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Original poster

Attitudes to face masks

73 replies

Vallderama · 15/03/2020 15:17

I live in an area where there are a lot of Chinese people so around here it is quite common to see people wearing face masks. I have started to do so too this last week. I am fully aware that there is no scientific evidence that it will protect me from Coronavirus and I continue to wash my hands etc. It does however make me feel a bit better psychologically given that I have to keep working and using public transport even though as a lone parent it wouldn't be great if I got I'll. I have also noticed that I don't touch my face when I'm wearing one, which is obviously a benefit.

However I have encountered some strange looks (not so bothered about this) and today in Morrisons I actually had a woman come up to me and scream my face about it.

For context, I'd gone there to get a few bits that weren't available yesterday when I did my shop. I wasn't panic buying, I had around five items in my trolley, no loo roll even because there wasn't any, just things like a box of teabags that I needed and they hadn't had yesterday, a bag of popping corn so that the DC's can make themselves some while watching films as I guess we'll be spending more time indoors.

I queued for at least 45 minutes, just minding my own business, it was all very tense and everyone filling their trollies with all kinds of shit, making comments about how crazy it was to stock up (even though they themselves were clearly stocking up) but I was just waiting it out.

As I was waiting this woman came along shouting about how ridiculous it was even before she saw me and as soon as she did see me got right up close to me and yelled about how my mask wasn't going to protect me. I said ok, thanks and looked straight ahead but she kind of angled her neck around so she wasn't back in my face, screaming at this point, about how the mask made things worse because it trapped moisture, ranting on and on at me. I just kept saying thanks, that's great, I honestly thought she was going to hit me. Then she beetled off and filled her trolley with ready meals, like at least thirty of them, all the time shouting about how I'm fucking stupid etc.

Now obviously she's a bit tapped, but do people wearing masks generally encounter this? Because if so I might rethink but really until today it was one little thing that I didn't think affected anyone else but made me feel better, even if it is a bit daft. I have elderly parents and am stressed about them, we're all stressed, this was like my little stress reliever. And it definitely stops me touching my face. It just made me feel calmer. If this is a common reaction though I may need to rethink.

How are you all with people wearing masks and should I stop?

OP posts:
souldivachakkakahn · 15/03/2020 17:03

There are plenty of evidence based articles out there that wearing a mask (and gloves @Genevieva ) will not provide protection, and may increase your risk. It certainly gives you a false sense of security. But people carry on anyway.

noego · 15/03/2020 17:37

Viral infections are passed in the following way according to virologists.
The person infected coughs or sneezes the viral infection is projected in droplets from the body and land onto surfaces like people clothes or skin or indeed any other surfaces. Hence the instructions for people to keep a safe distance from each other (2mtrs) The other instruction is to only cough or sneeze into a tissue and then dispose in a safe manner and of course clean your hands.
So in my view wearing a mask is a good idea if you are infected as it is in essence a tissue but just strapped to your face. Needs to be disposed of in a safe manner.
Back in the day the saying "coughs and sneezes spread diseases" was common and people used to wear a scarf over their mouth and hankies where used a lot more in an effort to not spread germs.

souldivachakkakahn · 15/03/2020 21:05

@noego yes it helps an infected person to prevent more infection. But if you're infected you shouldn't be out anyway.
Unfortunately most of the people wearing them are doing so to try and prevent themselves from being infected. Which doesn't work.

noego · 16/03/2020 07:26

I agree you should SI and stay indoors if you have contracted the virus. But when do you know you have? The contagious period is the first 3 days are you convinced that you know?

alexasaymyname · 16/03/2020 17:41

I wore one today to my Dsis house as DN has a fever and vomiting and they have to self isolate. Everyone fell about laughing and I would be too embarrassed to wear one. I haven't seen a single person wear one. I agree it stops you touching your face, but that's about all.

Dicentra6 · 03/04/2020 21:51

There are so many conflicting ideas about wearing face masks. I don’t know why the British government are so opposed to people wearing them. I’m sure they must have some benefits, and if you feel more at ease wearing one then why not. What is the harm, if wearing one reduces anxiety then surely that’s a good thing. I have very little confidence in this government.

PhoneLock · 03/04/2020 22:27

I live in an area where there are a lot of Chinese people so around here it is quite common to see people wearing face masks.

I work with a lot of Asian people and it's the norm in their culture to wear masks to help prevent them spreading germs to everybody else.

TKAAHUARTG · 03/04/2020 22:29

When I see people in masks (USA) I always think it is because they are ill. So that might be why you get looks because people are pissed off that a sick person is not isolating.

Insideout99 · 03/04/2020 23:03

I'll be honest I am a bit Hmm when I see people shopping with them on and I do wonder where people got them from considering there is a world wide shortage of PPE and some people working in essential roles are struggling to get any at all. I know local carers have ran out of masks entirely for now and I'm hearing similar stories all over the country so to think people are throwing them on to wear to the shops while safely maintaining social distancing rules are contributing to those in essential care roles who have to get up close and personal with others go without.... Well, yeah...

Randomschoolworker19 · 03/04/2020 23:15

@Insideout99

A lot of people including myself bought them back in January from places like ToolStation which are hardly major suppliers of the NHS. Back then supplies were very good.

Don't blame people for being prepared.

Blame the government for not stockpiling enough PPE when they knew the pandemic was coming.

Lastly, a lot of the FFP3 masks that people have bought are more suited for industry and DIY rather than a medical setting, but perfectly fine for shopping etc.

lightyearsahead · 03/04/2020 23:15

I am wondering if we are missing a trick with the masks, and are looking at it the wrong way. I don't think it is to protect ourselves but to protect others from ourselves.

If everyone wears one it reduces the risk of sneezing in the open and/or infecting others with droplets.

Would still need to wash your hands.

adiposegirl2 · 03/04/2020 23:18

I'll be honest I am a bit hmm when I see people shopping with them on and I do wonder where people got them from considering there is a world wide shortage of PPE
🤨

Some deduced early on that this virus could reach them and bought early on.

LastTrainEast · 03/04/2020 23:24

I bought masks ages ago hoping it would help when I cleaned the oven.

They don't just make masks for the coronavirus.

LastTrainEast · 03/04/2020 23:27

And I believe it has been established now that masks are better than nothing and do as someone said help if YOU sneeze.

As for not needing to wear one unless you have it most people will not know they had the virus so that doesn't work.

Insideout99 · 03/04/2020 23:31

@Randomschoolworker19 I'm not talking about or blaming "prepared" people. Why would I be when the shortage is happening now?

Randomschoolworker19 · 03/04/2020 23:31

@adiposegirl2

Exactly!

When I saw China building hospitals in days that's when I knew shit was about to get real and I went out and bought one of these.

I purposely bought one of these models because while being a P3, I thought it would be unlikely it would ever be used by HCPs who would probably want a whiter, more friendlier looking mask for dealing with patients and not one that makes you look like Darth Vader.

Attitudes to face masks
PhoneLock · 03/04/2020 23:32

I don't think it is to protect ourselves but to protect others from ourselves.

That is my take too.

FelicityBeedle · 03/04/2020 23:37

I’m wearing one to protect others from myself, for all I know I could be an asymptomatic carrier, if I wear a homemade mask in the supermarket what is the harm? Besides, it’s a useful reminder not to touch your face

CKoRn · 03/04/2020 23:37

Wooow the earlier comments on this thread have aged poorly, eh? hahaha. "why were you wearing a mask? you bought into the fearmongering" oh look, over 1 million infected and 60k dead. yeah, toootal overreaction.

CKoRn · 03/04/2020 23:39

If you're still around OP, don't worry you were smart and clocked onto this early. That crazy woman probably has the 'rona by now.

WhiteChocTwix · 03/04/2020 23:52

I wore one to the supermarket today. Have some left over from a trip to Asia well before things got going here. When the ones I have are gone they're gone, but I will use them in the meantime for the very limited protection they provide. I combined that with extensive handwashing, social distancing and hand sanitizing (sanitizer bought in Bath and Body Works in the US last September!). I'm careful not to touch the actual mask, only the strings to tie it up, and have it tied up tightly. Prob 25% of ppl I saw today were wearing them. I'm a face toucher so it reminds me not to!

SinisterBumFacedCat · 03/04/2020 23:55

I did notice that when I went to the supermarket wearing a mask some other people seemed to go out of their way to avoid coming near me, other people without a mask not so much. At one point I was being practically stalked by one guy who kept about 5 metres behind me down the isle but kept stopping and tutting every time I stopped to look at something on the shelves, but he was quite happily walking close to shoppers without masks. Maybe it’s a good way to get others to keep their distance.

Btw I bought my masks from screwfix for sanding months ago.

nellodee · 03/04/2020 23:57

Countries where lots of people wear masks seem to be doing better than countries where no-one wears masks.

I don't care what people are working out in a lab. The results on the ground seem like better empirical evidence to me.

WhiteChocTwix · 04/04/2020 00:02

@SinisterBumFacedCat IKWYM. I was tempted to fake cough at someone who was a bit in my 2m personal space in the Tesco queue! 😏

BubblyBarbara · 04/04/2020 01:01

The comments from the dummies early in this thread have aged like a fine cup of milk on a sunny day Grin

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