Facemasks for general population 'no scientific evidence'

[GrumpiestOldWoman]

Many countries seem to be moving towards recommending face masks, not just those in Asia.

The UK government says there's no scientific evidence. However presumably you could set a really high bar on what constitutes evidence (rather than work with sensible extrapolation of what we do know) to avoid telling the public that they'd be better to be wearing masks at this time when their inability to provide PPE to medical and caring staff is well known?

I'm not clear masks prevent you catching covid 19 but it they prevent the other person transmitting it then that's virtually the same thing and masks - were these available - should only cost pennies.

I have only been out once to the supermarket and picked up what I’m pretty sure is CV - the only thing I DIDNT do was wear a mask - now I am kicking myself. Would definitely recommend it if you can get one. I was very careful to wipe trolley handle, wear disposable gloves, wipe food down after with dettol etc. I think the government needs to change advice on wearing masks.

I think wearing a mask makes you feel less complacent: it’s a constant reminder that the Environment outside our homes is no longer safe.

MrsMummyBx Unless you wore a full N95 mask and followed all instructions with regards to use, a mask wouldn’t have helped you avoid it, unfortunately. Sorry to hear you’ve been affected.

I hope they don't become compulsory, I can't wear them they make me ckaustrooand have panic attacks.

There is evidence they make people complacent. In food hygiene it thought better practice NOT to wear gloves for a similar reason. People become complacent and forget to change them between different foods (raw chicken).

I think seeing all the masks in the street reminds people that there is disease out there.

YEsterday thay made it obligatory in my region to wear a mask when you go out . gloves are obligatory that you have them on your person and you wear on public transport and in shops.... It is amazing what you can make masks out of when you are pushed. Plus they have provided 50,000 free so something tells me that there is reasoning behind it ....

It's pretty unbelievable that some people still seem to think facemasks don't work, and come up with any number of excuses why none of us should be wearing them.

The evidence was presented in experiments fairly early on in the pandemic. Face masks are going to reduce the amount of virus you encounter, and how much you transmit to others. They are not going to reduce your intake to zero, for that you need a powered P3 respirator that has positive air pressure such as the ones they use for asbestos removal or infectious disease labs. For anything else, all you are trying to do is reduce the viability of the virus and the number of molecules entering your lungs or eyes, it's a statistical game. You don't see NHS staff refusing surgical mask PPE on the grounds that powered resparators protect them better. It's a trade-off.

There is no excuse for not having a mask. You can make one in 60 seconds using a folded up square of kitchen roll, some stables and a couple of rubber bands. You can also sew one from fabric. If you sew one you can iron it instead of washing it each day to save time.

It's worth pointing out that Slovakia where face masks are compulsory outdoors, has only 2 covid deaths so far. Even news readers wear them while reading the news, all politicians have them and are wearing them to set a good example, unlike our Boris who seems unable to even social distance. The message is clear from the top down. It's an easy thing that people can do, even if some get a false sense of security. I don't think people are going to step closer just because they have masks. I've no evidence to suggest people are doing that, quite the opposite as others have said it reminds people we are in a pandemic.

There is some doubt about safe distance with 2m not being adequate in some situations. The mask could just tip the balance between getting and not getting infected when you are keeping to that 2m. Survival time on fabric is only about 24 hours, unlike plastic/metal so if you had two masks you could swap just after you come back from the supermarket to deal with any borderline encounters you had where people either didn't observe the correct distancing, or the wind carried the virus more than 2m.

This is one of those cases where the Western sense of superiority really shows.

Look at Asia. They are all wearing masks. They lived through SARS 1. And they’re doing better than everywhere in Europe and North America despite having been the virus’s origin.

Of course masks work for a respiratory virus where many people are asymptomatic for days before falling ill. They prevent infected people from spreading it. There is no way that a scarf over someone’s face is WORSE than nothing if they have the virus and talking to you. Use your brains and stop listening to the NHS whose agenda is to prevent individuals from hoarding masks. Make your own and use them.

@missyoumuch this, a thousand times. So many disagree, even those in related fields as Govt who ‘follow the science’ say otherwise. They need to change their minds, sharpish IMO.

The UK has been fairly consistently behind most of the rest of the world on anything related to coronavirus.

I suspect in a week the guidance will change to suggest people should wear masks to protect others, like it has most other places.