Mandatory mask wearing. Yes or no?

[whatevernext1976]

In the Czech Republic, there is now compulsory mask-wearing. The being that you protect those around yourself. While it doesn't stop you getting it or passing it on, wearing a mask will reduce the air droplets when you sneeze or cough. He is a video about it.

What do you think? Do you think when lockdown ends, masks should be mandatory? Or are they pointless?

I personally think it would be worth doing especially with handmade cloth type ones that you can wash after each wear. Even if it reduces the spread slightly it is worth it.

[PinguPengwin]

Buy them on eBay or Etsy, or make your own if you are able.
Insert paper kitchen towel or a cut up hoover bag to increase its effectiveness.

No one should be trying to get medical grade masks, but even a cloth mask is effective when everyone’s wearing one.

[whatevernext1976]

Apologies for the many typos/errors in my original post. Why isn't there an edit button? Just to clarify, I'm not talking about surgical masks but masks that you can make yourself and are washable.

[LynetteScavo]

Is everyone who has said on this thread that mask wearing should be mandatory already wearing a mask when out? Because I see very few people wearing masks when I go shopping.

The government can hardly advise we all wear masks, let alone make it mandatory, while the supply for the UK just isn't there.

[cologne4711]

I don't see how I can run or cycle with one on. Or do any exercise outdoors. Those are my small pleasures and I selfishly don't want to give them up

Lots of people do cycle with masks on in London, but to keep pollution out. But presumably if they keep pollution out, they'd also keep viruses out (or in).

On the running, I am the same as you, it's not feasible to run with a mask on, I can't even walk for more than about 5 minutes without starting to find it quite difficult to breathe as I am breathing in exhaled air with less oxygen by then. While this has been going on I've been pulling it over my face when passing someone and then dropping it back down after I've passed them. But I don't think you'd really need them outside, I think it would definitely be worth making people wear them on public transport in particular - and shops would make sense too.

[cologne4711]

Is everyone who has said on this thread that mask wearing should be mandatory already wearing a mask when out? Because I see very few people wearing masks when I go shopping

Not a mask but a runners' buff/snood, and I am wearing when I go shopping. I have ordered a couple more as I expect them to become in short supply and I am not clever enough to make my own (though DH might be, he's a lot more creative than I am).

[happypotamus]

Out of interest, in countries where mask wearing is normal and there is a good supply for everyone, do they have child sized masks? At work I have to wear a mask for 13hrs a day, we mostly have the ones with ear loops, either my face or my ears are too small so they don't fit at all unless I tie the ear loops together in a knot at the back of my head. How are small children meant to wear them? What happens about people with sensory problems who can't bear things touching them and can only wear specific textures etc and wouldn't be able to cope?

[Kokeshi123]

I think this assumption that we can’t properly fit them or use them or dispose of them properly is utterly patronising. It’s not that hard - there are instructions on the box and YouTube videos to show you how to do all of those things.

Agreed.


The idea of "false sense of security/risk compensation" has been used to try and dissuade people against all sorts of things, from seat belts to condoms. It mostly doesn't seem to be true in practice. Countries where masks are generally worn appear to be seeing slower increases. At the very least, it's likely that mask wearing is doing no harm.

Also "People should not wear masks because they might contaminate their hands when taking them off" makes no sense. Whatever contamination there may or may not be on the front of a mask, I'd rather take a small risk of getting it onto the tips of my fingers than face a 100% chance of getting that exact same contamination straight into my mouth and nose, which is what would happen if you were not wearing a mask.

See this graph here for an image of how much viral load is transferred by a sneeze to the face, versus touching an infected surface. Massive difference.

twitter.com/JamesTodaroMD/status/1241075699739504642

Plus, the government guidelines tell people to wear a mask if they have a sick person in their household. What are we supposed to believe---that people suddenly and miraculously develop mask-handling skills as soon as their spouse gets a cough?

[Northernsoullover]

It was a bit further upthread but someone said that they see have seen people touch their masks. I thought that was better than touching your bare face?

[Lindy2]

I think everyone should be wearing masks.

They help stop you touching your face and can help you not spread to others if you do have Coronavirus.

I don't get the false sense of security thing. If you are already being careful and washing hands regularly, you aren't going to stop doing that just because you've got a mask on.

If someone isn't washing their hands and being careful then that's not going to change, but at least if they have to wear a mask it will protect others from them.

I have some masks from Ebay. We've been using them for anything like nipping into a shop. Inbetween uses they go on the outdoor washing line for at least 3 days to get lots of UV light.

[Sourcat]

I'm in Austria; there were also not enough masks here either but they are now being produced. No one is taking anything from healthcare workers; washable cotton masks are now being produced and are available for every pharmacist.

I had already tried several homemade versions but these are much easier to wear, they're not tight on your face, you don't struggle to breathe, they don't get hot and sweaty. I had mine on for about an hour and a half the other day, in temps of approx 26 degrees; it was fine.

Supermarkets are giving out free disposable masks. It's currently mandatory to wear a mask in the supermarket and that will extend to all shops, public transport and more when the restrictions start to ease off.

Also, as soon as hand sanitizer ran out here, pharmacists started producing their own alcohol-based ones (based on WHO 'recipe'), so it's always been available. I never understand why Boots etc haven't done that in the UK.

[whatevernext1976]

//Sourcat This is what I don't understand. Austrians are wearing masks yet the UK is saying they are not necessary. I want to hear Doctors explain why they believe Austria is wrong in insisting masks and we are right for not. Also, I'm not talking about taking PPE from Health workers, homemade ones if need be.

[Scottishhills]

@sourcat - exactly ! Most European countries (who have been equally guilty of outsourcing to China) are getting on with national production themselves in factories, laboratories, design studios, university labs. UK, get on with it !

[feesh]

Look at this article below: masks are predictably a major part of other countries’ plans to come out of lockdown. But the U.K. is struggling with this issue: apple.news/Aq_68nX2-QVu_nVPuTgp33g

[jasjas1973]

If the advice is to cough into your arm/hankie etc then wearing a simple non medical grade mask would be more than adequate.
I think we are being told not to wear them because the Govt wants us to be behaving as normally as possible and not to induce any sense of panic.

Danish scientists are now saying the CV-19 water droplets coughed or sneezed out, travel and stay in the air far longer than first thought... which is rather surprising as i was brought up with the saying "coughs and sneezes spread diseases"

[jasjas1973]

@feesh

UK cannot even approve Plasma trials for CV treatments despite most other countries having already done so.
The UK has a leading expert on this therapy and he wrote to Hancock about this.
In the UK decision making moves at a snails pace.

[RandomlyChosenName]

The UK isn’t telling us to wear masks because we don’t have enough masks for everyone. I think it’s that simple.

It’s no good saying people can wear homemade masks either- what about the people who don’t have the skills or materials to make masks?

I do think we should be starting mass production really though. Even if masks only prevent a tiny amount of infection, surely even that would help...

[MovingBriskyOn]

If it does become compulsory or highly recommended, S&B is going to be full of threads about them.

How do I customize?

Does my bum look big it in?

Which fabric?

Colours to coordinate with outfit

Etc

[P1nkHeartLovesCake]

No it shouldn’t be mandatory. They do very little anyway and I for one don’t want to wear one, they are just a false sense of security to make one feel they are safe.

Help you not touch your face 😂 I’m an adult I can manage that perfectly fine thanks

Anyone that wants to wear one is already free to do so, nobody is stopping you. What is this thing with lockdown and some people’s desperate need for the government to tell us what to do. This is a free country if a mask is what you want to wear then go for it

[Underhisi]

It couldn't be mandatory for everyone to wear them since some (eg with learning disabilities, autism ) wouldn't be able to tolerate it. I would wear one in busy places if it was advised.

[Sourcat]

Sorry - my post should read from pharmacies, not for pharmacists

[PinguPengwin]

We’ve been told that masks do very little, probably because medical masks are in short supply.

Over the last few weeks though research has been trickling out that masks are effective in slowing the spread.

If most people wear them it would help.

The Czech Republic made it mandatory to wear masks, people have managed to make them or have them made for them if they can’t make their own.

I don’t understand all the crappy excuses why we in the UK won’t wear them.
The evidence is there. Are we waiting for our government to tell us? Like we waited for them to tell us to stop going to crowded gatherings?

[maudspellbody]

I don't know.

I have a Deaf son and I work with Deaf children. They have to see a speakers mouth to understand them. If we're all walking around with masks on, we are taking their ability to communicate.

I am aware that's a minority issue, but it looms large with me because my job is to break down barriers for these children and give them equal access and opportunities.

For mask wearers to make themselves understood, they would have to remove their masks - so would touch them and negate the whole purpose.

So I'm not sure...

[feesh]

@jasjas1973 I agree. We are being given plasma treatment as standard where I am (if we meet the criteria). And yet nobody on Mumsnet or in the media seems to be questioning why the UK has such a shocking recovery rate for ICU patients.

[feesh]

(And yet there was an article on Countryfile the other night about giving plasma treatment to newborn Alpacas. They seem to be doing better than humans in the UK at the moment).

[Kokeshi123]

The Deaf/deaf/hard of hearing issue is a problem, definitely.

I am somewhat hard of hearing and live in a country where masks are worn a lot, plus the language spoken around me is not my native language. In noisy environment I sometimes have difficulties hearing people, so I step back and ask people to lower their masks. I think common sense adaptations like allowing the mask to be lowered if this is necessary for easy communication, would be essential. In a very high-risk situation, asking the other person to write things down could serve, in a pinch, though it would not be practical for a long conversation.