or were you illness-free up to that point?

One thing that we learned from Covid, given the huge number of cases, is that ordinary masks don’t really work

I usually got one cold a year pre Covid, nothing else

Yes,an N95 surgical grade mask with a double layer cloth one, and wear it properly. Medical and nursing staff actually wear masks to protect the patient from them, unless you are doing specialist barrister nursing.

We are all living on a planet teeming with trillions upon trillions of microbial life-forms. We will all get infections now and again. Just get on with your life and stop fretting.

I get it, but you probably need to boost your immune system. Do you take/consume enough vitamins? Colds might just do you some good if your immune system has been weakend when WFH.

Unless of course you're immuno-compromised, in which case ignore all of that!