Face coverings recommended in Scotland, what do we think?

[Noworrieshere]

Scotland's First Minister is recommending face coverings are used in enclosed public spaces.
I was at the post office today and both staff members were wearing masks. I felt a bit guilty actually that I wasn't wearing anything and was just breathing all over them so I think I will wear a scarf over my face from now on. Not sure I'm going so far as to make an actual mask yet, I've got an antibacterial buff thing, I'll wear that.

Doesn’t seem to tally with the scientific advice so far.

Good luck trying to buy any halfway effective mask at the moment. The NHS and care homes are having enough problems getting them for essential clinical use. Most online suppliers are sold out until June.
Sturgeon just likes to look like she’s doing something differently to England.
Most non medical people don’t wear them correctly or remove them safely, fabric ones are useless once damp from your exhaled breath, and many people find them ticklish or uncomfortable and keep touching them with their hands to adjust them, which immediately contaminates them.

What Babdoc says.

I'm quite happy to wear one out and about if it helps others but unless we are going to be provided with or directed to a source of proper facemasks not forced to fashion damp cotton things made out of old underpants which may make things worse, I worry that this is going to turn into a bizarre and unpleasant virtue signalling exercise.

I tried wearing a scarf over my face a couple of weeks ago and was constantly pulling it up when it slipped down or my glasses started slipping down over it. So I touched my face a lot more than I would have normally.

I've also got asthma and found it really hard to breathe through (I felt like I'd been holding my breath while I was running I was that breathless) so I ended up taking it off and giving up.

I see the point of doing it and I might feel differently if I had to use crowded public transport etc but really I wonder whether the benefits aren't outweighed by the risks of people getting a false sense of security or touching their face a lot more than they would normally.

She said to wear a face covering such as a scarf (recommended NOT wearing a hospital type facemask) when in enclosed area where it is difficult to maintain the physical distancing. Such as on a bus. Or in a shop.

Fair enough.

The only reason she has said this is to go against the goverment. That’s it. She gives no fucks about the safety of the Scots.

There are presently issues with sourcing effective masks and specifically masks which fit women (and children).

There will also invariably be the issue of unpleasant individuals using masks as an excuse to bully women alone, or with children, or with visible factors which make them vulnerable or a target for bigots seeking an excuse.

I think it needs to be voluntary and it needs to be clearly communicated that it is not to be "enforced" by the public.

It makes sense to me though (I think) that if an infected person sneezes into something their sneeze will not travel as far as if they didn't sneeze into something. So surely that can only be a good thing? Even if it's only partly effective. Any benefit is better than none?

I have no idea who has my best interests at heart now and who is just trying to score points with the public. I wonder if the Westminster briefing later today will give the same advice.

I agree any covering is better than none.
But I also think she just wants to be different to Westminster.

Letsdrinkgin yes I've heard she likes to wash in the blood of children as well.
What a stupid post

Doesn't make sense doing it in isolation....as all the Chief Medical Officers are collaborating so I think it is more about Scotland being independent etc

Nicola can't help making political,points even in this crisis

I can categorically say I will not be making masks, I can't sew and don't intend to learn now! If I have to cover my face with something I'll use a very thin scarf as I can't bear anything covering my face.

I too think it's a good suggestion. We're always being told to sneeze or cough in to a tissue so surely a scarf is similar for sneezing and breath and keeps the worst away or stops it travelling as far. It seems she can't even suggest ideas to hopefully keep us a bit safer without being accused of trying to score points.

This is all about being seen to do something first or something that’s different to the UK government. Everything is always about independence with Sturgeon even in the midst of a crisis.

Nearly every other country is saying it's mandatory to wear a face mask so I don't know why people slating Nicola Sturgeon

It seems it will be voluntary, at least to start with. The issue is as pp have said it can be worse than useless if not done correctly.

So needs to come with clear instructions/ advice: how to put on and remove, do not touch mask when on, do not wear for more than 30 minutes, dispose of safely or wash between every use if washable.

Also concerns that a mask may provide a false sense of security and lead to people ignoring social distancing advice and/or hygiene advice.

Have seen people wearing scarfs etc and then constantly touching it to adjust it or pulling it down and then back up, which defeats the purpose!

The only reason she has said this is to go against the goverment

Have to say I agree with this. So far, the devolved governments and the Westminster government have been singing off the same song sheet. Wales has recently started speaking about schools on staggered starts and making noises about how they will do things differently from the rest of the UK. Sturgeon has to remind us here that SHE is in charge, and that here in Scotland we do things differently. Toeing the UK line does nothing for her independence argument.

Anyway. It was totally wishy-washy. Wear them if you want. Just a scarf or something, nothing properly made or official as those need to go to the NHS. Won't enforce it.

She started off saying it was perhaps a useful way of people who have Covid19 but no symptoms from potentially spreading it. Then in the next breath said the mask recommendations were about protecting yourself. She can't have it both ways.

I won't be wearing a face mask. I'm asthmatic and prone to allergies and can't bear anything around my face. It makes me itch and very uncomfortable. I'd be the one fiddling, and scratching, and focused on my mask so much I forget to wash my hands.

@Letsdrinkgin oh do fuck off with your political crap.

I wear masks or scarves when at the shops. It’s not only to protect myself but others too incase I am a carrier without symptoms.

Sadie Khan has been urging masks on London’s public transport for a couple of weeks now,

He doesn’t have the powers to rule that it must happen, but he’s the first leader of a large populous British region (albeit not a devolved one) to advocate this,

I won’t be out and about for ages yet (shielding) so perhaps masks will be more available by the time it’s OK for me to go out at all. If not, I’ll pull up a running buff.

The potential downside is that public demand will mean it is more difficult/expensive for care homes etc

(Paris is requiring them for public transport and in schools, if I heard this afternoon’s report correctly)

@Letsdrinkgin she is only saying what the Mayor of London has been trying to get the UK government to implement for about 3 weeks.

Unlike him, she has political power to give guidance over people in an area of the UK.

Regional English Mayors power is only over local transport systems. If they try anything else the UK government can and does overrule it.

I think Nicola Is political point scoring again.
She wants to look good so is going for the popular opinion.

she has political power to give guidance

But anyone can do that. She's giving guidance at the moment, it;s not a law, not compulsory. Like their recommendations about eating 5 a day, or drinking however many units a week. They can't enforce it.

That's not to say they won't enforce it at a later date.

Why do you think it's popular? I have seen only a smattering of people in masks. If it was popular there would be more.

Hmm, people saying it's all politucs re Nicola need to look to their own posts. She has actually been very careful to keep politics and independence out of this. She is following the advice of her advisers for what they think will work in Scotland for where we are now. Like or lothe her she is doing her job, which is not to wait until Westminster makes a decision, but to act for Scotlands best interests.
Most other countries in the world seem to recomend masks or facial coverings of a sort, the UK is one of the few who say not to. Perhaps when this is over we will know for sure what was the best way forward.
Also she did make the point that just now it was voluntary and that she didn't expect asthmatics to wear one.

It makes sense to me... Catch any coughs or sneezes in a mask to help reduce the spread. There was little point when everyone stayed indoors for the first few weeks, but it is getting busier outside with more and more people venturing out, so introducing the idea that face coverings are/will be recommended in enclosed spaces seems like about right for the timing.

We will need for there to be some education on wearing them. I still see plenty of people out wearing their mask over their mouth and chin, leaving their nose exposed.