Are masks being advised again in general?

[masksagain]

Had a hospital appt yest morning was called beforehand told I had to wear a mask. GP appt yest afternoon and when I arrived told the same thing ? Are masks back. AIBU to be worried about this ?

No theyre not back nor are they mandatory, Keir Starmer confirmed that. Its just some hospitals were asking people to wear them, but they couldn't enforce it. It's the usual panic over an early flu season.

Masks are being worn in hospitals, surgeries, etc as there's a high chance of vulnerable people being there. It's up to you whether you wear a mask anywhere else.

Nothing to worry about, just a bit of common sense so the vulnerable don't get ill with the usual seasonal bugs. Makes sense really.

The hospital where I work hasn't asked for masks and the one my husband was in on Wednesday didn't ask either.
Both big general teaching hospitals.

They aren't going to be mandated, but it would be sensible to wear one, at the very least when you are sick to avoid harming others. Ffp2/Ffp3 are the most effective.

In our NHS, we’re advised to mask if we are experiencing symptoms of flu. When I went for the vaccine, I put on a mask even though I have no symptoms as by its nature the centre was full of vulnerable people.

I don’t understand why people are making such a fuss. Have a bit of common sense and if you can protect others, why wouldn’t you want to do it? Of course there will be several thousands some people who pretend they have a genuine reason for not being able to wear a mask, but if those who can do, where it is appropriate, the “usual panic over an early flu season” won’t be necessary as the numbers will be under control.

Our hospital and GP surgery have asked people to wear masks again. I don't have a problem with it. Literally just going to an appointment with a mask now.

I'm not really sure why there's such a fuss over masks when necessary. It's very common in some countries to wear one if you have a cold. There's really no need for the drama.

It is flu protection to help the spread it is a precaution and temporary, what are you concerned about.

There's really no need to worry. The timing of the flu surge varies each year, and this year it has happened to arrive a few weeks earlier. There is no evidence it is a more virulent strain of flu. And the latest figures suggest we may have already passed the peak. Hospitals have the right to ask people to wear masks to protect vulnerable patients there but neither the govt, nor the NHS are asking people to wear them generally.

Its in medical settings. I've seen a few more people in shops wearing them but i think people are trying not to get ill before Christmas. Its nothing to worry about it think it will become the norm in medical settings during winter

Being instructed/forced to wear a mask is an infringement of our civil liberties. It is the first step on the road to the ridiculous (& damaging) "rules" we saw in the pandemic. So it is a big deal.
Obviously, if people make the choice to wear a mask, that's entirely up to them.

Okaaayyy !

Oh no the government is out to get me 🙄 paranoid much. Get help

Good job nobodies being instructed to then.

I had a rotten cold last week - I wore a mask when in a meeting so I wasn't coughing and spluttering (too many) germs around. It was awful - my glasses steamed up, I felt claustrophobic and couldn't breathe so really hope they don't become mandatory again.

If asked, I'll put one on and if it makes you feel better to see this, then that's a positive! I also wish they'd make hand washing, using handkerchiefs, not going to work as sick as a dog and not spitting (saw it yesterday and that's a real health hazard) compulsory while we are at it. Prevention seems to have left the common sense cupboard!!

I took my son to the GP last week and was asked to wear a mask, I have zero issues with wearing one, total non issue.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear - I’m worried about how bad this flu outbreak is not that we might have to wear masks again. It just made me realise how it must be quite serious

Absolutely! And all those ridiculous laws about wearing clothes - if I want to parade down the high street proud and naked as the day I was born then that's my right, dammit! Anyone suggesting otherwise is infringing on my civil liberties!

Why specifically masks? The government instructs you to do all sorts of things; wear a seatbelt, pay taxes, don't litter, don't expose yourself indecently...

Small point of order but it's actually not illegal to parade down the street naked. So if you really wanted to you could. Although it's a bit chilly for my liking.

Yes it is illegal in the uk indecent exposure or public order

I just think we need to learn from other countries - mainly in Asia where mask wearing in certain settings is normal.

We need to start taking infection control more seriously. Who wants to be ill all the time?

So we should look at all settings and see how we can improve hygiene and reduce infections especially if there’s high cases of illness in the community.

I wish people would work from home
when ill. So businesses should allow that. Schools should relax attendance policies so parents stop sending ill kids to school.

More hand sanitiser stations around in public places.

Masks in medical settings can be part of this.

Flu is a worry this year but we now also have Covid constantly circulating- we don’t get any immunity and more and more people including kids are getting long covid.

Keep it in perspective. There is a nasty flu virus going round, and if people wear masks in confined public spaces that will slow its spread and relieve pressure the NHS. No big deal.

Actually, it's not. It's only illegal if it's done specifically to cause offence.