Face masks - silly question?

[42andcounting]

Ok, first off I'll state I'm not talking about taking PPE away from front line workers, I'm talking about home made (sewn) masks. Also I know that they are useless unless used correctly, removed safely, replaced regularly, etc.

Advice seems to be conflicting across the world as to whether they are any use, and in the UK the prevailing wisdom seems to be that they are not recommended because they only stop the wearer from transmitting infection, but not from contracting it (ie my mask protects you from me, not me from you).

My question is, given that we know many people are asymptomatic, why aren't we just wearing masks anyway, as they can't worsen the situation, and may improve it slightly?

(Genuine question)

The amount if people ive seen on tv with them on with huge gaps down the side where they don't seem to fit properly surely that can't help

More than 100 doctors have signed a letter calling for masks to be used by the public.

The doctors are backing the Masks4All campaign which is calling for 'ordinary homemade masks' to be worn by the public to help stop those with the disease spreading it to others.

Signatories of the letter include John Ashton, a former president of the Faculty of Public Health, and Martin McKee, a professor of European public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Their missive to The Times said: 'Official UK policy is illogical… The latest guidance on PPE says that people should wear masks in hospital waiting rooms 'to reduce both direct transmission and environmental contamination'. Why not elsewhere?

Authorities across Europe, including in Germany, France and Spain, have put their faith in masks as part of their postlockdown plans. The coverings are already common in China, Japan and South Korea

in countries where mask wearing is the cultural norm or compulsery, what do asthmatics do?

Face coverings can make it hard for some asthmatics to breath. Thats making me slightly panicy.

I'm in Hong Kong. I've been wearing one for months. Every time you leave the house - mask on, hand sanitizer in your bag and prepared to have your temperature checked at every shop/building etc. My teens are even more strict on it than I am.

When there were shortages of masks, people made do but like toilet paper and flour, supply lines soon get sorted and now they are easily found and many of us are shipping to families back in Europe and US - especially for those with essential workers in their family.

BUT of course people take them off to smoke, or when they are hot/annoying (menopause hot flushes and masks are not a great combination!) , or when they are eating, drinking, talking on phones. They aren't some kind of magic wand. But they absolutely remind you to not touch your face and actually just be more careful in general. If you're going about in shops, restaurants etc it's easy to be complacent and wearing a mask it's a reminder.

If you make masks compulsory, the supply issue takes care of itself. When masks were made compulsory in China et al, companies realized that they would not be able to get back to work unless their employees were masked; in the case of manufacturers, this gave them a strong incentive to re-jig their production lines to create masks, if doing so was remotely possible for them. The supply increased.

I think they do more harm than good for the general public in the UK and hope they are not made compulsory.

Well Xenia I don't really care what you say because you say some really stupid things. In case you do want to educate yourself instead of spouting your usual hot air, there is an analysis bu Professor Trisha Greenhalgh et al about face masks for the general public.
My guess is that you are worried that widespread face mask wearing might go on your tax bill

WHO ( and the NHS) do not recommend wearing of face masks by the general public
www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-face-mask-guidance-official-evidence-who-trump-a9453001.html

www.fast.ai/2020/04/13/masks-summary/
This link takes you to the BMJ. I think I'd rather apply precautionary principle as suggested. The advice will change anyway so I'd start getting some organised.

If they genuinely help prevent the mask wearer from spreading it, even if they don't stop you getting it from others then by default if everyone had to wear them it would be hugely beneficial 🤷🏼‍♀️

@darkmutterings do you wear disposables or cloth ones? And how often do you change them? Thanks!

Nobody is objecting to people wearing masks if they choose to. The objections are to the suggestions that they become mandatory. If you want to wear one, what's stopping you? Just leave those of us alone who cannot wear them due to existing health reasons.

@sossujunmash

We started with disposable as that's what we could get back in January, we've now got reusable ones from Korea. These ones you wash out each day and replace the filter every week.
I have some disposable ones left that I keep in the car and in bags in case anyone forgets one.
I wear one every time I leave the house apart from the late night dog walk as by then streets are pretty deserted.
It's really culturally unacceptable to go out with our one - but that's a hangover from SARS when so many died here.

Bamboozled I don't know if they will become mandatory as such but it may mean that people can't use shops or public transport without one.

@Northernsoullover So are you saying that people will just have to stay at home and starve because wearing a mask is detrimental to their health? This situation really is showing people in their true colours, isn't it?

@BamboozledandBefuddled thats my concern. I caught the tail end of someone being interviewed about mandotary mask wearing probably on bbc news. Some one asked him what asthmatics are supposed to do and his answer was pretty much don't know, never even thought about that.

Thats why I want to know what ashmatics do in countries where it's already more common, the answer must be out there some where. But I have a horrible feeling it's suck it up or don't go out.

I've been making masks for weeks and have read many studies about their use. I am absolutely convinced that it's a good idea, but really EVERYONE should wear them for maximum efficiency. I send them out with an instruction sheet which includes 'should be changed at least every 2 hours as breathing can cause it to retain moisture ...' etc.plus the best removal and laundering methods. Re breathing issues, I've just starting making the 'duckbill' mask which is much more comfortable, does not touch the mouth, and has only one tie. I test each design by wearing it for several hours, walking outside, talking, doing household chores etc, and this is the best design so far. DH and I keep clean masks in small ziplock bags, in pockets/bag etc in case of need, and wear if we have to go out.

@kimlo If it becomes mandatory, I will wear a very thin, full face veil - that won't impact my breathing. If shops then refuse to serve me unless I uncover my face, I will bring the supermarket queue to a complete standstill while I argue the various legalities with the staff. This whole situation has now disappeared down the rabbit hole and it's a waste of time trying to discuss it rationally.

As far as I can tell it's a brand new urban myth that masks don't work at all for ordinary British people.

They do for people whose salary comes from the NHS (how does the mask know?) or in other countries, but not the British.

And anyway British people can't be trained to put them on right. You know what they are like.

People seem very invested in them not working which is surprising. I suspect the government are simply not recommending them as they can't supply them.

I'm waiting for handkerchiefs to be dismissed using the same reasoning. Best not to put anything near your face when coughing and sneezing, it will only make it worse.

I've just been to etsy and looked and you can get child sized ones in fun fabrics. I think I'm going to order now. We don't really go out, although sometimes I have to go in to my office, but if wearing a mask becomes mandatory i don't want a panic of not having any

@BamboozledandBefuddled what the fuck are you on about? How has a mythical mask wearing scenario turned into me wanting people to starve to death? I don't know the answers. I'm going on the very limited arguments for mask wearing. My father has COPD and my son asthma. I'm sure its easier to get around the starving to death issue than the ongoing transmission of a virus with no cure and no vaccine.
Go and make yourself a cup of tea.

@BamboozledandBefuddledare you the person who sat on the bench arguing with the police officer?

No one is going to make asthmatics wear something that will harm them. Why would anyone get it into their head that they would?

@LastTrainEast I despair. With the exception of those who have valid concerns about breathing I don't know why people are so resistant to something that potentially could really help. Do they HAVE to be told? Its been said it doesn't have to be a medical mask. Any covering will be something better than none.
That said people had to be instructed to stay home before they actually took it seriously.

Based in experience here, I can't cover off every challenge but yes I know people with asthma who wear them, yes to people with sensory issues and also to people who just hate them. It's not suppose to be nice, and even for most folk it's bloody annoying and unpleasant. They wear them for the minimum time and limit going places it's mandatory. Personal I rip mine if the second I'm in my car/home.

Maybe it is SARS experience here in Asia, maybe we're a more compliant culture - who knows. But Ive stood in a queue to the bank listening to someone argue the toss with the poor minimum wage earning guard whose job it was to tell people they couldn't go in without a mask or having their temperature taken. I know who had my sympathy.

If it becomes mandatory and if you really can't do it (as opposed to just finding it incredibly uncomfortable) then I guess that puts you in the category of shielding or vulnerable and you'd need to care on with self isolation and whatever you're doing to get food now - online, neighbours etc