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)

I think a lot of it is self-consciousness. Some people worry that they'll look daft wearing a mask, so they won't do it unless the government tells them to - at which point everyone will be wearing them so nobody will be stared at for it.

People not knowing how to put on or remove them properly, or touching the mask a lot when wearing it - that's something that can be solved with an instructional video, not a valid reason why mask-wearing isn't effective. That argument is rather like saying that the government shouldn't have recommended hand-washing because too many people washed their hands with just a three-second rinse under the tap.

@kimlo you breathe through your nose, which is the best way to avoid an asthma attack anyway (I'm asthmatic) have a look at the buteyko technique

It is a human liberties issue. If it is made compulsory when there is no medical need then there will be court action.

@darkmutterings thanks! I had somehow missed your answer.

How is it a human liberties issue?

Presumably companies can impose any restrictions they like on people coming into their premises - from you must wear a tie and jacket for dinner in some restaurants, to corporate dress codes? So why can't a bank say you need a mask and a temperature check before you come into their branch?

If you're on the street and practically everyone else is wearing a mask, social pressure will do the rest for 99.9% of people.

For the 0.1% of people who don't or won't wear a mask, well they exist in asia too. They just can't go into certain places like banks or post offices, and presumably don't care about being yelled at or patronised or offending other people. (Sadly in HK the handful that exist are predominantly white expats - but that's a whole other thread. )

The government is unlikely to make it mandatory in a blanket way, but they can say masks are mandatory for government offices and services like Post offices, have to be worn in schools, etc. Corporates would likely follow so then that's banks, supermarkets, some work places. Layer on many people wearing them because they want to or believe it's better - and there you are ... the bulk of the population wearing one. Some of the stragglers will fold to pressure and some will hold on (or only carry one for when they need to go into a bank/PO/School etc) And there you are no human liberties hurt, but the bulk of the population wearing masks.

100% agree with the OP - we should be wearing the masks. Whether its home made or reusable ones - no one is talking about medical masks so its a win win even if it leads to 1% less spread of a virus it is still a win!!! Especially for runners and bike riders as their germs can be spread over 5meters away so they are the true spreaders and should wear masks as we cant keep away from them and 2meters isnt sufficient

People not knowing how to put on or remove them properly, or touching the mask a lot when wearing it - that's something that can be solved with an instructional video

But are people going to do that properly each time they go out, and home and use a new mask each time? You’re not supposed to wear them all day. How many hundreds is each person going to need?

Go to work on public transport, new one on at work. Off for lunch. New one on after lunch. Travel back home. Take it off. You’re not supposed to re use them. I can’t see how it’s practical and not be more of a risk if anything.

@Summerofloaf you should not need a mask at work as your employer should meet the standards of.social distancing (unless you work in food production or health care then yes you wear the mask all the day). Realistically during pandemic masks should be worn in public only and people should NOT be in public anyway unless absolutely essential. If you have a reusable mask just take it off carefully and wash it in 90° wash after each use and its recommended to iron it just to kill all the germs for sure. This method is working for my family here. Also in our home country the Gov made masks mandatory to wear so everyone has to do it and it does seem working as there is very little deaths from Covid19 compared to UK where people bluntly refuse to wear masks or do proper social distancing.

@Summerofloaf sounds like you would need 4 masks a day. Stuff them in the washing machine at the end of the day. One pillow case would provide enough material to suit your needs.

Don't worry about taking masks off too much, just wash your hands first. You are not leaning over Covid19 patients and will still be social distancing.

It is a human liberties issue. If it is made compulsory when there is no medical need then there will be court action.

Xenia you do talk some bollocks

But are people going to do that properly each time they go out, and home and use a new mask each time? You’re not supposed to wear them all day. How many hundreds is each person going to need?

Go to work on public transport, new one on at work. Off for lunch. New one on after lunch. Travel back home. Take it off. You’re not supposed to re use them. I can’t see how it’s practical and not be more of a risk if anything.

Look, masks are standard in many countries around the world right now. They appear to be slowing the transmission of the virus. People are managing. It's not that complicated. We don't need every single person wearing a mask 100% perfectly every second of the day---we need most people wearing a mask more or less correctly most of the time when outside the home. The macro effect is to slow transmission.

I just wonder how hygienic it is putting a mask on all day in contact with your mouth that could be contaminated.

In those countries is that slowing transmission or is it earlier strict lockdown and/ or extensive testing and contact tracing, isolating and hand washing that has made the difference?

I think we need to know if this can be transmitted pre symptomatic/ asymptomatic before we can know how useful mass wearing of masks is. If you’re asymptomatic then by definition you’re not coughing so I can’t see how public masks would make a significant difference at the moment.

Because it increases the amount of face touching

I think the opposite. If you have something over your nose and mouth you can't keep touching your face.

I use a cloth mask in the supermarket (more of a snood). I know they're not that effective but if everyone wore one in confined spaces they would help.

I support the wearing of sewed mask in public here too. It slows the transmission down and many countries are doing it. Every little helps!

I've looked online and I know how to use a sewing machine. It seems I just need some old pillow cases (which I have) and some sewing elastics. It doesn't look difficult at all. There are also no sew ones which you can make.

@moonfacebaby do you have a link to a pattern pls? I borrowed a sewing machine just before lockdown so could easily make some. As a PP said, we will start seeing a change in reporting soon and masks will likely become mandatory

Ha ha @NotGenerationAlpha. Cross posts there!

It will be counter productive and result in more deaths if we impose masks by law in the UK.
I just saw our poor bin man who empties the food waste bins. He has one round his neck -obviously it is far too hot and will make him ill and be dangerous if he had it around his mouth of course but he has probably been told by his boss he ought to look as if he has one with him.

Also don't you have to change them every 30 minutes? If so each person in the UK would need 10,000 of them a year.

Good mask for caucasian faces, some of the Asian patterns do not have much nose room.

Duck billed mask, with links to science
www.instructables.com/id/Face-Mask-Duckbill-With-Filter

Honestly some people need to get back to chasing ambulances.

I wear mine as a symbol as much as anything else.

It sends the message to people that I'm taking this seriously – their health and my own.

I've definitely noticed people give me more room in the supermarket when I'm wearing mine.

I absolutely don't touch my face as much when I wear it – because I cannot touch my face when there's a mask over it – and unless someone comes up to me and sneezes down the front of my face and through the gaps, it clearly reduces the chance of droplets getting into my nose and mouth.

I also don't rub the outside of my mask on my face when I get home before I wash it, and I don't leave the house more than once a week maximum, so I don't think re-using is increasing my chances of contracting the virus.

Combined with hand-washing, lockdown rules and general common sense, it's a no-brainer for me.

And even having said that, I'd still wear my mask for the symbolic element alone.

I just wonder how hygienic it is putting a mask on all day in contact with your mouth that could be contaminated

@Summerofloaf This is one of the things the government are considering when they say they will be guided by science when deciding about masks. There are clear indications that wearing a mask may cause problems if you're asymptomatic. But what do scientists know compared to Mumsnetters?

Xenia don't wear a fucking mask then. You seem determined not to. As a PP pointed out its not taking away your liberties if imposed by businesses etc. The choice is yours. As for needing 10,000 a year you are deliberately being provocative. I have been shopping this morning with ONE mask. I won't need one for another week.
IF I'm back in university by September I'd probably take 4 per day. Then you wash them. Unless you are a medical professional you won't be needing to change them every 30 bloody minutes.
The whole point of them is to reduce transmission. So if someone is talking enthusiastically they won't be spraying saliva all over the place. It might also catch some errant particles emitted by a cough or sneeze. However I guess you already know this and are just looking for an argument.

bamboozled its quite patronising when you assume the majority of the population cannot be guided into the correct usage of a face covering. Most people I assume do not want to become ill with Covid and would probably welcome the instruction.