Why are people not wearing masks?

[FergusComeLately]

I’m queuing inside my local supermarket, I’ve see one other person wearing a mask.

Does it not make sense to just TRY to protect other people and try and keep infection rates down. Even a scarf wound round your face?!

I think they should be compulsory when you are inside. Is it the PPE shortage which is preventing Boris from making it so?

Talk to me about masks!

[Loveita]

And the sad thing is yes wearing a mask will become more common, along with living in fear and foregoing more and more rights to freedom. No thank you to all of that

[Casino218]

Because as a nurse I believe they are ineffective. The tendency is for people to touch their faces much much more when wearing them thereby transferring virus they may have on their hands straight to where it can access the body. No thanks. Will wear them as part of PPE but there is a whole lot more to infection control than just wearing cloth on your face.

[YounghillKang]

rather than using a mask as a security blanket.

The point of wearing one is to cut down the transmission of the virus to others not to protect the wearer, although there may be benefits. So thanks for reinforcing my perceptions!

[mrsbyers]

I think people using home made ones are liking themselves into a false sense of security as providing very minimal protection. Additionally I’ve seen that people wearing masks are a LOT less likely to adhere to social distancing

[Titsywoo]

If you’re staying 2m apart, you don’t need a mask. The guidelines say they’re only for situations such as public transport where you can’t do that properly.

Exactly - walking past someone in a supermarket or on the street is not high risk. Standing opposite someone on the tube 1m away for 10 mins is and in that situation I would but I'm never in that situation now.

[SpringBlossomIsBeautiful]

@Derbygerbil
No a perfectly grown up adult minding my own business & actually making my own informed decisions for myself & my family.
I don’t want to wear a mask & I won’t unless they become compulsory which they won’t.
You crack on with your life & stop throwing childish insults

[Bunnymumy]

The masks are too big for my face (even if I put in contacts instead of my specs) and scarfs wont stay up. I don't want to put my hands on my hair and face to fix them when they slide down. Defeats the purpose.

I don't care if others dont wear them either. So long as they don't show up coughing and spluttering to the shop (which seems all too common!)

[ragged]

Face coverings scare me a bit, I suppose. They kind of scream "BEWARE!", like a SciFi monster. If everyone around me was wearing one I'll feel conspicuous & put one on. Or rather, probably a neckbuff I'd pull on.

Overwhelmingly, I don't find it hard to stay 2m away from people. Supermarkets aren't crowded here & we aren't allowed on public transport. There isn't anywhere crowded to go - unless you count the odd country path with a wall of wheat on one side & bramble the other. I'm not afraid of the virus & I'll only end up within 2m of someone else for < 0.5 seconds on the country path. A face covering just isn't required.

[wildcherries]

"Face masks remind me of oppression.*

Same. Where I am, it isn't compulsory, and unless it becomes the law, I won't be. I stay in as much as possible and social distance when shopping.

[QuixoticQuokka]

I don't own a scarf, any fabric or a sewing machine.
I can't tolerate wearing a scarf around my neck so I'm not going to wear one on my face.
I don't spend more than a few seconds within two metres of anyone in public.
I'm 99% sure I've already had it.

[Dadnotamum72]

I went to a kfc drive through today, whilst looking through the hatch about 6 staff all close together all with masks and at least 2 staff members fiddling with/ pulling up masks to breath, it looked shambolic and worse that not wearing them.

[Lordamighty]

I’ve made some masks from high thread count cotton & they have turned out really well, problem is I wear glasses now & they constantly steam up when I wear the mask. I spent more time touching my face in the supermarket this morning than I would ever do normally. Going to save them for use on public transport.

[Oopsiedaisyy]

I had Covid two months ago so won't be passing it on to anyone

[ShirleyB25]

I've got one that I bought on Ebay. One for my daughter too.

Haven't worn it out, but will do if I go into town/shopping etc.

It's not hard to do, and it might protect someone else.

I think at some point everyone will have to wear them and get used to it. Hey ho - can't get too worked up about that one.

[Derbygerbil]

No a perfectly grown up adult minding my own business & actually making my own informed decisions for myself & my family.

Well that’s a bit more than a surly “I don’t want to”.

[BarbaraBeez]

Wearing a mask isn’t just a matter of personal choice because they are worn to protect others, not the wearer. Many of us are carrying this virus without knowing about it and we might easily cough or sneeze and spread it. So wearing a mask is a matter of social responsibility and decency, not personal choice.

[Tootletum]

Maybe specially to piss you off?

[MillicentMargaretAmanda]

1. Asthma. 2. Glasses wearer. 3. I don't go anywhere where I can't stay 2m apart. I only go to supermarkets in the evening when they are quiet. It is very easy to steer 2m clear of everyone. Which I do. 4. The only people wearing them in the supermarket last night were a couple being particularly crap at social distancing. They give people an unwarranted feeling of invincibility and they stop thinking about the 2m rule, likely putting people more at risk as they probably aren't wearing their masks properly in the first place.

[Headunderthecovers]

Would you consider wearing one for an ancillary medical appointment e.g podiatry, optician,osteopath, audiology?

(I am one) and will have a mask but have to spend over 15 minutes within a metre of you (sometimes very close). This may possibly help to protect me (I understand this is limited) from high exposure from seeing lots of different people in close contact in an small enclosed room.

[Northernsoullover]

If your glasses steam up you can put shaving foam on them and buff them clear. Ta dah! No fog

[BillywilliamV]

Because they make fuck all difference unless you are coughing and spluttering and if you are doing that you should be in bed.
They are a panacea, they make it look you are doing something in a situation where actually there is nothing you can do..beyond staying 2m away from people!

[BubblesBuddy]

I agree with Casino218.

[RhymingRabbit3]

We have some masks made by a local woman. I have asthma which is pretty mild but wearing the mask made me feel very claustrophobic and short of breath, like I couldnt catch my breath properly with it on. If they become compulsory I will of course wear one, but for the time being I will just continue to socially distance. At present they are not required anywhere and only advised on public transport and "some" shops, I e. Small corner shops where it is hard to stay 2m away because the aisles are narrow

[runrabbitrunrunrun]

Because they are unnecessary! I don’t know any medical professionals who wear ppe out and about.