there should be a government campaign to make your own masks...

[jobhunter7]

Surely this would help if as many people as possible were wearing masks... and understandably perhaps the government want to make sure medics have them first...

You are correct, it should not be the public's responsibility to ensure some are left to buy because the government is incompetent, but sadly here we are. Buying back in January was sensible, and fair play, but millions being advised to now would be problematic. I've worked in procurement for nearly 20 years, a decade in the public sector previously, and I am honestly perplexed but sadly not surprised at the fact that they have messed this up so badly, it's scandalous and I hope people are held to account for it.

If someone wants to make or wear a mask, they are free to do that. We are a free country nobody is stopping anybody

We aren’t at that stage yet when we need to government to think for us surely?

If everybody had to wear masks where would that leave people like DD who has to see people's mouths in order to understand what they are saying? How does she clip it over her ears what with the hearing aids and glasses she already has to wear?

@Newdadtogirl my son has one of these respirators. I've been eyeing it up but obviously won't use it because of the risk of cross contamination. They couldn't be further away than the type the NHS use so will probably get my own.

There is a worldwide shortage of PPE.

Yes there is, but if we were utilising small businesses via a framework, the small amounts they can produce up to standard would actually be fairly sizable, and once the setup had been done (there are definitely procurement professionals across government with capacity at the moment); then utilising it would be fairly smooth. As it is, the government have said they they will only engage with big businesses, SMEs are being ignored when they register interest on the portal and aren't being given any support, the 'effort' is centralised when normally it is at PCT level, and asking those with the appropriate machinery whether they would be able to turn to producing some has been done ridiculously late. So yes there is, but let's not pretend that there isn't capabilities within this country, and that there are fundamental issues with the strategy (if you can call it that).

If everybody had to wear masks where would that leave people like DD who has to see people's mouths in order to understand what they are saying?

I know it is not an ideal solution, but surely should be able to get by in a supermarket or on a bus...

If someone wants to make or wear a mask, they are free to do that. We are a free country nobody is stopping anybody

We aren’t at that stage yet when we need to government to think for us surely?

All countries have laws and rules... just proposing that the government ask people to start wearing them on public transport and in shops...

I know it is not an ideal solution, but surely should be able to get by in a supermarket or on a bus

yeah because that's the only time people would talk to her, how about when she's at work or on the course that she is scheduled to start in June (which will go ahead as it's an in house course for her niche job). Would you suggest that somebody with a prosthetic arm wear a gloves and remove the prosthetic because the glove won't fit?

yeah because that's the only time people would talk to her, how about when she's at work or on the course that she is scheduled to start in June (which will go ahead as it's an in house course for her niche job). Would you suggest that somebody with a prosthetic arm wear a gloves and remove the prosthetic because the glove won't fit?

I understand no solutions are perfect. Just think this would help for everybody's safety if on buses and shops at least people wore face protection for their and others safety.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8243385/Experts-tell-UK-wear-DIY-facemasks-wipe-coronavirus-government-misses-16m-NHS.html

But say most other people in the shop were wearing them (I don't agree that they should be enforced, but encouraged), whoever is speaking is at less risk because others have theirs on. I can't imagine shop workers wearing them when serving, busses here have partitions now rather than them wearing masks- both would be able to converse with less risk than they do now. You can also get extenders which means that the straps don't have to go around the ears, people are maybe them here to distribute for free, and glasses aren't an issue with a mask.

And on the course assuming it's socially distanced still it would be up to whoever is delivering it to make the decision not to wear one, as everyone is free to do. I don't see why though those specific cases mean no one in a population of 66 million should be encouraged to wear one when out shopping etc?

I can't imagine shop workers wearing them when serving.

Some shops are already giving their staff to wear them if they want to. I recognise it is a little awkward but then I guess so is social distancing and I think people would get used to it.

For a lot in a shop it wouldn't really matter, ie if putting out stock or whatever, but if on the tills you do need to converse amounts etc clearly, but if everyone or at least a lot of people were wearing them, they would still be safer.

I know many people who work in shops... if you were putting out a stock, yes it is a no-brainer - on till, it would make it a little bit more awkward than usual... but I think people may be willing to forgive some of the niceties temporarily for their safety and surely people who work in shops who face so many people a day are potentially more likely to spread this than most people otherwise...

We are at the beginning of a global pandemic. The R0 of this coronavirus is about 2.3 www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32097725 , there are concerns that about 50% of infected people show no or very few symptoms. To make it go away, we need to slow the spread down to R0>1.

How do we do it?

Total lockdown and then isolate an island, like NZ and IoM. not really possible in many places.
Stay indoors for 2 years maybe more, not really feasible.
Wear a full NBC suit and say "I'm alright Jack" , again not really feasible nor is having years worth of respirators for personal use.
Wait for however long it takes for all the poor people on the planet to get it and then die or become immune (immunity is not looking too good at the moment.
OR
Take as many social distancing steps as possible...WFT, social distancing, mask wearing, outdoor and indoor clothes, quite possible for us in the UK, may be harder to achieve in 3rd world countries.

There are about 7.5 billion people to worry about, we are all in this together. As a first world country we need to be responsible and take care of ourselves and to help take care of those that need extra help.

The question to ask oneself is not "How can I not get Coronavirus" because unless you have years worth of PPE supplies, you can't avoid it forever.
The question to ask is "How can I help slow the spread"

Wearing a mask is one of the small steps you can take. Yes, it will be awful for deaf people but better than being dead.

STAY HOME
PROTECT THE NHS
SAVE LIVES

I am sure mnetters can think of something snappy...

STAY SAFE
MAKE A MASK
WEAR A MASK

I truly believe that my wearing a mask protects the NHS.
NHS workers are dying because they work with infected people and have no PPE.
If I don't catch covid19 I am less of a burden and infection risk to NHS staff. I have asthma and as a result, if I got unwell, I could easily take up a ventilator for 3 weeks and I'd need (at least) 20 staff to look after me every day. For me though, the idea of suffocating slowly, in horrendous pain for weeks wasn't attractive, and the idea that I would use so many resources, possibly depriving others, and that I'd likely die anyway, seemed a bit over the top.

I clap on Thursdays, but I really think that trying not to get the virus in the first place is a much better way of supporting the NHS, wearing a respirator whenever outside, washing your hands and STAYING AT HOME is the only responsible behavior

wearing a respirator whenever outside

There aren’t enough. This will make the very people you’re trying to protect go short.

For everyone saying they’re no good, surely a home made mask (NOT for medical professionals - I mean for the public in supermarkets etc) does as much for stopping spread as coughing into your elbow or a tissue?

Everyone was happy to take on that advice and I’m sure the odd micro droplet could escape from your elbow or Kleenex! Nothing is completely foolproof, but every little will help.

It shouldn’t be hard for the majority of adults to remember not to touch their faces/masks and to wash them properly.

Plenty of cheap bandanas on ebay:

www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=bandana&_sacat=0&_sop=15

My corner shop staff wear masks. They see many people every day, they are in danger of catching and spreading the virus.
I supplied their masks as I thought, if they don't catch it, they are less likely to infect everyone else, including me. In fact I have supplied everyone I'm likely to come into contact with, they wear them too.

I went shopping this morning with my mask on and I didn't touch my face once. I got home, showered and I have been touching it freely ever since. I have bad skin and I have been in the habit of checking every bump and lump unconsciously for years.
Masks prevent me transmitting (as much) if I'm asymptomatic and also stop me poking my face when my hands are unwashed. Whats not to love?

I am sure many people in this country own a scarf at least anyway... a lot of us now remember to bring our own shopping bags with us, just need to remember to bring a scarf too...

No, we don’t wear masks when we go out. We should stay at home if we feel ill and are sneezing and coughing.

Do you have a crystal ball that tells you if you are going to sneeze when you are out or not?? I am not sick and have no symptoms of anything, but I do sneeze in a public space every now and again, just like everyone does. Which is why tissues were invented. A mask is an extra layer of safety.