So any old mask Is protective now? FFS

[HMSSophie]

Did I dream that, back when this all started, we were assured by the government that non clinical masks did nothing to protect us because the virus was so tiny it would pass straight through, and that anyone who thought that clipping on their "decorators mask" to pop to Tesco's was a good idea, was in fact a fool, a panic monger and, to be honest, rather an embarrassment to the nation?

So how come I saw someone telling me on Tv last night that even a double -folded piece of cotton would foil 99%'of virus spores (or whatever they are called).

Which is it? This government is unbelievable!!

@gruffawoah

great... keep at it... pass the message on... get the snowball rolling...

The government and ‘experts’ have constantly lied to manipulate the public. It pays to read your own research and medical papers and then follow your own gut feeling. From that, myself and my extended family took the children out of school 2 weeks early, we isolated as a family from then, stocked up on all supplies and got our online shopping slots booked. It was obvious where this is heading. And anyone who reads the research on masks and SARS etc. will know that masks do protect the user with a bit of common sense usage.

Excellent advice on mask wearing here, from a distinguished oxford university professor in public health.

Quite interesting point made on several programmes today.

Apparently, the countries that regularly wear masks (pre pandemic) haven't seen an impact on the figures of other virus or infections.

Their flu rates, for example, are the same and not impacted by wearing masks.

It just makes total sense for everyone to wear a mask to reduce transmission.
It’s a disgrace how the government have lied. What I’ve also found interesting is that a few weeks ago, anyone who suggested that masks might be a good idea, would have got berated for being ridiculous and told that they don’t work and are likely to be more of a risk.
It’s Just amazing how people blindly follow anything spouted out from authority and don’t use their own thinking skills.

I'm sewing my own masks in various jazzy colours to match my outfits😊
totally happy to wear a mask, I never go out without dark glasses and a hat anyway so a mask is just another way to defeat government surveillance by facial recognition✅

But it doesn't make total sense.

I work in an industry that has a lot of H&S. It can make people complacent.

If it people become complacent because they are wanting masks, it will make it worse.

And, if whats been said is true, that countries who normally wear them don't see see an impact on virus in general, it may not have an impact at all.

That said, I am still on the fence. Haven't decided whether they are a good idea or not. I cab see both sides.

a mask is just another way to defeat government surveillance by facial recognition
When you get on a tram full of masked people, this does spring to mind!
In Germany there is usually a ban on "Vermummung" in certain contexts, which means that e.g. people demonstrating in public aren't allowed to hide their faces. Drivers aren't allowed to cover their faces normally, so now if the police stops a driver, he or she has to have a good medical reason for wearing a mask, so as not to be fined.

Apparently, the countries that regularly wear masks (pre pandemic) haven't seen an impact on the figures of other virus or infections.Their flu rates, for example, are the same and not impacted by wearing masks.

They are the same compared to what? I don't get what this is suggesting, if they always wear masks then it would be hard to collate figures for what would be 'normal' non mask amounts because they usually wear them?

They haven't always worn masks. Not forever.

Apparently they have flu number consistent with the rest of the world and have not seen a drop in them, if you look at rates before they started wearing them years ago.

Shitsgettingcrazy "I work in an industry that has a lot of H&S. It can make people complacent.

If it people become complacent because they are wanting masks, it will make it worse."

If we are going down this route, we should tell people in cars not to wear their seat belts because if they and their passengers weren't wearing one and they crashed they could die - it would make them drive more carefully.

It is silly to have considerable evidence that the general population wearing something to cover their mouth and nose has a positive impact on reducing the spread of the virus, and yet be making up so many reasons why we shouldn't wear a mask. I was in Hong Kong recently and everyone wears a mask in public now - some have for years but probably not enough to make an impact on other droplet-borne viruses since people there are not worried about colds and flu but live in fear of SARS having experienced it once already. It was not a difficult call for them to begin wearing masks again, and they did so willingly. They have a much lower incidence of Covid than many other countries, despite being so close to the origin of the disease.

I work on a COVID 19 ward
We wear masks, goggles gloves and aprons.

I made the mistake of talking to a head matron the other day, took my mask down and kept it round my neck.

She said you must not leave it around your neck to talk to people etc if there any droplets etc on the mask they are now hanging about your mouth.

We must dispose of them properly.

Everytime I see this on tv I feel like shouting at them!!

So many people do it

I'm with worriedmummy1976.

We have been continually lied to in order to manipulate our behaviour according to what the government can afford, rather than what is most protective for our families.

"It's like flu"
"only elderly and underlying conditions at risk"
"Children never get ill with it"
"No need to close schools"

It was ALL DELIBERATE BULLSHIT to keep the economy going.

I don't take advice from the UK government, they live in the pockets of sociopaths. I take advice from the WHO.

whatpollyforgot

OMG I'm sitting in the garden neighbours each side chatting away with there little children,

All of a sudden I let out a big laugh I mean laugh!!!

Your right tit sign has made my day

😂😂😂😂😂😂

It's very simple, when people like myself were telling people on here months ago that masks were effective, we were in fact correct, otherwise HCPs, and the entirety of Asia who have more experience with pandemics wouldn't wear them, would they?

The government didn't want people stockpiling masks when there was a shortage of PPE.

They lied.

I'm very glad I bought my M3 FFP3 mask back in January and didn't listen to the government because they've been shocking.

No closure of the boarders / no checks on inbound flights.

111 not testing people unless they had symptoms and had been in confirmed contact for weeks after it was obvious there was community spreading.

Still not enough testing.

Too slow to stop mass gatherings, close schools or lock down. Even then, they only 'advised' it at first so businesses couldn't claim on insurance.

Not enough ventilators, oxygen or PPE despite knowing about the pandemic for months.

Inconsistent policing of the lock down and mixed messages.

Extremely high criteria for admission to hospital. Unlike Germany or Italy where you get treatment straight away, there is anecdotal evidence on here that people have only recieved treatment when they couldn't breathe and were turning blue. By then it's too late.

Our death rate is shocking compared to Germany's.

Riv working in a Covid ward is different to going to Tescos.

In a Covid ward you need to keep other people's droplets out of your airways. Hence keep your P95 or so mask on and be really careful taking it off, the outside will probably be contaminated.

Going to Tescos, your homemade mask keeps your droplets away from other people and groceries. You may be an asymptomatic carrier, nobody knows due to the testing regime this country runs. The outside of your mask is no more likely to be contaminated than your hair.

Different masks, different jobs.

Yes I know I was just saying!!!!

I agree with someone on the other thread people are getting so touchy on Mumsnet!

I agree it is a tough time we are going through!!

I'm out of here cnt put up with crap

Riv get one of your old bras out and work out if it could be converted into a facemask. If you make a right or left tit of yourself in the garden the laugh might help you avoid making a dangerous mistake at work again. Good luck

My local dry cleaners was selling reusable cotton masks for a couple of quid a few weeks ago, so I bought some just in case they were made compulsory. I have seen a really nice Liberty print one on etsy and I'm tempted to get it just for the print

If we are going down this route, we should tell people in cars not to wear their seat belts because if they and their passengers weren't wearing one and they crashed they could die - it would make them drive more carefully.
Of course not.

2 points that make the 2 very different.

Firstly, risk of poeple driving more dangerously was considered when decided to make seat belt wearing compulsory. However, the advantages out weight the risk.

Secondly, someone wearing a mask but maintaining poor general hygiene and social distancing, is far more risky than someone doing the opposite.
If there's a really bad car accident, it may impact up to 20/30 people. If those people have their seatbelts on they will benefit from wearing it (in most crashes, obviously people are still seriously injured or die whilst wearing seatbelts).

Those people don't need the person driving like a dick to wear it. Someone wearing a mask, but not using it correctly and not maintaining distancing is a risk to everyone they come across.

Risk, along with H&S works by looking at numbers and working out risk. Not every, benefit outweighs its risks.

As I said earlier, it appears Flu cases were not impacted when it became more mainstream to wear masks in China, other virus numbers weren't impacted either.

If that's true, there no reason to think Covid numbers will drop, because of mask wearing, alone.

I am very dubious of our government. But I am also dubious of the science related to mask wearing. Especially when the people championing the science use it as an opportunity to be smug and to put others down.

Oh and we already have masks. Do has bene making them. Ds has HFA and has always liked wearing them and covering his face. Dp has face coverings for when he rides his motorbikes. So compulsory mask wearing wouldn't bother me at all. We also use masks when we are mucking mums horses out and have done for years, as my chest seemed to be impacted by the hay and sawdust when I was a teen. So I am good to go.

I just don't think its as clear cut as some people make out.

If we are going down this route, we should tell people in cars not to wear their seat belts because if they and their passengers weren't wearing one and they crashed they could die - it would make them drive more carefully.

Exactly. Similar arguments were used against seat belts, condoms and all sorts of things like this.

The "risk compensation" concept is not necessarily always false. But it deserves to be treated with caution. Most of the time it turns out to be not true at all.

Apparently, the countries that regularly wear masks (pre pandemic) haven't seen an impact on the figures of other virus or infections.

This could be because in those countries people only wear masks if they are ill and not everyone does. It is pretty much unheard of in any country for everyone to wear a mask all the time when in contact with anyone outside their household at all times. I imagine this is what would have to happen for it have any real impact.

I think, wear one if it makes you feel better. Me & DH are using cotton bandannas, whenever in contact with others (supermarket, doctor etc)

This is an interesting article about mask wearing in Czech Republic. It was written earlier this month. It would be interesting to know a bit more about the situation more recently.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/04/04/czech-government-implemented-face-mask-requirement-help-combat-coronavirus-column/2940393001/It